By Alyssa Akers
SAN PEDRO, California--Teens and youth leaders from the Pasadena and Antelope Valley churches participated in a 30 Hour Famine, Feb. 28 and March 1.
The Famine is conducted each year by World Vision--a nonprofit Christian organization that helps the poorest of the poor in third world countries with food, housing, immunizations and teaching them to have a better life in Christ.
Before the Famine, participants collected money from sponsors, hoping to win one of the incentive prizes for raising certain dollar amounts. The Pasadena group raised $1,855.
In order to make hunger more real to us, we had to go without food for 30 hours. This gave us a taste of what millions go through each day. Of course, we could have liquids so no one would pass out.
This year we did the Famine in conjunction with Friend Ships. Friend Ships is a Christian ministry that uses ships to send food, build orphanages and help out in many other ways worldwide. They usually work behind the scenes with other ministries and churches in the area where they give help. They also act as a warehouse for nearly 800 food banks in the Los Angeles area.
Two years ago they acquired a new ship, the Faithful, free of charge, to be used as a children's hospital ship.
We were allowed to spend Friday night on board the Faithful. It was definitely an adventure since it is still in the process of being refitted to its new job.
When asked what she thought of the ship, Famine participant Winnie Ip replied, "I was expecting more of a cruise."
We got up at 5:30 Saturday morning and had a devotional time. We discussed Matthew 25:31-46 about serving others, and prayed for the day.
Then we loaded our belongings into the van owned by our youth pastor, David Smith. We waited outside for the harbor bus to take us to our first work station--the warehouse.
This was where they packed and sent food to the needy in the Southern California area. Some of us bagged oranges, others packed bread, and still others loaded food onto the trucks. We always had a group prayer before sending the driver on his way.
At 9 a.m. we went to the cafe where the Friend Ships crew works and eats each day. Here we built crates that we filled with supplies to be used in the Faithful's future trip to Roatan, an island off the coast of Honduras, where they will build a city complete with fire trucks, police cars and houses.
We worked from 9 to 3, not only building and loading crates, but also restoring cars and cleaning up the cafe, with only a half-hour break at noon.
At 4 p.m., because of the efforts of Ken and Joanna Mitchell, youth coordinators for the Antelope Valley congregation, we were invited to take a tour of Logos II, one of two ships that are part of OM (Operation Mobilization) Ministries.
Their ministry is done through preaching and book fairs that sell secular and Christian books at low prices. This was Logos II's first stop on the west coast of North America.
Then came the best part--dinner. At 6 p.m. we ran back to the cafe, where we were served pizza, pasta, hot dogs and the works.
While we were eating, we were entertained by bagpipes played by a Friend Ships crew member.
Around 7 p.m. we headed home.
No matter how hungry or tired we were, we thought about how many starving, homeless people we would be helping, and God gave us the strength and will to go on. Our whole day was filled with prayer and was completely God-oriented, and I believe he has blessed each and everyone of us.
For more information about future 30 Hour Famines call 1-800-7-FAMINE.
Alyssa Akers, 15, attends the Pasadena Teen Church.
March 18, 1997, WN, page 6
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