You know I had to update on the 30-hour Famine so here it is. Friday was a horrible day at work and I felt an unreasonable amount of stress from the lack of sleep I got the whole week because of all the work that had to be done for the weekend. So I wasn't feeling so peachy going into the church Friday night. But as I knew I would, I snapped right out of it and we had a fantastic weekend! I was really surprised by how mature the youth were. I know those two words typically don't go together, but we had some great discussions and they were really into it. On saturday morning we went to Blackmon Road, here in rock hill and took clothes to some of the homeless people out there. We got to give them clothes and pray with them and hang out with some kids all while it was flooding rain. It was really cool. For most of us, including myself, it was so unreal to see how bad the conditions are just a few miles from where we live. Rock Hill is the 3rd largest city in South Carolina, and in that particular area (among others) they don't have running water or electricity. Something is wrong with that, to be one of the biggest cities in the state. Over the weekend we played "tribal games" which were aimed at getting us to think about the lack of food around the world, as well as just to have some fun. We had great discussions about the food situations around the world and we really got slapped in the face with the realization that we have it made here in America. People say that everyday but taking a weekend to give up food and help others really drove it home. The 30 hour fast wasnt that bad. I think it was the 3 hours of sleep and 24 hours of running around the church that wore me out. We all took communion at the end, and for that bread to be the first thing you swallow after 30 hours just broke me all to peices. And it was awesome!
Another thing that was encouraging about the weekend was the realization that we (as in the church) have nothing to offer these young people really. I mean, we had an acoustic guitar for worship and we chose to sit on the floor to do most of the teaching and discussions. No praise band, no "professional" teachers, no huge church to play tons of games. That little detail got me fired up for youth ministry because ministry is what God makes of it, not all those other things that the culture around us seem to add on. And if this youth group grows to 700 students and we get David Crowder to do a concert for us one day, then that will be splendid. But until that day, the Lord will be pleased with what we do because that is our prayer for the ministry. God really taught me a lot in 24 hours not only about how rich I really am, but how much he satisfies me. He will take care of every need I have and I'm so helpless without Him.
In a sidenote: the pastor that took us on our outreach told me he was going to pray for me a boyfriend. Amen!
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