| Submitted by Jane Graham

Member of the New Dublin Presbyterian Church

The youth of New Dublin Presbyterian Church participated in World Vision's 30-Hour Famine in mid-September.

The event, part of an international youth movement to fight hunger, was designed to "bring your kids closer to God, and each other in 30 intense hours," the sponsors explained.

The New Dublin group began the 30-hour fast on the evening of Sept. 11 with a final meal -- or last supper -- of pizza. They broke the fast the morning of Sept. 13 with a breakfast in the church fellowship hall that included a corn porridge that is fed to children in refugee camps around the world.

A prayer walk Saturday morning that included stops at Pulaski Furniture Co., Critzer Elementary School and the homes of shut-ins to pray for the needs of the community and individuals and a booth at the Christian music festival Saturday afternoon at the New River Valley Fairgrounds were highlights of the experience for the local youth.

"The 30-Hour Famine has shown me just how hungry the world really is," said participant Blair Hurst of Dublin. "It's amazing to me that 23,000 children die every day from hunger. I was only starving for one day, but it really showed me what I take for granted."

Linda Ely, one of the adult leaders, said the group "had a hot booth" at the festival, complete with face-painting and information about World Vision and famine.

"I believe that the grave markers, Sunday, on our church grounds were especially powerful in that each paper plate represented 230 children who die each day from starvation," Ely said.

The white paper plates, representing grave markers, were lined along the walks leading from the parking lot to the church doors and across the lawn of the church.

Sunday morning, the youth participated in the worship service, sharing their experiences and information with the congregation and helping with the music in the absence of the pianist.

The sponsors said participants are learning to think outside themselves through the experience.

"The famine was absolutely great," said Ella Reeves of Pulaski. "What I really enjoyed was the youth fest at the fairgrounds. I think if we keep this youth group up more kids will come and join our YYS [Younger Youth] will grow.

"The adults worked really hard to put it together, and I think they did a wonderful job. It was fun just to get to spend time with YYS at our church. I really enjoyed it, and I think everybody else did."

The famine served as a beginning of the church's Sunday school year and celebration of Rally Day and the teachers and leaders in the Sunday school.