SCAP students participate in 30 Hour Famine

Submitted
by Mark Mast

This past weekend, eighteen students from Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program (SCAP) participated in a 30-Hour “Fast 4 Them” to raise money for Compassion Canada. The event was a tremendous success and huge thanks to everyone who participated! $2,835.00 was raised to provide relief to Compassion initiatives in needy countries around the world: child development; clean water; education; healthcare for those living with HIV and AIDS; disaster relief; vocational training and microfinance loans and prenatal care.
To give an idea of what took place during the 30 hours of fasting, here is a brief description of some of the activities.
The students began their fast at noon on Friday. After school, the famine officially kicked off at Riverview School gym in Rainy River. Money raised by each student was turned in and everyone got settled in for the “long haul” of the famine. Teams were created and the games of indoor kickball, dodge ball, European handball, basketball and a hula-hoop contest were played.
The next stop was Rainy River Evangelical Covenant Church (RRECC), to enjoy the first “juice break” (the only “legal” form of nutrition allowed during the famine). Following this nourishment, several games were played at the church. At 9:30pm, everyone enjoyed a time of worship songs and a challenge from Pastor Kors Pater. Then, following some group games, and after a long day of activity, it was time to head off to bed.
At 9:00am on Saturday morning, everyone was aroused to begin a new day of “famine” activities with a juice break. First on the agenda was a time of worship songs and a challenge from Mark Mast. He developed the theme: “What Time Is It?” Answer: “Time to LOVE” L - Link Arms; O - Others Focused; V - Value Relationships; E - Evaluate Your Purpose In Life. “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:17).
Following this, the students fanned out into the community to do a “food drive” for the Rainy River and Emo food cupboards. Thank you to the residents of Rainy River for giving so generously!
After watching some video clips from Compassion Canada, another juice break was enjoyed. Then, everyone piled into vehicles to head over to Baudette, MN. Thank you to Lake of the Woods School for allowing us to enjoy a refreshing swim in their beautiful pool; and special thanks to Splitz Bowling Center for allowing us to go bowling for two hours.
After these activities in the USA, it was time to head back to RRECC, and spend the remaining 45 minutes of the “Famine” playing card games and watching a short movie.
By now, everyone was beginning to feel the weariness and hunger pangs of going without food for so “long” and it was difficult to bear the tantalizing smells of the delicious meal being prepared for dinner!
Promptly at 6:00pm, the 30-Hour “Fast 4 Them” officially ended. A prayer of gratitude to the Lord was offered and the famine participants indulged in a meal of luscious sub sandwiches and ice cream sundaes to break the fast.
Thanks are in order to the SCAP Student Council for coordinating this incredible event. Thank you as well to chaperones: Josh & Debbie Pawluk, Marilyn Cole, Jonathan Stamler, Teresa Stamler and Mark Mast. Thanks to Riverview School and Rainy River Evangelical Covenant Church for the use of their facilities. Thanks especially to everyone who contributed to sponsor students in this very worthy cause. We trust that many lives will benefit from the money that was raised and that God will be glorified by the outcome of this event. If you would like to donate to Compassion Canada, you can do so at www.compassion.ca