Tidings Article for March 2007

“Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Matthew 25:40

The youth of HTLC are spending some time learning about what it means to be one of the least – the hungry and forgotten. On Sunday February, 18 and Monday, February 19, sixteen high school students devoted their time to raising their awareness of world hunger. They pledged to go without solid food for 30 hours. During the time spent together they planned, shopped, cooked, and served a meal at the Dubuque Rescue Mission, and they visited with residents of Luther Manor Nursing Home. They participated in group building activities, and they played a simulation game called TRIBE. The TRIBE game, produced by World Vision, introduced the youth to the struggles and dangers of children who live in Northern Uganda. The children of Uganda, also called “night commuters,” face the danger of being abducted by guerilla soldiers and forced into violence. Children from outer villages travel as far as nine miles each night so that they may be locked up in the nearest larger town so that they will not be abducted. In the morning the children travel back to their villages. These children are poor and forgotten. Besides the dangers of the 19 year civil war, they face hunger and illness. AIDS is an overwhelming epidemic, and many children are born with AIDS or are orphaned because of the disease. Our youth are asking you to be partners in their efforts to help the children of Uganda. They are asking you to sponsor them for their 30 Hours without food. The middle school youth will also participate in a famine event on Friday, March 2 and Saturday, March 3. Please help the youth live out Jesus’ command to love the least, the hungry and forgotten, who are members of our global family. Thanks to our high school youth Gabe Bonn, Sarah Corfman, Caitlin Donald, Jessie Folken, Tyler Franke, Nate Guetzko, Benjamin Hanson, Sydney Kueter, Evan Rowley, Jeff Saul, John Sewell, Tye Stierman, Kim Stocks, Carly Stork, Ariel Wickler, and Sarah Wlochal for participating in the 30 Hour Famine. Thanks to JoAnn Kopp, Chris and Gretchen Kueter, and Sue Tigges for helping as adult chaperones. In Christ, Sara