Now that the 40 Hour Famine is drawing ever-nearer, my stomach continues to crave chocolate and coffee (two things I have given up for 40 days as part of my 2011 Famine experience). I know it’s getting closer because in only 11 days, I will be able to have my caffeine fix back! But whenever I think of feeling just a little bit sorry for myself, something clicks in my brain. There’s a reason why I’ve chosen to go without – it’s for the kids, families and communities in East Timor suffering day to day without adequate food, healthcare and education. I’m going without so that I can raise money to help those who always go without so that they may have the opportunities I have every day.

I think back to a couple of our days in East Timor when we were sweltering in the tropical sun, the spattered rain showers leaving droplets running down our necks (or was it sweat?). We were doing some hard yakka planting trees and seeds for the next crop season. I’m no farmer, in fact I’m one of those people who reliably kills pot plants, but the Timorese World Vision agricultural staff guiding us sure knew their stuff.  I know that those plants and seeds we buried in the soil will soon produce life-giving and stomach-nourishing nutrients to families we visited. But I only played a tiny role in this. I was standing in the soil for a couple of hours being shown what to do.  I was happy to get my hands and feet dirty to do what I could to help. Even though I know that my individual actions could not directly save lives or solve the complex problems of poverty, they are actions of love, contributing to the big picture of fighting against poverty!

I think it is captured beautifully in this quote from Tim Foster:

“Every well we dig, every child we sponsor, every tree we plant, every vaccination we give, every tonne of food we deliver to Mozambique, every home we rebuild in flood-ravaged Pakistan, every prayer we pray – everything we do in Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, is not wasted – but will be taken, and transformed, and somehow (I don’t know how, but somehow) brought into the renewed creation. All these acts of justice that we do will be part of God’s future.”

My work in East Timor was a mere speck on the surface of a great lake, work which there are countless other individuals devoting their hearts and lives to.  I planted a couple of trees, hugged some children, made a hand-washing station, and various other things... It might not sound like much, but I know that it is very important.  In the same way that now I am giving up my daily coffee.  It might not seem like much, but it is all part of the bigger picture of doing our bit to fight poverty and to bring about justice! 

I am challenged and encouraged by Apostle Paul and his push to work hard when he says “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58). 

Well, I believe that working hard during the 40 Hour Famine is so important; whether it’s no food, no limbs, no furniture, no TV, no coffee... Work hard, as if working for the Lord. So when you are famine-ing and giving something up, know that God will use what you do for great purposes.

-Marissa