A Wild Ride

First, I apologize for my absence.

Honestly, I needed a break. What a wimp. This project was emotionally much harder on me than I realized. And physically the recovery has been more complicated than I expected.

I was still anemic when I went to give blood prior to Christmas. However, last week my iron levels were finally high enough that I could give away a few cups. Yay!

However, over the last 4-6 weeks I have had dramatic hair loss. It's not falling out...it's breaking off. With my protein levels so low, my hair just didn't grow as strong as usual during the months of the daily serving. This took me completely by surprise when I started pulling out handfuls while washing and then blow-drying my hair. I guess it shouldn't have, after all many suffering from malnutrition are completely bald.

I'm not complaining. It's just hair. Mine will grow back. The experience was worth it. I have never doubted that. But I know I made the right decision in stopping after 3 months.

Although I haven't been blogging, I have not been able to withdrawal myself from the project. The wheels have continued to turn and it is obvious that God will use the project for His glory.

Over the past couple of months a team in Salina has come together to begin to plan this event. And it will be much bigger than I had imagined. In fact, the goal is to fill a whole shipping container...261,360 meals.  At $.25 per meal this means that we are in the process of raising $65,340 plus money for T-shirts for our volunteers.  Oh yeah...we need about 1,000 volunteers!  It will take place on Tuesday, April 9 from 12:00 to 8:00 at Kansas Wesleyan University.

People are excited. Families will participate together...at all ages. Church families are embracing the needs of those on the other side of the world and coming together to make a difference.

Although we realize that this is a “stop gap” measure while other global organizations work to solve the issues that lead to poverty,hunger, and starvation, it is critical that we continue to provide food in the meantime. Lives depend on it.

I can't express how excited I am about this event. Nor can I express how thankful I am to those of you who have followed this project and sent money to support it.

Although I will continue to update you through the One Daily Serving project, you can also follow this event on facebook at www.facebook.com/SalinaSavesTheStarving. If you would like to volunteer to help with the project or make a donation, visit the event site.  (Remember, it's tax deductible!)

What a ride! Thanks for coming along with me.

Following God's Leading

Sixty days!

One of the things that I have promised myself from the beginning of this project is that I would end it when I felt led by the Holy Spirit to do so.  With my weight dropping faster than I expected, a year does not seem reasonable at this point.

Although I have considered different strategies to protect my health while continuing the project (adding a fruit and/or vegetable, nuts, doubling my portion sizes, etc.), mostly I have just continued through life feeling that I would know the right thing to do when it was time.

This weekend the decision was made.

I try hard to listen to God.  When some people talk about listening to Him, I feel frustrated that I am apparently so hard of hearing.  It is my belief, however, that God finds ways that make sense to each one of us individually.  And, once we figure it out, He uses that method over and over.  If we pay attention, we will "hear" Him in other ways and He will use those, also.

But for right now, if you have been a faithful reader, you know one way that God "talks" to me.

I honestly don't know why I didn't see this earlier, except that I'm a bit stubborn and wanted to complete this project in the way that I set out to complete it.  Yeah, yeah, yeah.  I know..."Man plans.  God laughs."

The final day of the project will be November 17, 2012.  I will have completed 109 days of hunger at that time.

Why November 17?  Because I will see Bruce Springsteen live in concert for the first time in my life that night.  (The number 109 has some significance in my life that I think my sisters would appreciate.)  I think it's been God's plan all along.

In 60 days I have lost nearly 50 pounds.  Although this 60 days has been difficult, I expect that as my weight continues to drop it is going to get much harder.

All along I thought that if the time came in which I felt the project would be cut short, I would feel that I failed.  I don't.  This is another reason that I know God is leading me to this decision.  I am at peace with 109 days.  Excited even.

But this means that I also plan to move up the packaging event in Salina.  I will be promoting it around the city and securing a venue to do this sometime in the early to middle spring.

If you would like me to present the project to your group, club, or church; I would love to come share the journey and invite them to participate.  It is not "my" project.  It is "our" project and I would love your group to be a part of it.  You don't even have to live here or near here to participate in this effort unless you specifically want to help package.  In that case, make sure you are within a reasonable driving distance.   Email me at admin@onedailyserving.com to schedule a time and date.

Now...what will be my first meal as a midnight snack after the concert?  Decisions, decisions...

What Does a Packaging Event Look Like?

It was time to go and have some blood drawn again.  I'm anxious to see how the numbers look.

I'm feeling a little guilty for not going to the gym tonight since I have time, but I'm tired.  Maybe getting to bed earlier would help.  With so much reading to do, going to bed now and reading for a while before falling asleep sounds like a good plan.

I wanted to share with you a video that shows a packaging event.  If you would like to participate in one in Salina, Kansas, once the project ends, complete the form (link on right) and let me know.

The food packaged here went to Kenya but this is only one location of many that need it.  In the past, food has been sent all over the world.  For more information, go to www.numanainc.com.

In order to make this happen, $23,000 needs to be raised in the next 10 months.  That's 100,000 meals at $.23 per meal.  Please consider making a pledge to help meet this goal.

You Are Needed!

You may be new to "One Daily Serving".  If you are, it's important that you get the back story behind the project.  This is a good place to start.  These posts are in backward chronological order.

Although this is a very personal journey for me in my own spiritual growth, I have also elected to make it public in that I want YOU to experience hunger through me.  I want YOU to gain some of the insights revealed to me over the months.  But mostly, through this public project, I want YOU to help me do something about hunger.

I pray that my family is able to take this trip next summer.  Click here to check out the video of Numana's current trip to Kenya.  Seems like a great family vacation to me!  My kids would certainly see the world in a different light.

The food provided in the video was packaged in Wichita.  A half a million meals!  Wow!  My goal for Salina is 100,000 meals.  The cost of the food for this project would be $23,000 and we would need help in packaging.  Hopefully YOUR help.

Please consider being a part of this project.  It doesn't have to be a large financial commitment.  Even $1 per month for the year (total of $12) would add up if enough people were willing to give to the cause.  ALL proceeds will go directly to Numana, Inc. for food.  There are no additional expenses associated with this project.  (The $.23 per meal would cover Numana's food costs, administration, shipping, etc.)

You need to know that Numana, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization...so your donation will be tax deductible!

In fact, your contribution doesn't have to be monetary at all!  Your prayers would be a welcome and much needed gift!  And, of course, I would love for you to join me and my friends (bring your whole family!) as we package food next August.

To make a pledge, just complete this form.  A certificate will be sent to you to remind you of your contribution.  Monetary donations will not be "due" until the end of the project--August 1, 2013.  However, your contribution of prayer starts today.

If you are able come help us package in August, please bring a covered dish.  Let's celebrate our accomplishment by sharing a meal together in our fellowship with one another.

More details of the event will continue to come as we get closer to the project's end.

By the way...it was a good day.  After at least of week of my hunger really feeling like a heavy burden, it was nice to have a day of respite.  Neither my head nor my stomach seemed to clamor for food today.  These days seem to be few and far between so I am grateful.

Thanks for reading!

Ups and Downs

Today had some ups and downs.

First, on my way to class this morning I noticed that I had a small bump (the size a pen tip) on my thumb.  It was kind of itchy and painful.  It reminded me of a festered sticker or something.  About halfway through the morning session, I realized that it had turned into a big blister.  What in the world?  I have no idea what that's about, but wonder if I was bitten by something again.

After class I ran to the store for bandages and then fell asleep as soon as I got in.  I was exhausted and achy.  I slept for three hours. 

After a full day of rest yesterday, I was surprised by my fatigue.  I am happy to report, however, that I feel much better tonight.

I let my water intake slip a bit yesterday and this morning so I'm going to chalk it up to that.

On a more exciting note, I started conversations with Numana on planning a packaging event next August 1!  Mark your calendars, people. 

When an event is hosted, the food that will be packaged must be purchased.  I expect that we will be able to put together 100,000 meals that day.  Yes, that's right...100,000!  In order to make this happen we will need $23,000 to buy the food itself.


This is just the beginning.  We have a long way to go to reach this goal.

If you haven't completed the form (also always available in the right column) to support this project (either through prayer, sharing the project with others, or by pledging a donation for the year, and/or each month, week, or day that I successfully abstain from food other than my one daily serving of Numana this year), please take the time to do it.  It doesn't matter how small the pledge may be, every little bit helps.

An easy way to support the project is simply by "liking" it on Facebook or following it on Twitter.  Both of these methods of support help spread the word.

Also, plan to join us on August 1in Salina if you can.

And, uhm...plan to bring a covered dish.  I'm going to be ready for your home-cookin'!