When 40 Hinsdale Adventist Academy students signed up for the World Vision 30 Hour Famine event, they were more than a little worried about going without food for 30 hours!

On Friday, April 25, at 1:00 p.m., the students stopped eating and began a journey that brought them closer to God and each other. First, they demolished a specially painted van that was parked outside the school in a "Smash Out Hunger" activity. That evening they attended a student-led evangelistic series (see page 22), then made sandwiches to distribute on Sabbath to the homeless in downtown Chicago. The students created box shelters to sleep in, played Bible games, signed a prayer wall and spent time in a prayer room. Then they walked to downtown Hinsdale and left messages for the merchants that read, "You have been a victim of a drive-by prayer from the students of Hinsdale Adventist Academy!"

Following Sabbath morning worship, the students distributed sandwiches to the Chicago homeless, and many ended up talking and praying with complete strangers downtown. Doug DeMills tells his story:

"I decided to go into [a] deli and ask for a cup of water. When I walked in, there was a sailor separated from the group [of sailors]. At this point, something just pushed me to talk to him. I introduced myself and said, 'How's it going? My name is Douglas DeMills, and I'm from Hinsdale Adventist Academy. I just want to personally thank you and tell you how much we appreciate the sacrifice that you, and all the people in the Armed Forces, make to ensure our safety here at home. Do you mind if I pray with you?'

"He looked at me [intently] and said, 'Sure!'

"I paused for a second and asked Jesus to speak through me. After I said 'Amen,' I shook his hand and said, 'Thank you.'

"'No, thank you,' he replied. He had a look of reverence and peace on his face that surprised me. ... I turned around and walked out of the shop and crossed the street with a new perspective on what I could do for Jesus!"

The event touched our students in a special way. "It was a complete submissive experience," recalls Jackie Ryba. "It meant for me to give up something that is a part of my everyday life for the cause of helping others. I felt God really spoke to my heart, and He opened the door to things I never learned before and opened my eyes to things I had never seen."

Jason Garrett expressed the impact the experience had on him: "I felt a deep connection with God. It was a big step in my walk with Christ. It was really purifying; it felt like I was physically and mentally cleansed, and I felt closer to God and all the people who participated."

The students raised more than $2,000 for World Vision and helped others, but they received the biggest blessing of all ... a new connection with God!

Rebecca Garrett is the director of marketing at Hinsdale Adventist Academy.