Note>> Forwarded by Ron Keener, Church Executive magazine
Student Adopts 30 Days on $30 Fast to Identify with Global Poor
LONDON, Sept. 2, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- "When you're really hungry, twenty-five-cent canned soup tastes like it came from a five-star restaurant," said Nathan Adair, 10 days into a 30-days-on-$30 fast.
Adair began his 30-day experiment to identify with the more than 1 billion people globally living on $1 a day or less. Adair hopes to raise awareness and money for a micro-enterprise project that will use solar energy to power an orphanage in India.
Adair became aware of the orphanage through friend, Kirby Trapolino. Trapolino is the director of Peace Gospel International, an organization that helps improve the lives of people in the developing world, including the children at Peace City orphanage in Ongole, India.
"To help generate revenue for the orphanage, we are helping design and procuring a solar energy system power the facility and charge batteries," Adair said. "Members of the community can then rent the batteries to power their homes, providing ongoing funds for the orphanage."
Adair reports that the first four days of his 30-day experiment were the most difficult.
"A combination of eating approximately 35 percent of the calories normally consumed and giving up caffeine made for a miserable beginning," he acknowledged; "However, the overwhelming support and prayer from my wife, family and friends gave me the resolve I needed to press on and not give up."
Other difficulties Adair mentioned include the logistics of planning daily menus, and a substantial lack of energy. However, Adair insisted it has all been worth the effort, because he is gaining a new understanding of how much of the world lives.
"People who live on $1/day or less see food as an essential fuel to stay alive, and they don't take that for granted," he noted.
Adair has chronicled his experience atindiasolarproject.blogspot.com, where he also posts his daily menu, and challenges readers to join him for one week of $1 a day living. Whether or not people participate, he hopes simply reading about his experience will opens reader's eyes to needs around the world.
"It's very humbling to think that at this very moment, kids are digging through trash looking for food," he said. I want people to realize our Western lifestyle is luxurious compared to most. I have been very blessed in this life, and I want to give back as much as possible."
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