WELS news

STUDENTS FEED THE HUNGRY IN AFRICA

Twenty-two WELS schools put their calling to love others into action by helping feed starving children in Zambia. On Apr. 22-23 students of Fox Valley Lutheran Schools in Wisconsin packed 285,000 nutrient-dense meals that are being shipped directly to Africa.

"The ultimate goal that we as Christian educators wanted to do was teach the students about what it means to put their faith in action in a real way," says Mr. Dave Payne, director of communications and a teacher at Fox Valley Lutheran High School, Appleton, Wis., and part of the Children Feeding Thousands Steering Committee.

More than 2,700 students from kindergarten to 12th grade participated in the event at Fox Valley Lutheran School, Appleton, Wis., doing jobs ranging from measuring ingredients to using funnels to bag the different parts of the dried meals to sealing and boxing up the meal packages. Preschoolers created cards sharing messages of Jesus' love. "We're hoping that it not only saves their lives physically but gives them an opportunity to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ," says Payne.

The students not only put together the meals but also raised the $45,000 needed to fund them—a cost of about $15 a student. ImpactLives, a non-profit organization based in Maple Grove, Minn., provided the equipment and raw materials needed to package the meals.

"This is a simple way for everyone to be able to help out people who are less fortunate," says Ali Van Heuklon, one of the student organizers. "Just by giving that $15 and a little bit of our time, we were able to help out so many people."

Abbie Gunn Fischer, a former missionary's daughter who grew up in Zambia, talked to the students about life in Zambia and the extreme needs of the people. Teachers also emphasized the importance of serving others every day of their lives. "Packaging meals for children in Zambia was a great blessing for us to do, but we can't do that every day," says Mr. Phil Punzel, principal of St. Peter, Appleton, Wis., one of the participating grade schools. "But you can use the time, talents, and treasures the Lord has given to you to serve people in your community, in your neighborhood, and in your own family."