Food is a huge part of life.  Not just for sustaining life, but for celebrating milestones, mourning losses, and simply giving you something to do when you are watching a movie  Why, then, might someone give up eating for 18 hours?  Julia Harbaugh can answer that in one simple word:  faith.

 

Harbaugh is in her seventh year of annually fasting for World Vision, an organization dedicated to ending poverty and injustice in communities around the world.  For Harbaugh and her friends, the commitment started in their youth group at the Clarksburg Baptist Church. 

 

“We are encouraged to help others and this was the perfect opportunity to give up something we take for granted in order to assist those in Ethiopia who are struggling with starvation and disease,”  said Harbaugh. 

 

Grace Coberly, Hope Chalfant, Alexis Jones, and Sarah Randolph, all from Bridgeport, also participated in the fast.

 

The group did without food for 18 hours, while going through simulations that mimicked the living conditions of those in Ethiopia. 

 

“We tried to clean our feet using dirty water, collected food, imagined what it would be like if our food were stolen, and discussed the struggles of those for whom we were fasting,” said Harbaugh. 

 

The group also completed several service projects during the fast, including cleaning the youth building, picking up trash in the parking lot, and assisting at the Clarksburg Mission. 

 

“It was such a humbling experience,” said Harbaugh.  “It really opened my eyes to those who are less fortunate.  I know the answer to so many of their struggles is education.  Because of that, the experience has led me to a future career in education and missionary work.” 

 

Harbaugh also plans to forgo her senior trip next year in order to travel to Haiti on a mission trip. 

 

“I went to Haiti in eighth grade and can’t wait to have the opportunity to serve them again,” she said.

 

The group raised more than $3000 to aid in food and healthcare needs in Ethiopia through World Vision. 

 

“If giving up food for a few hours makes this kind of impact, I can only imagine the difference we can make by truly applying ourselves.  With faith and action, we can alleviate the pain of the less fortunate around the world," said Harbaugh.