I Completed the Ration Challenge!
Just a week ago I was filled with dread. I was sure the week on rations would be like torture, seeing a bounty of food around me and not being able to eat any of it. This last week I ate only rations as a part of the USA Ration Challenge, put on by World Church Service.
I, like most, take my food seriously, and the thought of restricting access to it, especially voluntarily, seemed like self-imposed torture. What actually happened was, thankfully, far different than torture.
What is the Ration Challenge?
The Ration Challenge is about increasing compassion for refugees everywhere while providing support to 200,000 people looking for a better life in camps outside of Syria, where a civil war is destroying communities.
There’s something about a cause that creates connections. In this case, I felt a strong connection with the cause to support Refugees. All the news in the US around the topic left me feeling upset and wishing things could be different. This was a way to turn those negative feelings into positive action.
How I’m different because of the challenge:
Firstly, we raised money! Stephanie and I received 38 donations over the last two weeks, and Team End Hunger ended ranked #10 in the nation, with $3,417.47 in donations! But the money was just the start of what changed.
Those 38 donors gave because we asked. All told, we tagged, emailed, or asked in person 75 different people! That provided for some great connections with people we love and in some cases a chance to catch up or talk about the challenge. It really does feel good to connect with your peeps, especially at a deeper level. It’s also very humbling to ask for money, and it took some encouragement each time we started a post or letter. In the end, nothing bad happened, and I have no regrets asking on behalf of a group of people who really need help.
What I’m most thankful for:
It’s hard to talk about being thankful when this challenge has compared my comfortable, secure life to those living insecurly for years and years. I cried when I watched this video, the last shot showing a child who had been living on rations their whole life.
However, the experience reminded me about how lucky I am to have a special partner like Stephanie. When times are tough, we go through them together. And when food is just rice and beans, I am so very thankful to have a culinary creative as a partner! Stephanie discovered plenty of hacks to make our meals delicious; from re-frying the left-over rice for a late night snack, to making oil-cumin gravy to top our lunch. Goes to show you that the less you have, the more you can appreciate.
My biggest surprise:
I want to end this post with the biggest surprise; the challenge was not nearly as hard as I thought it would be. Saying “no” to my snacks and tasty bits in the fridge was a lot easier when there were clear rules at play. I didn’t want to go against my word, and somehow that “No” is far easier than the “no” that I SHOULD say after my second helping of dessert…
I’ve had so many great experiences in this challenge! I’ve had featured posts in nation-wide facebook groups, promoted the challenge on live tv, and hosted a fundraising dinner for friends.
I’ll continue to reflect as this experience has been truly eye-opening. In the meantime, I’m proud to have helped a good cause, and so very happy to have received support from so many great friends and family.
My greatest hope is the world knows we are #WithRefugees, not against them.
