LONDON (ABP) — Bland, boring food tastes like a gourmet treat to a person subsisting on $1 a day, Nathan Adair discovered. “When you are really hungry, one raisin is like eating an ice cream sundae. Twenty-five-cent canned vegetable soup tastes like it came from a five-star restaurant,” said Adair, 10 days into a 30-days-on-$30 fast.
Adair, a Baylor University graduate who grew up at First Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas, began his 30-day experience to identify with the more than 1 billion people globally who live on $1 a day or less.
Nathan Adair's evening meal consists of two scoops of rice, tomatoes, half a potato and some green peas ”at a cost of about 21 cents”while his 3-year-old daughter, Emerson (left); wife, Lindsay, and even 7-month-old Payton enjoy more typical fare. Adair is spending 30 days living on $1 a day — ”the lifestyle of one-third of the population in India. (PHOTO/Courtesy of Nathan Adair)
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In particular, he wanted to focus attention on the living conditions of one-third of the people in India, hoping to raise awareness — and money — for a solar micro-enterprise project to benefit an orphanage there.
When Adair began selecting a dissertation project for his master of business administration degree at London’s University of Westminster, he wanted to do something that would make a difference in people’s lives.
“I did not want to simply piece together an academic report that would benefit no one,” he said.
When Adair and his wife, Lindsay, attended West University Baptist Church in Houston, they met Kirby Trapolino, director of Peace Gospel International, and began to support his ministry, which seeks to improve the lives of people in the developing world.
So, when he started to consider an MBA project, Adair contacted Trapolino to talk about initiatives Peace Gospel wanted to implement. He learned about an orphanage in India located in a community where electricity is unreliable at best. He and Trapolino agreed a micro-enterprise initiative there would be a worthy project.
“In an effort to resolve this issue and generate much needed revenue for the orphanage, we are designing a solar system that will power the facility as well as charge batteries,” Adair said. “These batteries will be rented by members of the community to power lights, fans and small appliances in their homes, drastically improving quality of life.”
Adair views his decision to tackle the project in India — and enter a 30-day experiment in simple living — as God’s design.
“Growing up in a Christian home and attending Baylor allowed me to go beyond my comfort zone and trust God’s plan for my life. It is not a coincidence that I became involved with Peace Gospel, studied for an MBA and began working on this project. It is clear that this is God’s path for me,” he said.
“I knew that to truly commit to this project, I needed to empathize in some small way. Peace Gospel’s mission is to speak up for and support those without a voice. Throughout the Bible, many verses speak of exactly that. The 30-day challenge was a way to put myself in their shoes and raise awareness and funds for this important project.”
Based on the first 10 days of the 30-day experiment, Adair found the initial four days 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. “Overwhelming support and prayer were the only way I did not give up. My wife and family have been very supportive.”
With a 3-year-old, Emerson, and 7-month-old, Payton, at home, mealtime presents its own challenges, since it essentially means preparing four distinct menus.
“The logistics and planning have been difficult to sort,” he said. “Also, the lack of energy has been substantial. Two young daughters only amplifies this fact.”
But Adair insisted it is worth the effort, because he is gaining a new understanding of how much of the world lives. People who live on $1 a day or less “see food as an essential fuel to stay alive,” and they don’t take that for granted, he noted.
“Some of these people may not have a guaranteed next meal waiting for them. This cycle becomes an obsession,” he said. “One thing that has helped me tremendously is a never-ending supply of clean water to drink. This is not the case for these people.”
To spread the word about his experience, Adair began writing a daily blog. He posts his daily menu—typically small portions of rice, potatoes, peas, tomatoes and pasta—as well as his experiences. One recent series of entries recorded his impressions during a four-night family camping trip.
“My favorite part about camping has always been the food—hot dogs, beans, breakfast taquitos and, of course, s’mores,” he wrote at the beginning of the trip. While his family enjoyed typical campfire fare, he ate eggs, rice and oatmeal.
But at the end of the trip, he reported, “With much support and blessing, I made it through our camping trip without falling into temptation.”
On his blog, Adair has challenged his readers to join him for one week the experience of living on $1 a day or at least taking part in some act of self-denial. Whether they participate or not, he hopes simply reading about his experience opens their eyes to needs around the world.
“I hope people choose to look outside their bubbles and realize that this very moment, kids are digging through trash looking for food—that children are being sold into slavery and prostitution this very minute—that widows are being spit on in the street because they are seen as unclean and worthless,” he said.
“I want them to realize that the Western way of life is luxurious compared to most. I have been very blessed in this life, and I want to give back as much as possible. We can’t take anything with us.”
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Ken Camp is managing editor of the Baptist Standard.