October race: Detroit half marathon with Hope Water Project

Only 2 more races in my 2015 race series! That went really really really fast!

Start line 2014

On Sunday I will run to Canada and back (it's a perk of living in southeast Michigan) in the International Detroit half-marathon with the Hope Water Project. Why did I choose this race and this team?

1. Ben made me. Haha! When Ben told me there were people who needed me to run for them, one of the first people he said were "people in Africa who don't have clean water or Jesus." That little boy inspires me constantly. Last year I ran the relay with my family, which was my parents first running race, and will be running the international half this year!

My mom and me before her first run EVER!

2. To bring clean water and Jesus to the Pokot tribe of Kenya, Africa. Through wells, Hope Water Project is able to bring clean water and health to the Pokot tribe in Africa. Can you imagine handing your child a bottle full of grey water that was collected just down river from a herd of cattle? Me neither.

That is water, not chocolate milk. Water.

Once the wells are built, Hope Water Project continues to bring water, Living Water. They build a community around the well and share the gospel. They are the hands and feet of Jesus to these people!

Girls walk an average of 3.7 miles to get dirty water to bring back to their families.

3. In July I began training with the Hope Water Project team from a local church call Venture Church. I didn't know a single person and was soooooo nervous on my way to my first group run. God had gone before me and prepared a wonderful woman to run that entire 7 mile run by my side in conversation. After we finished our run, she introduced me to as many fellow runners as she could. Since that first run, they have become my tribe, my people, my community. Ben and I have been wholly welcomed and ministered to in their church. There is no pity in their friendship but purely love and encouragement and accountability. In three months and more miles than I can count, they have gracefully folded my atypical family into theirs without hesitation. I now realize that God wasn't using this training and race just to fill a need for the Pokot people. He was using it to fill a need in me, to water my spirit.

Team Venture!

Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. - Proverbs 11:25

God calls us to serve. When we answer His call, we not only fill others, but we are filled also. He is so creative and purposeful. I often underestimate Him.

So, how can you help?

1. Come cheer us on: We will be in Detroit and Windsor on Sunday, October 18th. Come on down and cheer us on!!

2. Donate: We cannot build wells without your financial support. You can donate by clicking this LINK to go to my fundraising page. Thank you!

3. Spread the word:  Go ahead! Be that person! Share this post on your social media, through e-mail, go old school and talk with someone about what Hope Water Project is doing! It doesn't matter how, just tell people!

4. Pray: 
* Pray for the Pokot people as their lives are changed by clean water and Jesus
* Praise for those who have said "yes" to God's call to minister to His people
* Pray for the man power to build the wells!
* Praise that Hope Water Project raised enough to build more wells than they had workers to build (see prayer above!)!
* Pray for God to continue to direct and lead each runner as to where we are to serve next
* Praise for able bodies to run for Him!
* Pray for safety and health for all the runners, volunteers, and spectators.