Not just a dream; A graduate of Westview High teams up with five twenty-somethings to help the poor and oppressed in Kenya, one 5k race at a time
A 21-year old 4s Ranch native and graduate of Westview High, Liz Martin never imagined she would dedicate her life to helping the poor and oppressed through mission work. But after a three-month trip to Africa, she knew that she would return.
Coming back to the United States in May of 2010, Martin’s heart was broken for the poor in Kenya. In October, she and three others from her Kenya trip became part of a team of three men and three women all under the age of 28 who have committed the next two years of their lives toward remedying injustice in Kenya, Africa through a project called the Kenya Initiative.
The Kenya Initiative, which is part of Adventures in Missions, a Gainesville, Georgia, non-profit missions organization, focuses specifically on the Internally Displaced People (IDP) of Maai Mahiu in Kenya, Africa who have been refugees in their own country since the 2007 presidential election. These people lost everything they owned in the violence of the elections, and now live in man-made tents and are lucky to eat one meal a day. Martin and three others on the team ministered to the IDP every Saturday, and their hearts broke for the situation.
“We have spent time at the camps and have seen the desperate need there,” Martin said. These people live in conditions that are unacceptable for anyone to have to endure day-to-day. The people in the camps have become our friends, and now that we have seen their need, we are responsible to help them.”
“We have stared into the eyes of hungry children and mothers who cannot feed them. After seeing their situation, we were changed forever and compelled to action.”
After seeing this need, the team could not turn a blind eye. They had to take action. This team of six has worked at the AIM offices in Gainesville, GA developing a strategy to bring self-sustainability by focusing on five main needs: water, land, community center, business for men, and business for women. They will implement these projects toward rebuilding this community and are moving to Kenya in July and committing to live there for at least a year and a half.
To raise money for this project, Kenya Initiative is hosting an event called 5k for Kenya. They will road trip around the United States and host a 5k race in each of their hometowns. They are hosting Martin’s hometown race in San Diego on June 4 at 4s Ranch Community Park. Registration begins at 8:30 and the race begins at 9:30. For more information, visti kenyainitiative.org or click here to register for the 5K race. Use the promotion code TRUSTSHAY to save $5 on registration.
Kenya Initiative is also hosting Auction for Clean Water. The auction is June 5 at 6:30 at LifeBridge Church. There is a spaghetti dinner included with a suggested donation of $5. Items for bid include a car, vacations, timeshares, spa treatments, and more. If you are interested in donating an item for the auction, please use the contact information below.
The Kenya Initiative is currently seeking supporters. For more information about this event, or more information about this initiative, visit the team’s blog at www.kenyainitiative.org. To schedule an interview, contact Liz Martin at (858) 248-7006 or e-mail the team at kenyainitiative@adventures.org.
