A Hope Water Project Journey
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Q&A with a marathon runner
Why did you decide to get involved in Hope Water Project?
My heart has always been heavy for those who have no access to clean water. When I heard that Kensington had an organization that helps with the water crisis I immediately was interested. I didn’t know much about Hope Water project, so my husband and I attended the kick-off rally. After leaving the meeting we knew we wanted to be involved. We even signed up for a short-term trip to Kenya one week later!
How has Hope Water project helped you grow spiritually and emotionally?
Spiritually I grew the most in Kenya while spending time with the Pokot. They showed me how to be thankful with so little. Their total reliance on God for everything caused me to question whether I really relied on God for everything as well.
What surprised you the most during your Hope Water Project journey?
We signed up to go on a short-term trip, but we never expected all of the other things that would come after the trip. We both signed up to run the Detroit Marathon and have met so many people and made some of our closest friends because of Hope Water Project.
What was the biggest challenge you encountered?
Because of my work schedule, I wasn’t able to attend the training runs. Getting out and doing it by myself was difficult. On the day of the race, there were plenty of other racers cheering me on and helping me keep pace. Because of them, I was able to work through the pain and was reminded of why I was running in the first place.
What would you say to people who are hesitant to get involved?
If you are considering joining Hope Water project, DO IT! Whether you are signing up to run a race or going on a short-term trip, you will meet so many people who are there to help you. The community that we have through Hope Water Project has changed our lives.
-Abby Roth, Abby lives in Rochester with her husband Jacob. She enjoys hiking with her dog and traveling new places. In her free time, she volunteers at Kensington with the Global Partners program.