..I woke up, got before the Lord, and knew that today more than any day He had already gone before me.
...I started the car, a sang loud and prayed louder that He was so good for going before me.
...I got to my destination, sat down for a 20 minute meeting, trusting that He was going to work this out for me. Because, He had already gone before me.
..I was silent for 20 minutes as the other person talked, not knowing that the "He had gone before me" was translating also into "my ways are not your ways."
On August 5th, a day after I wrote my last blog "Days Without Kenya", I had no idea that the decision was going to be made that I would not be joining the team, my family, in Kenya. (I wrote about the process on the Kenya Initiative Blog, read here.)
Today, exactly 2 months later, I sit in my house in San Diego reflecting the process and the journey. To be honest it has been a hard road. There have been times when I felt like all odds were against me except the Lord. I have had to surrender to myself, my wants, and my rights every single day. I had to just know, that God saw all things and knew my heart more than even I did. I have had to acknowledge that no one is perfect and that only God has the jurisdiction and power to make life decisions. So, because of my acknowledgment of that, I know that I am sitting in my house today in San Diego because God has already gone before me. He's gone before me in times that I've fought. He's gone before me in times of my suffering. He's gone before me in times that I can't stop rejoicing. HE HAS gone before me.
Today, exactly two months later and what seems like a broken dream behind me, I can say God's goodness is too good. His love is too overwhelming. His joy each day is overflowing. His faithfulness to me in unending. His grace over my life is undeserving.... ... He is a good God.
I love you all so much. Thanks for all your prayers and support in this process. It has not been the easiest one, that's for sure. I will be posting soon about what's next for me! It has been a great run with Adventures in Missions and I am looking forward to what is next.
For over a year and a half now there has been non stop talk
and dreaming taking place in all my conversations about Kenya. What God is
doing in Kenya, what He will do in Kenya, why I am going to Kenya, how I got
called to Kenya… You get the picture.
But what happens when I have a day without Kenya?
A day without Kenya is pure. A day with out Kenya is still.
A day without Kenya ignites passion. A day without Kenya digs up joy.
You see, God's given me a gift in postponing my trip to
Kenya. God has given me the opportunity to take a deep breath, stop running
around like a crazy person, and time to just be with Him. Truth is, as I sit
with Him more and more, the more settled my spirit is. The more I realize that
it is in the quiet places that the overflowing of my identity fills my heart. The more I am still the more He gives me
words and new direction.
So as my time here in Gainesville, GA continues God never
hesitates to affirm and remind me of the things His heart breaks for and the
word He has given me for my time in Kenya coming up. I am called to serve Him,
to serve the team, and to serve the camps. Service seems to be the new word and
I'm falling in love with a refreshed outlook on service and honor.
But until then, I will be right here. I will be right here
where God has me. I will be right here where God has me in the quiet places.
When I showed up to Georgia a few weeks ago to leave for
Kenya, I never expected God to throw me a curveball. On Thursday, the team left
and I stayed behind. It was a decision made together with the leadership of AIM
and myself. We decided that I would stay here in Gainesville for an additional
two months of training.
To be honest there have been some things that have gone on
in my past that just haven't sat well in my spirit. There are rough spots that
God is finally calling out into the open. Holes that God is patiently waiting
for me to let Him to fill. Through all these things, now is the time. God's
intervention is perfect.
My whole life I've really always focused on getting to the
destination, whatever that destination was. I would find the quickest, and
fastest short cut to get there. Right now though, God is calling me to pause
and even take a detour. A detour to just BE with God, to rest with Him, to meet
Him in a new way and to walk into destiny.
Over the course of the past two weeks I've been intrigued by
Moses' story. I got an email with a devotional explaining that the detour is
the main road. This title obviously caught my attention so I read on…
“"In
the third month after the Israelites left Egypt, they came to the Desert of
Sinai. And they entered the Desert of Sinai and Israel camped there in the
desert in front of a mountain. Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called
to him from the mountain." (Ex. 19:1-3) And verse 11 says, "On the
third day the Lord will come down on Mt. Sinai in the sight of all the
people."
Now,
Mt. Sinai wasn't on the way to the Promised Land. From where they were it was a
detour; it was a southern detour. I'm sure I might have said, "Hey, wait!
This isn't the way to Canaan." But God detoured them to meet them
dramatically at Sinai and to give them the Ten Commandments and a historic
revelation from Him. What appeared to be a detour was actually the main road.”
Then it hit me, this was me…. God is taking me on this very
sudden detour so I can see Him better just like He did then. And if seeing Him better meant that I
would have a more proper view of self, then this is where destiny would be
found. This would lead to a courageous woman confident in her past and a heart completely restored.
I am so thankful that God is slowing me down, taking away
Kenya and all other ministry, just to bring me back to Him. I am so thankful
for all of your support so far. You have all enabled me to go into the nations
where God is leading because of your financial and prayerful support. I would
love for you to continue to pray with me in this season as I take this detour
to walking into the fullness of my identity in Christ.
I sit writing this from an unfamiliar room that I am crashing at for
the night in Atlanta. Unfamiliarity and the unknown are two words that
can some up the past 3 months of my life. I have moved from Gainesville
GA, to San Diego, Cincinnati, to Port Huron MI, drove to Canada, across
the whole country making stops in Colorado, Utah, Nevada. Then, back to
San Diego, across to Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Gainesville, San
Diego, and now finally back to Atlanta. In the next week I will go from
here to Copperhill TN back to Atlanta, then to Philadelphia before we
fly out to Kenya. Have I lost you yet? Do you get what I mean by
unfamiliar and unknown?
In the midst of pioneering all these efforts with my team the Lord has
taught me about walking the unknown. He gave me revelations at the
White Sands National Park in New Mexico about what the unknown actually
is.
One, is we take steps and make footprints in the sand. We don't
necessarily have a physical path that we are following on the ground.
In fact we even may be the first to ever place our feet on that piece
of ground each step we take. But still, you walk because the
Lord's voice is leading. You walk because God asks us to take risks for
His Kingdom even if it isn't the popular choice. You walk because you
trust in God more than anything else and know it will be okay.
Two, I sat down in the sand and realized with all the wind my prints
were smoothing out. In that the Lord showed me that sometimes in life
the uncharted waters that we actually walk on won't stick in the
physical. But you remember, He remembers, and those who you are with as
you are taking those steps remember. This life is so much more about
who you are doing it with, then what you are actually doing. I've come
to believe this as truth to the fullest in the last 9 months of my
life.
Lastly was that in the middle of this big desert I knew I wasn't
alone. There was life all around me, in fact there were species that
called this place their home. From animals, insects, plants and so on,
I was shocked to see them sprouting out from such a dry environment.
Then it hit me that there is life in the desert. A lot of times we feel
like the desert is a lonely place and we need to find a solution to
remove ourselves from it as soon as possible. We don't have time to
look around and realize the life that is being birthed by God around
us. Also immediately after Jesus got baptized, before he started his
ministry, he went to the desert. I always wondered why and it hit me
then, it was necessary for Jesus to go into the desert. He had to lead
the way for us, so that we knew the desert was okay and so he could
feel what the desert was like.
SO what am I trying to say? Walking the unknown isn't actually unknown
or unfamiliar at all. God is all around, God's voice is leading, there
is life to be recognized, and make sure your walking the "unknown" with
those you are called to and love. The rest will get taken care of. I am
walking right where God has me, needs me, and is calling me right now
all the way to Kenya. We leave on July 7th so please keep our travels
in your prayers. I will be posting more once I get to Kenya!
ps: Just spent a few weeks at home in San Diego. It was so great to reconnect with friends and family. It was a great way to refresh and recharge before the trip. I love you all so much. Thank you for all that you've done for me.
I know it has been awhile since I've last posted a personal blog. I hope you all have been getting our Kenya Initiative blog updates this is the best way to keep in touch with what's going on with our team.
If you don't know our team has been taking a road trip across the country hosting 5k races and speaking at local churches or clubs. In fact I am currently writing this out of a coffee shop in Denver, CO after making a 26 hours drive from Port Huron, MI! (I never desire to do that again).
Written on the side of our van is SAN DIEGO BOUND and we are getting in early next week. The 5k is so close and I am so excited about the success we've had so far. We have some awesome sponsors locally and nationally who have helped tremendously in making this event successful (StaffWorks, LifeBridge Church, Hunsaker & Associates, Chick-Fil-A, LunaBar, Shay & Associates, Natural Athletic Performance, etc.) Along with the sponsors we have been getting a lot of publicity on the event. NBC Morning News will be doing a live interview with yours truly on June 2nd at 545am, lots of news papers and local magazines are publishing the story too!
Throughout this entire process I have really had to rely on God to show up. There is no way that I could pull any of this successfully if God wasn't in it at the beginning. He is teaching me to continue to take His hand and let Him lead me. If any of you know me well I like to have control over situations and know where the next step is or how to fix everything with my own strength. I have been completely stripped of it all, and all the comfort is gone (especially in this 15 passenger van). My comfort is solely found in the presence of God and I love every minute of it. Thank you so much for your support and encouragement along the way. God has placed each of you in my life and I am thankful for the grace He has shown me through you. I only hope I can bless you all in return for how much I feel God's love from each of you. Thank you.
The team in front of the Niagara Falls!
If you want to sign up still for the event you may at https://www.signmeup.com/site/online-event-registration/74451 it's $25. If you want to sign up in person you may Thursday June 2nd from 3:00pm-7:30pm at Road Runner Sports (5553 Copley Drive San Diego, CA 92111) or Friday June 3rd from 4-8pm at the Community Hub in 4s Ranch by the Chevron gas station (16611 Dove Canyon Rd. San Diego, CA 92127).
If you just want to sign up at the race site on June 4th you can! It just goes up to $30 and we may not have t-shirts. Only the first 100 to sign up get one and we are getting really close. The address is 16118 4s Ranch Parkway San Diego, CA 92127.
The next day on June 5th at 630pm we are hosting an Auction at LifeBridge Church (17645 West Bernardo Drive San Diego, CA 92127). It will be a fun night of music, food, prizes, and to hear about the project.
Through the six months of apprenticeship here at AIM the team and I really feel confident in the plan that God has placed on our hearts to help these Internally Displaced People. We have narrowed down the top 5 areas of need in the camps and hope that once we see these 5 through the camp will be able to be a stable community who is self-sustaining.
Margaret Wangui a mom of 4 from the camp says this, "I just want a place I can really call home."
The need is large but we believe in what God is stirring in our hearts and how he is at work already in the camps. A lot of people have been asking how they can get involved without actually going to Kenya and there are many ways.
1. Like our Facebook Page HERE! 2. Participate in the 5k for Kenya - San Diego on June 4th! 3. Or check out other cities we will be in this summer HERE! 4. Come to our Auction for Clean Water on June 5th in San Diego, read more here. 5. Can't do any of these? Would you consider giving a tax-deductible donation to the project? If so you can make one online!
BEFORE YOU LEAVE: see the camp for yourself. watch the video below!
The long anticipated 5k for Kenya - San Diego is now up and ready to take you on! It's not as intense as it seems, you can walk if you want. Whatever you decide to do know that you are participating on behalf of the forgotten refugees in Kenya, Africa.
The 5k will be hosted at 4s Ranch Community Park (16118 4S Ranch Pkwy, San Diego CA 92127)on June 4th, 2011.
Registration will begin promptly at 8:30am and the Race Begins at 9:30am. Awards will be given out immediately following the race.
Online Pre-Registration is $25 and Day of Race Registration is $30.
Did you know that $25 is enough money to feed an entire family in the refugee camps for ONE MONTH!? By you participating in the race you are helping the Kenya Initiative project bring clean water, food, land, shelter and employment opportunities to the forgotten refugees of Kenya. If you would like to read more about our project you can do so here: www.kenyainitiative.org
If you, your business partners, or anybody you know is interested in advertising at the event and would like to sponsor please email me at lmartin3224@yahoo.com
In late January of 2010 I departed with a group of like-minded strangers on an adventures of a lifetime to Kenya. Little did I know that these 13 strangers would become my family. For 3 months we laughed together, cried together and fought for freedom together.
One of my teammates was Regan Polk. When I first met Regan I immediately realized his witty humor, energy for life, and generosity were what he wore on his sleeves. I watched him become an older brother of an orphaned 12 year old refugee named Mike. Regan took him under his wing and gave him security and love for the first time in 3 years. No matter what Regan was doing he was seeking others first, and I can say that today he is continuing to do the same.
On May 7th, 2011, Regan will be competing in his first ever Ironman. An Ironman consists of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride then a full marathon (26.2 miles). This sounds like suicide to me, but for Regan this is all about freedom. See late last year when Regan decided to begin training he wanted to run this Ironman for a cause and picked Camp Vision (aka Kenya Initiative). He had to make some hard life choices that may stall his "plans" for a year in order to train, but he willingly did so knowing he could potentially make a difference in a country on the other side of the world.
So, in order for Regan to gain the title "Ironman" he has to finish the entire race under 17 hours. This is where you come in. We are currently taking donations and pledges for
any amount for every minute that he finishes under the 17 hour cutoff.
Dollars, quarters, dimes, pennies...NO-DONATION-IS-TOO-SMALL!
For example: Clint Eastwood is a 10 cent
sponsor meaning he plans to donate 10 cents for every minute under 17
hours. If Regan were to finish in exactly 15 hours, which is 120 minutes
under 17 hours, then his total donation would be $12.00.
Please consider making a pledge today. You can do so by leaving a comment with your email address on this blog OR emailing your pledge to Kenyainitiative@adventures.org. You can also make a one time donation to the cause at http://tinyurl.com/kenyainitiative
Graduating high school I knew I would go to college. I
always imagined it this way, I would finish quickly in 4 years, continue to
coach basketball, work in the youth group and then pay it forward by teaching.
As this “school year” comes to an end I should be moving
into my last and final year to receive that coveted bachelor's degree… Instead,
I'll be moving to Kenya, Africa. I am not saying that, that life still doesn't
sound great. In fact sometimes I still dream about where I would be and what I
could be doing. But I needed to choose, I needed to make a choice if I would be
“ok, or not ok” with the things my eyes had seen, my ears had heard, and my
heart was broken for.
Obviously, I was not ok.So, this July I am moving to Kenya Africa to work with a group
of refugees in the middle of the Rift Valley.
I don't necessarily know completely what I am doing and I
don't know if I am fully equipped and skilled with the education I need. I
actually will probably fail at points along the way. But there is one thing I
do know. I know that my heart is beating so fast I can't contain it. There is
love to give in my veins and I am called to bring hope to these forgotten
people. That's it.
That's all I have to offer and I believe it's all I really
need. I've learned to love by someone who has loved me unconditionally. I have
learned to bring hope by someone who has delivered me from the dark places. I
have learned audacity from someone who has never failed to protect me. I have
learned the strength to keep going by someone who never fails to give me just
enough.
That's what I bring to the table. That's what I bring to
Kenya. Kenya…get ready.
When I stare at this picture I can't help but just smile. It makes me realize why God says the, "Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those such as these."
This generation will defeat the odds of extreme poverty facing them. They will break the cycle. This is the generation that will rise up against injustice. This is the generation that will not be okay with status quo. This is the generation that will radically commit themselves to the cause of Christ. This is the generation that will change Kenya forever. ...or maybe even the world too while they are at it.
The best part about all of that, is that they don't even know it yet.
m to fill. Through all these things, now is the time. God's
intervention is perfect. 
o the Promised Land. From where they were it was a
detour; it was a southern detour. I'm sure I might have said, "Hey, wait!
This isn't the way to Canaan." But God detoured them to meet them
dramatically at Sinai and to give them the Ten Commandments and a historic
revelation from Him. What appeared to be a detour was actually the main road.”
e and know it will be okay.
m become an older brother of an orphaned 12 year old refugee named Mike. Regan took him under his wing and gave him security and love for the first time in 3 years. No matter what Regan was doing he was seeking others first, and I can say that today he is continuing to do the same. 
