Team Traverse City’s Fundraising Page

February 16, 2023 to December 31, 2023

A message from Joel Leipprandt: Last year I had the blessing to travel with a Kensington team to a remote, semi-nomadic part of Northwest Kenya inhabited by beautiful people called the Pokot - a Kenyan tribe. What shocked me, though, was to see the scarcity of water and how inhospitable the land is. Each day, women spend their time walking miles to obtain water. This water is incredibly dirty and unfit for human consumption. Historically, members of the tribe drink it because it’s their only option. This causes many diseases, poor health, and a much lower life expectancy. Not only that, but women spend most of their days walking miles to obtain this water – carrying it in ubiquitous yellow plastic jerry cans. Life is incredibly hard for the Pokot in this region. Water is valuable. After my return last year, I planned to go back to Kenya in August of 2023 with a team of 10 people from our Kensington TC campus. This would cost approximately $40,000 ($4k per person for a 7 day, in-country experience). Most of these funds would have been raised through donations from others. And while I believe these trips provide significant spiritual growth for those who go, I was troubled by whether it is good stewardship to invest $40k for a 10-day trip for 10 people when, for approximately $14k more, we could provide funds for 2 deep water wells (each well cost $27k). These wells not only provide fresh water, but also spiritual Living Water through the assignment of a pastor to the region, and community cohesiveness for thousands and thousands indigenous Kenyans for years to come. As a result, we’ve pivoted as a Campus. Instead of a Kenya trip, we’ve prayerfully chosen to seek to raise funds this Spring for two additional wells in Kenya at a total cost of $54,000. We’re using a unique method to raise funds for these wells. We’re going to sell water bottles to bring water wells to the Pokot. This church-wide initiative launched on Easter Sunday, April 9. In our lobby we have approximately two pallets of bottled water from Costco and we’ll “sell” those bottles until they’re gone to finance these two wells. This is where I’m humbly seeking your help. We’re selling water at $20 per bottle or by the case (40 bottles). We have the chance to rally as a campus to provide fresh water and Living Water to thousands and thousands of people among the Pokot tribe. We take water for granted, but for the Pokot people, it’s the difference between life and death. Thank you for prayerfully considering this request.