New Soles

It was a typical Thursday at Ngungi Primary School. All 532 students were present because it was exam week meaning only a few more days and the school would be out for term break. However, the day quickly turned into an unusual one when some visitors showed up. It was lunch time, and everyone had their bowl of beans and maize. Some suddenly appeared to forget about their food as the expressions on their faces seemed to say, "Look! The visitors have a muzungu with them!"

After chatting a few moment with one of the teachers and learning what life is like for a rural Kenyan school, she gave us a tour of the classrooms and boarding facility. As we walked from classroom to classroom, many of the students whose uniforms held marks of significant wear and tear and whose feet were shoeless eyed me questioningly and with standoffish glances.

"Who is this girl?" "What is she doing here?" "Can we trust her?"

Spotting a group of students standing by the edge of the school building, I drew closer. They inched back. I knelt down and held out my fist for a bump in an attempt to let them know it was safe to come close if they wanted too. A few brave, shoeless souls held out their fist... Bump! our worlds collided for the first time. It didn't take long until I was surrounded by hundreds of fists and high fives -I had happily begun to win their trust.

After several photos, many more high fives, and hundreds of shouts of farewell we loaded up and drove off leaving these precious children in our dust. Not knowing if I would see them again didn't stop me from leaving pieces of my heart with them. However, it was soon to become evident that four short days would find us back with these dear ones. But this time, we would have a car loaded to capacity with something that they hadn't asked for but needed...

SHOES!

Because many of you have generously given your five loaves and two fishes to God by supporting His name being proclaimed among the nations, Saturday found our team of four purchasing shoes for the multitude of children that attend Ngungi Primary School. We could not wait for Monday to come so that we could make all 532 kids proud owner of perhaps their first pair of shoes. Oh, what a joy it is to be a channel!

Words cannot accurately explain the celebration that awaited our arrival on Monday afternoon, nor can photos capture the glee and delight of everyone present as feet were washed and shoes fitted. My eyes brimmed with tears of joy as the children danced and sang out their heart which brimmed with gratitude. When you see, experience people celebrating over receiving something you've always taken for granted it changes the way you view life.

As I think back over the past several days, I can't help but see Jesus. I see Him coming to us upon no request visit that we've made to Him. I see him kneeling down and invited us to draw closer, holding out His hand as a token to come as we are -worn, torn, and shoeless. He sees the greatness of our needs and chooses to meet them all on His terms with no cost to us. Jesus invites us to sit down and let Him wash our feet, our heart, our soul. And after He is done cleaning us thoroughly, scrubbing away even the darkness of sin stains, He reaches over and grabs a pair of shoes that are made to last for an eternity. As He slips them on our feet, he looks us in the eye with great tenderness and lovingly whispers, "No good thing do I withhold from those who walk uprightly. Walk now in my paths and experience the joy that being made new brings."