“Shoes for tired feet”

(Jeff Jones is the Director of Community Affairs for Buckner International - in Guatemala with Valley Ranch Baptist Church team)

Our team had the joy of visiting the Girls home (Manchen) in Antigua today. We sang songs, made bracelets, and painted finger nails. We talked about Jesus’ powerful resurrection, defeating sin and death for all of us. Most of the girls here have been forced to grow up too fast.

Many people have let them down and they are tired. One girl buried her tearful face in the arms of my wife, saying she didn’t want to go home and she didn’t want to live here. Her solution was a desire to end her life. She is tired of people failing her and hurting her.

Jennifer shared with her the love of Christ and held her close all day. In the midst of these difficult emotions, smiles were abundant. It was time for new shoes! Christ exemplified the ultimate servanthood when He washed the feet of His disciples.

The Gospel of John in chapter 13 reveals this to us. Christ embodied humility by washing the disciples’ feet, even when He knew He was about to be betrayed and then killed. He did this for them, explaining that none of us is greater than another. If our Savior did this, surely we can humble ourselves as well. Whether it was the joy of the new shoes or the temperature of the water used to wash their feet, these girls were all smiles.

I listened as Leslie and Hope explained why they were washing the girls’ feet. Christ was present today through their obedience. He also came to reside in the heart of one of the girls as she received a new pair of shoes from Brent. The reality of this humble act hit me full force as I witnessed this life change before my eyes. A new sister in Christ, all because of a new pair of shoes! To hear more about how this shoe program works, please visit http://www.shoesfororphansouls.org/