This story takes place within one heart with a passion to provide for a need many folks living in the dump area of Teculatan in Guatemala seem to have. It’s the need for shoes. Walking away that day in June 2015, having distributed our last 12 pairs of shoes, leaving 300 families shoeless, my heart broke. I was now on a mission. My mission…to collect 1000 pairs of shoes for our next visit in June 2016. I recall sitting next to Karen from HIM on the bus who passionately promised that if I collect them she would send them. Little did I know what God had in store for me the next 9 months as I began my collection process. Once home, I began to question whether I have over committed myself, doubting my abilities. God was on the move. It was then during one of my morning runs that I came across a little baby shoe lying in the road. A God moment that wasn’t noticed until a few feet later, the match to that baby shoe was in my path. That’s when I realized this goal was not my own but His goal.

I’m not very good at asking for things so I was quite nervous. Again, little did I know that that one simple email sent to family and friends would filter into so many other hearts…family, friends, friends of friends, local stores, cub scouts, girl scouts, schools… word got out. Shoes from many areas in IL and MO started to roll in. Over 3000 pairs of shoes entered my garage within those 9 months. Sorted, washed and sprayed, over 2100 pairs of shoes were ready for shipment. The story only gets stronger…

For our next trip in June 2016, we were able to bring along 551 pairs of those collected. We had several places to distribute them. Our first stop was the dump. Somehow with shoes left over we continued to distribute throughout the week. It was like the loaves and fishes story from the Bible. God’s people had a need, and He provided.

Being able to provide a clean pair of shoes to a clean set of feet, was a dream I had from the very beginning.  I knew better that that wouldn't happen due to the lack of water throughout the areas of Guatemala. And so I settled with just providing clean shoes. Again, little did I know what God had in store.

With one pair left, I was worried I would end up with a shoe without a set of feet. It was like a Cinderella story in trying to find the right size for the shoe I had. Once again, I experienced a God moment. While not really paying attention to a gated area where children were standing, I was focused on a musical performance from Music in Motion. With a glance over at the gate, there was a little girl with her bare foot wiggling her toes through the railings. I took me a moment to realize that little girl may be the foot I needed. When I looked back she was gone. Chance lost. Why did I have to question something so apparent? I was so mad at myself. But once again, our good Lord spoke…a few minutes later, I looked over to find her again in the same place wiggling her toes as before.

Rushing to do a quick sizing up of her foot and the shoe I had, I saw it looked like the perfect fit. Hurrying to get the pair I had before she was gone, I had one of the HIM staff, Fernando, retrieve her from outside the gate. In doing so, we had her sit and when asked her name, she said it was Martha. As I began to brush off her feet, Fernando handed me a bottle of water, not knowing anything about my dream at the start of all the shoe collection process. At that time, with welts of tears in my eyes, I began to wash her feet. I cannot begin to explain the overwhelming sense of God’s presence at that very moment.
With clean feet, new shoes and a bag full of goodies, she skipped out of those gates as happy as she could be. That day, my new friend Martha reminded me once again of the power of God’s will for each and every one of us. To serve is a gift that goes beyond all measures. Don’t ever be afraid to get involve. Little did I know, that God had a plan for me sitting on that bus next to Karen, with the burning desire in my heart to collect shoes. I learned that what I thought was my plan was really His in disguise. God is good!