Saturday, June 6, 2009

Shoes











Shoes
This has been such an awesome blessing to watch God move in the hearts of everyone: our youth, the kids at the orphanage and in the neighborhood, Soto, David, Mario, Harry, Brad, the women who work at the orphanage.
We had talked on the bus Thursday night about the blessing we receive from giving, and not what we tend to do which is selective discarding. But real giving of what is valuable to us. And being blessed by giving something that is meaningful to me and giving it in love to another. Like Soto giving me his CDs (I thank the Lord for this laptop as we were able to burn CDs for our translators, and copy Soto’s music). Or Soto giving Andrew the Steelers jersey he wore one day. All the boys admired it, and at the end of the day Soto gave it away.
Many of the kids put their shoes and clothing items, toiletry items, etc in a bag on the bus that last day. As we were leaving, Andrew was in sock feet. So adjusting to Dominican life, going without shoes? Still no shoes at the pizza place. No shoes at the market. No shoes on the bus. No shoes as we got off the bus at the hotel.
At the end of the day as we were leaving, the young men were wanting to give Ringo shoes. Ringo in Antonio’s house (with the other 9 people), speaks not a lick of English, but the language of basketball and hanging out was perfect, and the boys got to know him well. He went with us to the baseball stadium, and had the time of his life practicing with the Little League there. Justin’s feet are too big for Ringo. Andrew’s fit him. So Andrew just took off his shoes and gave them to him. What a display of the love of Jesus to see Andrew without shoes. And Ringo with new shoes that fit. I pray that the Lord takes me there in my heart. I can see Andrew wearing his shoe crown in heaven, storing up treasures in heaven instead of earthly treasures.
The topphoto is Ringo at the stadium ,fielding. The next is the boys all playing ball in the common area. The next is Ringo with Lauren. Then Andrew shoeless.

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