Lucille's Adventures in Peru: What Can Wash Away My Sins?

Many streets in the outlying neighborhoods of Peru are unpaved. Walking in sand, rocky roads, and dirt is a common mode of transportation. Very few people own cars here. Public transportation and/or walking is the main mode of transportation. Hence, shoes wear out quickly and often are not replaced. It is not unusual to see the most worn out pair of shoes day after day on the people who live in these more impoverished neighborhoods; and this is where they need better shoes due to the lack of proper infrastructure.

Soles4Souls wants to make a difference. They have partnered with us to visit Peru and give shoes to these deserving families and children. In March, 11 people came and worked tirelessly for 3 days giving out shoes to thousands of people. It was a fun group to get to know and see how they all came to be on the trip (one of my favorite parts of my job seeing how God brings just the right people to work in Peru--even for just a week). We had a family, a teacher, a mom, a mother/daughter, a shoe salesman, and a representative from Clarks shoes, and the team leader, Katie! I had been emailing and talking to Katie for over a year and so it was great to finally meet her and get to know her in person. This group was amazing! I do not think I heard one complaint the entire week and even in the face of many obstacles of shoes not clearing customs, having to turn people away and ask them to return later when we would have the shoes we were buying in town (due to the shipment not clearing customs). And they worked long days in the heat and often less than desirable conditions, but never wearied nor grumbled.

To plan this trip, I met with the pastors of our churches and we decided what neighborhoods we would target for these shoe distributions. We start the campaign with the pastor introducing the team and other pastors and missionaries present. The pastor for that area then explains about our churches and why we are here to serve them. The participants then are lined up and have their foot measured and sized. They enter the shoe distribution area and are met by one of the smiling volunteers to first have their feet washed. This is also a great opportunity to humble yourself and relate the story of how Jesus also washed His disciples' feet. After the dirt is washed away from the feet (and it is a lot of dirt even on covered feet due to the holes in many of the shoes), the new shoes are fitted and the participant leaves with brand new shoes, a smile on their face and the Lord's blessing for his or her life.

I normally just organize and supervise and handle all the "emergencies" that arise and translate with groups like this. This trip, however, I got into the action one afternoon when one of the team members was back at the hotel sick. I washed feet and gave away shoes. It was the first time I had washed anyone's feet. The entire time I could not help think of Jesus washing the disciples' feet and how He humbled himself to be here on earth. This trip was the start of our Easter season and so it was providential timing to be thinking of Jesus' life and work here on earth and for me to be washing feet in a bucket of water and watching the dust and dirt wash away just as He washes away our sins. My words will not be sufficient to express the feelings and emotions of serving these Peruvians that week. And I am just so thankful that while I can wash away some dirt from someone's feet, the blood of Jesus can wash away all of our sins. What a savior!