shoe crew

During Easter week we had a team visit from Indiana that called themselves the shoe crew. They came to do running races with the kids in Los Higos and then give shoes to each participant.

A lot more kids than expected came to the baseball diamond to participate. The older boys especially seemed to enjoy the different races. Following the race, there was a devotional comparing racing to life and with a message of winning the prize that comes from following Christ.

After devotional, each child was called up to receive a pair of tennis shoes and have their feet washed and to be prayed over. After the washing, the new shoes were placed on the kid's feet. What a special moment!

Unfortunately the team could only give shoes to those that had been signed up ahead of time. A lot of kids came hoping to get shoes, but they weren't on the list.

It's hard to know how to best be generous in the community. A lot of people in the community really do need shoes. Plus, having tennis shoes encourages the kids to play sports and run, which is the type of healthy activity we desire them to participate in in their free time. So, it seems that if we are going to give the community a material item, shoes would be a good one to give.

Yet, giving things out in the community can also send the message, which we don't want to send, that we see them as poor people that need hand-outs. Rather we want to communicate that they are rich in Christ and rich in ability. We want to send the message that we see more in them than just their material needs. And we definately do not want to encourage an attitude of entitlement in them. We want to encourage thankfulness for what they have, rather than demand for what they don't have.

I think the shoe crew learned a lot about generosity and poverty through their experience and I hope that this will shape all of our understanding of how to best help those who are in need.