Missions Change Lives with Shoes
How many people in America have a closet with more than three pairs of shoes? How many people spend over $60 a pair per month just on shoes? How many people in America go to yard sales twice a month all summer and spend at least $10 on shoes for one month?
The figures are low because they’re an example of just how much we take our lives for granted. Think for a moment about what we would feel if we could only have one pair of shoes to last all year. If the idea seems preposterous, maybe it’s time to check into the world outside our comfort zone.
The world of missions is both uplifting and heartbreaking. It’s uplifting because so many lives are improved by the blessings that donations bring. Shoes alone can touch people and give comfort and hope. The heartbreak, on the other hand, occurs when we realize how much more help is needed than we can give. The heartbreak occurs when we see the conditions in which the children’s feet have become because of lack of proper footwear.
Children in many parts of the world walk with bare feet in the worst conditions imaginable. They get blisters, cuts, burns, rashes, germs, sores, and cracked skin for lack of any kind of footwear. Many American children complain loudly just from getting a tiny sticker in their foot. Moms rush to comfort. Tears are soothed. Shoes are supplied right away. But what if no mother were available? What if this child was an orphan who couldn’t even get a hug for pain much higher than that brought on by a tiny sticker? What if he did have a mother who could only cry because there were no shoes available to provide?
If this sounds dramatic, think again. For many it’s day-to-day life. It’s not just a story some con man cooked up to steal from the gullible public. Unfortunately, that has been known to happen; but this is much more serious. This is suffering that doesn’t have to happen.
One of many missions that helps children who need shoes is the Buckner International Shoes for Orphan Souls. They’ve helped orphans in Peru. They gave out much more than shoes. They gave out encouragement, prayer, love, and comfort.
You can ease the suffering caused from lack of shoes by finding a mission you feel is worthwhile and legitimate. These people who are helped don’t have the luxury of Sears, JC Penney, or even garage sales. They don’t want the most expensive shoes on the market. Don’t we all deserve a pair of shoes that fit and provide protection?