So at first I thought she had said she was selling shoes. I answered that I wasn’t currently in need of shoes. She clarified, “No [don't you understand Spanish!]. I am asking you for a pair of your shoes.”

This took me completely by surprise. I thought of my shoes. I have both a black and brown pair to be worn for formal occasions, then a pair of nice sneakers I generally wear everywhere, and lastly a pair of older shoes that I use for working. To stall I asked, “A pair of my shoes will fit you?”

I thought some more, and heard the scriptures in my head. I remembered recently hearing a Gandhi quote that went something like, “if anyone keeps more than they need they are stealing.” (Certainly a community ethic of the first Christian community, see Acts 2:49 and Acts 4:32-37). She was considering what I said. It seemed pretty clear that she had not thought about wearing my shoes.

I looked down at her feet, which were in a pair of those open toed Crocs, and pointing to them I reiterated, “Would you wear my shoes?” She smiled, and said she would if she had them. Just then, a woman walked by with two other girls the same age. They were obviously all together. I figured they were collecting to sell. So, I gave the little girl an alternative choice: “Would it be ok with you if I kept the pair of shoes I have, and instead gave you some lempiras (their currency)?” She indicated that my proposition would be equally accepted.

I considered what I thought the shoes might be worth in today’s used shoe market, and returned to the child. Although when I returned… there were now three little girls. I asked each their name. One was named Kristy. They all giggled, with Kristy looking slightly embarrassed, when I reported that my wife’s name also is Kristy.

I asked where they live. Surprisingly, they live 45 minutes away in another city (Comayagua). They must be here to make some collection rounds? I asked if they went to church in Comayagua. They said yes, and I asked where. Two of them looked at one of the girls, asking what the name was, and she said the name of the church. At that, one of the girls said, “10 lempiras.” (Which is the common way of saying, “would you give me 10 lempiras?”). I was surprised to hear this. Normally people only ask for one lempira, two when they are feeling bold. But 10? It just so happened that I had brought out 30. So 10 for each one.

I then said something to the following effect upon the request of 10 lempira: God is good. God works through people, and in this case God is looking after you. I am telling you to believe that God is giving you this money, and that He always is with you. Therefore, when you walk away, I want the three of you to give thanks to God for this blessing from God. Ok?

They responded, “Sí.” Even though I handed one of them the money in the middle of my message, they never stopped watching me and listening intently to what I was saying. When I was done talking… there was a peace-filled silence. The four of us simply stood there for a moment. When I sensed that the silence had done its ministry I simply said, “Alright then.” And as we naturally were to now go about our day I said the typical farewell: “God bless you.” And they responded the same in return. And we both turned to walk away.

Lastly, I am not sure if I still should have given her actual shoes. On the one hand I feel now that it would have been, for me, a deeper act of trust in the Lord and His word. On the other hand, what transpired also felt right. I’ll listen intently to the Lord now in the short-run to see if I am indeed to give up my shoes…

* * *

So I’m just finishing up with pretending to be a car mechanic in the front yard. I’m now planning to go in and edit the above section of this post. When, as I’m about to shut the car door, the doorbell is rung. I look over my shoulder and a woman is standing there…

Just the facts:

Mother of 8 (Dona Blanca-Rosa)
Father died 4 years ago
Wants a little something to help the food cause
I bring back a few small bills to buy a small meal for the family
We talk for 5 min
Find out the eldest boy needs new work shoes
She all of a sudden stops and asks if I would have a pair of shoes
I ask what size he wears
She tells me a number; about one size smaller than me
I say let me check
I go inside and look at my shoes, suffer for a moment, and bring them out
We talk for another 5-8 min…

Turns out, work jeans are also a need (she once again pauses like with the shoes, then asks if I have any)
I get the pair that I was already not planning to take back home
Come back and I pray for her family
She cries (muttering her agony that she cannot always provide bread for the children)
After that, she is like a different person, and we make small talk about the community and such for another period
She leaves (saying once again sorry for the hassle) (and that she will pray for our security), and I go back to finishing with the car.

And that’s that.

Allow me to finish by saying there may be few things that penetrate/pierce/probe the soul quite like that of a young grubby and unkempt Honduran girl asking for your shoes… Or an obviously malnourished woman begging on behalf of her children. I may have never felt more naked and vulnerable before the Lord.

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