Jody's Shoes
Jody's Tennis Shoes
This story could have been called so many things; a servants heart, the gift that keeps on
giving, a selfless act, just to name a few. In The end, I liked “Jody’s Shoes” the best as it
is about her tennis shoes and so much more.
On a recent trip to Haiti, Thanksgiving 2006, I took a flight to visit my wife. I was joined by
Joanna Carothers and Cindy Ward, two of our dearest friends. They were meeting up
with Bettie Snyder to do some fun stuff out at Kaliko where we and Bettie own houses.
Bettie, Cindy and Joanna had a party planned at Grande Gode church and school. They
were bringing toys and candy for the children. I am sure that Bettie sent money ahead for
meat for the lunch on the day they arrived because there was meat in their rice and beans
– a real treat. While this certainly made for some real happy children, in my estimation it
hardly compared to the impact of one selfless act.
So many times you ride around in Haiti and you see the need. Most visitors are
overwhelmed by it all. There are times you see a child pour it on because you are a white
person therefore, you have money. They look at you and go into this routine where they
put on the saddest face you have ever seen. John McHoul says they have been to “face
school”. This situation, however, is not one of those times.
While Bettie, Cindy and Joanna were enjoying their lunch in the office at Grand Gode, a
young boy was looking on. He did not get to eat as he was not in school. If you are lucky
enough to go to school, you get a hot lunch every day. Joanna and Cindy prompted a
conversation with his boy and as it turned out, he could not attend school because he did
not have shoes. At that moment, Jody popped off her tennis shoes and gave them to the
boy. Talk about “giving the least of these a drink of water”! My favorite formula used to
be: 1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given. Right up there with it now is: 1 pair of tennis shoes =
education + lunch + 1 happy child and a very pleased GOD. At that moment on earth there
were only a hand full of people who knew what had happened and that is okay because
GOD saw what she had done and Jody will get her reward and, believe me, it is not having
your story told on our web site! Jody will be the first to tell you GOD gets all of the Glory –
we agree.
This is the rare moment where giving a used pair of shoes is giving your best. All too
often when missionaries ask for clothes and shoes, we are given the throw away stuff –
after all, they are so poor they will not mind. We have seen it ourselves even before we
founded HaitisBabies.org. Dresses with stains, broken zippers, tears or buttons missing.
Shoes without laces and worn out. We accept these things with thanks and do not belittle
the giver for the gift but, all too often, they never make the trip as space is limited so we
choose the best items to bring and store the rest unless they are too far gone. The other
gifts that the best are the used clothes that mothers thought they would never part with.
When they hear of the need, they turn them lose knowing it is for a good cause. Wow, a
great sacrifice indeed!
We are more amazed every day at people who see a need and fill it, may we live to see
thousands more. As we do, we will make an effort to share them with you.
This story could have been called so many things; a servants heart, the gift that keeps on
giving, a selfless act, just to name a few. In The end, I liked “Jody’s Shoes” the best as it
is about her tennis shoes and so much more.
On a recent trip to Haiti, Thanksgiving 2006, I took a flight to visit my wife. I was joined by
Joanna Carothers and Cindy Ward, two of our dearest friends. They were meeting up
with Bettie Snyder to do some fun stuff out at Kaliko where we and Bettie own houses.
Bettie, Cindy and Joanna had a party planned at Grande Gode church and school. They
were bringing toys and candy for the children. I am sure that Bettie sent money ahead for
meat for the lunch on the day they arrived because there was meat in their rice and beans
– a real treat. While this certainly made for some real happy children, in my estimation it
hardly compared to the impact of one selfless act.
So many times you ride around in Haiti and you see the need. Most visitors are
overwhelmed by it all. There are times you see a child pour it on because you are a white
person therefore, you have money. They look at you and go into this routine where they
put on the saddest face you have ever seen. John McHoul says they have been to “face
school”. This situation, however, is not one of those times.
While Bettie, Cindy and Joanna were enjoying their lunch in the office at Grand Gode, a
young boy was looking on. He did not get to eat as he was not in school. If you are lucky
enough to go to school, you get a hot lunch every day. Joanna and Cindy prompted a
conversation with his boy and as it turned out, he could not attend school because he did
not have shoes. At that moment, Jody popped off her tennis shoes and gave them to the
boy. Talk about “giving the least of these a drink of water”! My favorite formula used to
be: 1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given. Right up there with it now is: 1 pair of tennis shoes =
education + lunch + 1 happy child and a very pleased GOD. At that moment on earth there
were only a hand full of people who knew what had happened and that is okay because
GOD saw what she had done and Jody will get her reward and, believe me, it is not having
your story told on our web site! Jody will be the first to tell you GOD gets all of the Glory –
we agree.
This is the rare moment where giving a used pair of shoes is giving your best. All too
often when missionaries ask for clothes and shoes, we are given the throw away stuff –
after all, they are so poor they will not mind. We have seen it ourselves even before we
founded HaitisBabies.org. Dresses with stains, broken zippers, tears or buttons missing.
Shoes without laces and worn out. We accept these things with thanks and do not belittle
the giver for the gift but, all too often, they never make the trip as space is limited so we
choose the best items to bring and store the rest unless they are too far gone. The other
gifts that the best are the used clothes that mothers thought they would never part with.
When they hear of the need, they turn them lose knowing it is for a good cause. Wow, a
great sacrifice indeed!
We are more amazed every day at people who see a need and fill it, may we live to see
thousands more. As we do, we will make an effort to share them with you.