From Megan.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the TOMS project this week and wanted to share some of my experiences from Nicaragua. Since high school, I’ve been on several mission trips to Nica with an organization called Amigos for Christ. I have been forever shaped by the experience I’ve had down there and the people I’ve encountered and developed friendships with. When I first saw the TOMS commercial last weekend, I was instantly captivated and intrigued by the mission of TOMS. The smiling faces of those beautiful children against the backdrop of their broken, impoverished communities is a heartbreaking and unfathomable reality for so many Americans. We take so much for granted, especially something as basic as shoes, and rarely give thought to the millions around the world who consider shoes an unattainable luxury.
Unfortunately, walking around barefoot often leads to problems for both children and adults. Many diseases and parasites are picked up as children step in cow or dog dung in the villages. Children who can’t afford shoes are often turned away from school, as shoes are a required part of the uniform. In the cities, many children run barefooted through the garbage dumps, searching for food or items that they might be able to sell. Accidents such as stepping on nails or glass are often inevitable. On and on…
Two years ago, I helped as an interpreter on a medical mission trip with an orthopedic team. We spent most of the week working with children with clubbed feet and other deformities. I was blown away by the resiliency and determination of these children. Without access to medical care, many had adapted unique ways of walking despite their disabilities. It broke my heart though, knowing that each step caused many of them great pain and many of these children were often outcast and discriminated against. The saddest part was knowing that many of their problems could have been treated at an early age with a simple surgery or special orthopedic shoes available in the US.
I was also struck by the women in the village who came to some of our clinics with chronic pain. Imagine walking several miles a day to the river to collect water and then walking back carrying that heavy bucked on your head, WITHOUT SHOES! For most people in Nicaragua, this is the reality that they face every day. Yet in the midst of immense poverty, many Nicaraguans live life with genuine joy and generous spirit. As Americans, we have much to learn from these people. I hope that the mission of TOMS will inspire more people to give the gift of shoes, realizing that it is more blessed to give than to receive.
