The Big Shoe Adventure

A couple of weeks ago, we had a group here. The ones from Walnut Creek, California left some money with specific instructions how to spend it. One of the items on their list was a new pair of shoes for every child at Casa de Esperanza. Mostly, these kids wear gently used shoes. Once in a while someone buys new shoes for everyone and sends down here. But for the most part, you could say these kids have never been in a shoe store and picked out their own shoes. There was debate whether to take them 2 or 3 at a time or take the whole group, all 15 of them. There is enough adults here right now we decided to take the whole group and do lunch and the whole works. The excitement level about this adventure was high. After church and after everyone went to the bathroom, we began to load the cars. There are some things that are legal and a way of life here in Honduras that is absolutely forbidden in the states. One of those is riding in the back of a pickup truck. While legal, we don't allow any of the children to ride in the back of the truck. So fifteen kids and 3 adults piled into the trooper with Marc driving. Karen and her mother got into the front of the green pickup. Dorian and I crawled in the back of the truck. Only going to town there were 4 other adults who needed a ride to town. Six adults in the back of the truck. Not bad, for Honduras. I have seen a whole lot more than that in the back of a truck. I love riding in the back of the truck. Don't you wish you were here, Ginger? Only Marc's rule is no standing. We had to sit. You might not have liked it as much. After a vote by the kids, we headed for Church's fried chicken. Marc ordered food for all the kids. Just like at home, they bowed their heads and sweetly said a prayer. And then they ate and ate. Crispy fried chicken and mashed potatoes. Only one coke was spilled. Those little tummies were as full as ticks. Then the adults ordered their food and chatted over a leisurely lunch while all the kids played on the playground. Then we loaded back into the cars and headed for the mall. Just loading and unloading is no small task. Can you imagine seeing 15 kids and 7 adults come walking into the mall? They all went right in and put their little fingers and faces all over the glass. Someone has a job this afternoon. Karen sat them all in the floor and we decided to take three at a time into the shoe store. How do you keep 12 kids happy while 3 get to pick out shoes? Dunkin Donuts. I think if I had been the clerk on duty, it might have been break time. The two clerks that helped us were very gracious and helpful. The little kids were easy. When we found something that fit, that is what they got. I took Katty in first. I tried the shoes on her and she smiled then she said for Maryuri and I said no, for Katty. Then she smiled even bigger. All of this went relatively fast. Every adult got to go in at least once. We got sandals, tennis shoes, soccer shoes. Pamela is our oldest girl, and, of course, she cared what she got. She was in a terrible accident before she came to live at Casa de Esperanza. She has a badly misshaped heel that causes her a lot of pain. The shoes she really liked fit right on the scar and hurt her foot. We told her to get sandals. She tried on many pairs and either she did not like them or they did not fit. She sat down on the floor and I saw her quickly brush one tear away. We were going to tell her if she did not find something she really liked that we would take her to another store and find some. Perhaps not today, though. She did not want to be the only person that left without new shoes. At last, she found a pretty pair of pink sandals. She was beaming when she tried them and they fit. Of course, everyone wanted to wear their new shoes home. Karen told everyone they could put their new shoes on when they got home. Sharon, Janie, John, and Dave I wish you were here to be a part of this adventure for which you provided. I took pictures. Maybe not as many as you guys would have, but I took pictures.

What a grand time we all had, watching these children go into a shoe store and pick out a new pair of shoes, most for the first time.

When we got home, it was definitely nap time, at least for Marc and me.

Terri