More Than Shoes

Earlier this year I introduced you to Otto, a shoe maker working and living in La Limonada in Guatemala City.  After years of talking about the effects of shipping and bringing things like shoes from the U.S. to Guatemala and other countries and advocating for small local business owners in Guatemala, I was finally able to tell you about just one of the real people that I long to see succeed.  A couple of weeks after that post, I walked through La Limonada and into Otto's home which is also his shop.  I walked up the steep, wobbly stairs to the area where he makes his shoes.  I stood on a floor that shakes and moves with every step, praying that this wouldn't be the moment of collapse and looked over each tiny pair of shoes that he had created for children living in an orphanage in Guatemala City.  The look on his face was priceless as I told him how happy and impressed I was with his work and then I asked him if he could also make a pair of shoes for me and a friend.  Our visit was short.  He measured my foot, made sure he knew exactly what I wanted, introduced me to his paralysed son and his precious daughter and wife and I was on my way quickly, knowing that I would see him only briefly the next day when I would pick up my new pair of shoes.

Almost every day after that I slid my feet into those gray and white leather shoes knowing that they are not the result of a long assembly line or multiple machines.  They are the result of one man living in La Limonada, just trying to make a living so that he can care for his family.  I knew only of his son's story and nothing of his until recently.  Now, when I slip on what have become treasures to me, I pray for Otto and his family and thank God for the man that he has become.  His story really is one that proves beauty can come from ashes.

In October, I was able to spend a little more time with him.  It's a given now that any time I am in Guatemala, I must have a new pair or two of Otto originals, so once again I made my way up those stairs and tried not to move too much while picking out my designs and fabrics. 

This time I got to hear Otto's story and while I won't share all of the details here simply because his story is not mine to tell, I will tell you that he gives all glory to the Lord for transforming his life in unbelievable ways.  His past is one of violence and heartache and despair, but the saving grace of Christ can change even the most hardened heart and he now lives a life surrendered only to the Lord, a life of love and joy despite the hardships of living in La Limonada.

As he shared his heart that day, he talked about something he had dreamed of for a long time.  He longed to be able to help children and men from the streets.  He wanted to be able to train them and mentor them and to tell them about how Jesus saves despite your past.  As two young men worked hard on making shoes behind me, I realized that their stories, though I did not learn them that day, were probably ones like Otto's and that this man that sat before me, one that years ago I would never have considered being near because it would not have been considered "safe" was living his dream and what I believe must be one of God's calls on his life.  He hired them to train them when they had nothing to offer.  He spends his days with them, making shoes and pouring love and hope into their lives.  And he will not stop there.  From my two pairs of shoes and my friend's orders and other orders he filled the day before, he told us that he would be able to purchase more supplies, but what really brought me to a place of incredible happiness was when he told me that from the shoes he will create for the school children this month, he will be able to hire another person from the streets.  He will be able to train and mentor them the same as he does the ones that already work with him.

When we ask you to donate to supply a pair of shoes for a child in La Limonada and you generously do, you should know that it goes far beyond just one pair of shoes for one child.  That pair of shoes is made by Otto or one of his helpers.  Otto's family receives income from that.  He is able to provide for them because of it.  He is able to provide a job for someone that before knew only hopelessness.  He is able to help them understand, maybe for the first time, what Christmas really is.  And then they are able to take that message to their families and friends.  It is more than just one pair of shoes and one child.  That one pair of shoes (and imagine if we made it to the goal of 290 pairs!) makes an impact on an entire family and even on this community.  It is hard to wrap your mind around just how much of an impact comes from this and I wish everyone could just visit and see it personally.  You can't help but be transformed yourself.

If you would like to donate a pair of shoes to a child in La Limonada this Christmas which will also bring much good to many others in the community, click on the GIVE SHOES button on the side bar here.