How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good news,
who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,
who publishes salvation,
who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” – Is 52:7
My entire body is trembling as I write. Shaking. Tingling. Nearly numb.
I have to write now. You have to know now. For the past 3 hours, I have been holding screaming children in a jigger removal clinic and my heart is shattered into a million pieces. Children the same ages as my own… whose feet were full of these wretched sand fleas and their egg sacs buried deep beneath the skin.
I clung tightly to precious children who screamed in a way that brought my stomach into my throat. I watched chunks of flesh detach as the painful jiggers were removed. Child after child clenching teeth at the beginning and then begging to be held by those of us around. What starts out as accepting a gentle back scratch, turns into a furious grasping for comfort wherever they can find it. A desperate cry to be free of the pain of these despicable insects.
I am absolutely wrecked and emotionally spent. My heart is still beating fast as my stomach threatens to expel all the contents at any given moment. And not only from watching the gruesome process of removal, but from the way my heart is throbbing with the pain I just experienced alongside of them.
At one point 5 of us held 4 year-old Abu who had jiggers in his feet and hands as he screamed out “Mommy!!! Mommy!!” and clung tightly to my arms. His face buried in my own as his tears mingled with mine and fell all over his outstretched legs. I held him tight and kissed his dirty, tear-stained face as a nurse removed jigger after jigger after jigger. His toes were so swollen that they looked to be spread wide from the infection ravaging every part of his foot.
I watched my sweet new friend lose an entire toenail because of the mass amount of eggs buried underneath and infection encompassing every part of his tiny toes. Infection spewed from every open wound in his toes as he writhed in excruciating pain. My heart is cracked wide open and my eyes feel constantly wet from the welling tears that won’t leave.
All they need to prevent this from happening is medical care, education, and a pair of shoes. All they need is a pair of shoes.
A pair of shoes.
And as I sat there broken-hearted, sobbing with these babes, all I could think was “How can anyone not agree to just cut up their old jeans to prevent this?” All it takes is my leftovers…a little bit of my time… and a piece of my heart to love beyond what I can see from the comfort of my own beautiful American home.
I don’t think I can ever view my old jeans the same. I won’t ever view my mass collection of shoes the same. I can’t not do something when I have SO MUCH to give. We have SO MUCH to give. And it’s such a small amount to give to make a difference too. After what I experienced today, I’m not beyond begging you. From the pit in my stomach and the fullness of my heart, I honestly beg you not stand by and do nothing. I beg you to gather people around you…to order a shoe kit and to bring hope to these children.
It’s not just giving shoes….it’s providing medical care… antibiotics, ointments, testing for HIV, Typhoid, Malaria, and other diseases. It’s holding tearful faces and kissing cheeks that don’t have proper care. It’s creating jobs for the shoemakers who for the first time can provide for even their own families. Some of the Sole Hope workers have begun taking in other street children and paying for their school as well. The hearts of all involved with this organization swell with Jesus and want to love their own people with the love that has been shown to them.
With everything that I am, I stand behind what Sole Hope is doing here in Uganda. They breathe love, and Jesus, hope, and new life. They give children back a childhood where they can run and play without pain. They open doors and create life-giving opportunities for workers and staff.
I cannot say enough good about what I have seen here. My words fall short.
So often from where we sit in America, it can feel like we are asked to give money…and more money and more money. And the truth is that we actually do have so much money that we can give. But there is something so special about becoming a bigger part of the story. About seeing a pair of my own jeans cut up with friends and family and then made into a pair of shoes. About holding the children as they cry, about loving on them, about seeing them educated, sharing the love of Jesus with them, and giving shoes made from items in my own home.
The children here are wearing pieces of your blessing… wearing bits of your generosity. They are given back childhood because of your cut up pants.
It’s a no-brainer.
If they were your children, wouldn’t you want someone who has piles of extra pants at home to cut up a few pairs to help your kids?
Please. Please. It’s just so simple… and so totally life-giving.
For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling; I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. – Ps 116:8–9
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” – Rev 21:3-5
Mo | Wynne | Cara | Melissa | Erika | Carey
If you’d like to help provide extended recovery for some of these children, please join with me, Allume, Sole Hope, and Pure Charity as we partner together to make the Sole Hope Outreach House Project a reality!
Want to host your own shoe cutting party? It’s easy, fun, and will change lives. I promise..I see it. Go HERE to order a shoe cutting kit!
Be sure to follow all the other amazing gals on our trip by clicking this link: #bloghope
**Photos by Cara Coleman
Oh friend. Oh friend. Oh friend. I have no words… nothing left. I am wrecked. We’ve hosted one party and I’ll be hosting another… Praying for those sweet children, Jesus may they feel You near.
i totally feel everything you’re feeling here. this. this is good work you’re doing. thank you. #fistbump
sharing. weeping.
Thank you for sharing your heart, your words, your experiences, Logan! We need to hear it!
My most favorite pair of jeans is dangerously close to a sprouting a hole in a unwearable location. Instead of crying over my lost pair of jeans, I will be cutting them up for kids who need them so much more than I do!!!!
I brought home a kit from Allume and haven’t scheduled a party yet… MUST do it soon!!!
Thank you SO much Logan– Thanks for “bringing us along” by allowing us to pray, hurt for these sweet children and rejoice with all that’s going on these last few days. Such a privilege.
love you girl! and all that you are doing!! xoxo
Praying sweet friend! your words left me in tears today- I just ordered my first party pack (of many I am sure!) Much love and sweet kisses from home and from your boys- they are great! A
Yes. Sharing everywhere.
Grateful you all are there to hold those precious children and for the love and work that is taking place through Sole Hope’s efforts. Goodness – so very grateful!
Thank you for overflowing your experience with us and making us aware of something so simple and powerful! Continued Prayers.
My heart is aching. I did not fathom the depth of pain these children live with. I did not comprehend how deep the need is for something so simple. Thank you for sharing. May the Lord comfort you and those precious children.
I looked up a youtube video about jigger removal after reading your first Sole Hope post… I’d actually never heard of this particular vermin before and what I saw on that video…
I hear the plea from your mama-heart today and wept tears alongside your words too. With full sincerity, I’m gonna look into a jean-cutting party. <3
Love you,
E
This is awesome! Thank you for sharing! Made a donation. This is one of those tangible things we CAN do to help. LOVE LOVE LOVE
I just ordered my kit and am planning a party. What you’re doing matters so much (as you know) – hang in there!
Thanks so much for sharing about your front line experience! {typing through tears} Sharing now…
This is very distressing to read about as I have children the same age. Could someone donate local anaesthetic? The thought of these poor children having their feet treated without anaesthetic is horrible. But thank you for the very important work that you do.
They have used all kinds of numbing agents, but because the jiggers are so widespread, the process of numbing injections actually causes the children even more pain. Localized anaesthetic doesn’t really touch the problem either because of the build up of callouses on the childrens feet as well. It’s just a nasty problem with no pretty solution beyond removal, medical treatment, care, new shoes, and education.
Oh. My. I love you, Logan Wolfram. Thank you for holding people who hurt … and for opening our eyes to see it.
We had three left-over garbage bags worth of denim after our shoe cutting party. Mountains of denim was dropped off as soon as people knew there was a need for it. I gave the leftovers to a woman who makes quilts from them because we didn’t have another party planned or a place to store them.
And I realize how much we have sitting in our closets that can be used. Many women enjoyed the parties so much they are ordering their own kits.
I’m so grieved for the pain, but glad you shared how desperate the need is. My heart is stirred. Thank you for this.
Logan, I am praying with you tonight. Thank you for going, for telling the hard stories, for holding those beautiful children and being a witness.
Kit ordered. Party being planned. Thanks so much for sharing from your heart.
It is this Love that reaches out from our souls that keeps Christ moving on this earth. Blessings to you, Logan, as you love and live out Christ.
Oh, my heart. I have tears streaming down my cheeks as I write this. I am so thankful to you for sharing your words, for laying your heart out before us! We absolutely need to hear the stories you are sharing. We need to know. I am ordering a kit and will host a party- absolutely. Thank you for being brave- brave enough to step out and speak up- to tell those of us who aren’t there what we must know. Thank you!
Praying for you friend. This is real, painful, and beautiful. Every word I want to type feels like an understatement. Thinking of you and all those beautiful faces.
Tears as I type! Thank you!
No words, only resolution. I am now giving a minimum of half of all I make speaking or selling books. And this week, I’m giving it all.
I love you, Diane Baily. That is all.
Oops… See… the “E” slipped out with my tears. 😉
Logan – I had a party and my friends brought so many pair of jeans I am still cutting them up for shoes for these kids. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. It just breaks my heart and makes me want to cut out shoes every spare moment I have. Hugs to you and all the crew and sweet children…big hugs to them!
Oh Logan that made me cry. Back in November while at Laity Lodge, I was blessed to participate in my first cutting party that my girlfriends Laura Bogguss and Jennifer Lee hosted. As I cut my jeans I was thinking of all the cute and sparkly shoes my 4 & 5 year old granddaughters have in their closets and couldn’t begin to imagine them living in those conditions. You have given me a deeper look of what Sole Hope is all about. Very beautiful Logan.
This post had already brought me to tears. Then I got to the picture with the piece of jean & “one piece of fabric can change lives.” As I organized uppers & pictures/cards that local 5th graders made at their Shoe Cutting Party during art class I came across this. I also took a picture before sending it off to Asheville. I was moved when I saw it the first time & even more moved now. So simple and so true. Thank you for posting. I am sharing your blog with the art teacher who will share with his students.
I will be passing this on. We did a shoe cutting party in December, and it was so easy to do, and so much fun. After reading this, I think I’d like to do several shoe cutting parties a year. Thank you for sharing this hard thing. Praying for you all as you walk these final days!
My goodness. My heart is a wreck and my mind is spinning this early morning. I’m going to gather up some women and have us a party. “They just need a pair of shoes!” Praying for you all. You are loving and suffering right alongside them….to have those emotions all wrapped up at once is almost too much.
You are loving well. Much Jesus over you all.
Fran
It’s time to renew my nursing license again. And each time I debate whether or not I should because I don’t work in the field any more. And each time I do just in case I have the opportunity to give immunizations in some remote area. But this time I’d about decided to let it go. Until I started following these stories that are wrecking me. I’m going to renew again… just in case.
I cut fabric with Jennifer and Leila, and I think it’s about time for my own party. Thank you for sharing your time, your heart, your tears, your words. Thank you for letting me share your photos. I can’t wait to meet you face-to-face this fall.
Logan, I am so moved by your words and experience there. Such a simple act here can make a huge change there. Yes, I will be more involved and so will my family! I love you sweet friend. You herald the good news of the Kingdom well. Your feet are beautiful.
Logan, I came over because of Sandra. I’m so glad I did. Such precious words from a precious soul! Tears are streaming. I have a question. Because of physical limitations, I’m not able to have a party. Is there some other way I can help? Praying for those precious little ones and all those, like you, who care enough to hold them and take care of them. Bless you!
Thank you for these words, Logan. I am a bawling mess with you. I heard the “you have to do something!” call in my comfy ballroom seat at Allume. And LAST NIGHT God fanned that spark into a roaring fire of his love as over 100 women from my church gathered for a Shoe Cutting Party. Tomorrow I will ship 265 pairs of shoes to Sole Hope. 265 kids who will know Jesus has not forgotten them. Because “nobody can do everything, but everybody can do something.” God is moving and you are being a faithful part of His story. I am with you, friend! All in!
I made the {easy} decision to order a kit after donating jeans at Allume. I procrastinated. But after reading this…well, of course any mama reading this would be reduced to tears. I can’t imagine the pain of these children ~ and yours, holding onto these babies! I just ordered my kit.
Thank you for sharing. Thank you for going to Uganda. Thank you for being Jesus to these precious children. Just thank you Logan.
i have LOVED watching ya’ll be the hands & feet of jesus this week to those children.
i love your stories. while it breaks my heart & i sit here crying in my comfortable home i know we can change the world. you’re doing it!!!! we can do this!!
we have started saving a pile of jeans & we are going to host a shoe cutting party at our community center next month. thank you for sharing your heart with us. love you friend.
I can’t begin to tell you how much your words and photos moved me when I first read this post.
The photos of you there…holding him…
I felt God calling me to help.
http://thisandthatbee.blogspot.ca/search/label/Sole%20Hope
http://thisandthatbee.blogspot.ca/2014/08/learn-about-sole-hope.html …I mentioned you.
Thank you for sharing…
Thank you for going…