For almost six months now I’ve been explaining to people about what it is that Sole Hope does.

Only just today in the village of Bibbo did I fully understand.

We traveled through an emerald forest of countryside slashed here and there with roads carved out of that famous red Ugandan dirt.  Fields of wild sugar cane butted right up next to a thick scattering of pine trees so plentiful it brought to mind the very scape of East Texas.  Throughout, in, and above all…palms of all shapes and sizes bowed gracefully under the heavy kiss of rain that followed us all this day.

Bodies crowded into a dry classroom to set up the clinic for the removal of jiggers from these bare feet.  Some jobs available to volunteers:  writing up names and foot notes, jigger removers, people to do fittings for new shoes, or runners for moving the babies with clean feet or to get fresh water.

Today my opportunity to serve came in the form of washing feet.

Have you ever washed someone else’s feet?

Before today, I had only washed my babies’ feet.  An act done with such careful and devout attention that bonds were created and strengthened.  Hot tears pricked my eyes as I held small and precious dirty feet.  As I removed the soil and bathed each child in prayer, my gaze meeting theirs, something happened.

A pure form of love.

Did you know that the essence of Jesus’ life and the full extent of His love was expressed in His literal example of washing feet?

In Biblical times, washing feet was a job for a household servant to carry out when guests arrived.  On the eve of the crucifixion, and the last time Jesus spent with His disciples, He gave them a final lesson:

John 13:1 says, ‘…Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.’

In the form of the lowest servant, the next act Jesus completed after saying these words…was washing and drying the feet of His friends.

So…what did I learn today about what it is that Sole Hope does?

They’re doing exactly what we are all called to do:

Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.

(John 13:14)

Mo | Logan | Cara | Wynne| Erika | Carey

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