Shoe Outreaches
In December 2010, we joined up with some good friends of ours with Power’s Ministry International for their annual shoe outreach. Our team and theirs sorted through thousands of shoes, grouping them by size.
We headed out to the Northern regions of Thailand where we went to three different villages in 1 single day.
The first was to a Brick Factory. Here is where over 200 some Shawn families fled the Burma border in one single night. They came to this Brick Factory several years back, and were invited in to work and make their living there. Only thing is they can’t leave since they are in fact refugees.
They sang Christmas songs with the kids, leading them into some worship, and explained the meaning of Christmas.
Bro. Paul brought the Gospel message, and Darlene lead them in a Salvations prayer.
It was such a blessing to be apart of the outreach, to share the message of Christ, hand out the shoes, and simply love on the people letting them know we care, and God cares about them.
It was great seeing their faces when receiving their shoes along with the snacks they were given.
We visited a rural village afterwards where we handed out hundreds of shoes. People were blessed with new shoes, but everywhere we went they were also blessed with something more precious than any shoe.
Some gifts cost nothing, like the priceless gift of Salvation through Christ.
Faith Village was next. The kids there are all believers thanks to the amazing ministry that’s been going on there for many years.
The 2nd day of shoe outreach, we drove out to Mae Toh, which is around 3hrs outside of Chiang Mai in the mountains. Beautiful place. Beautiful people. Was the largest outreach we’d done yet. Hundreds of kids and parents gathered from the surrounding villages.
We carried out the boxes of snacks, chips, juices, oranges, and shoes. Lined everything up.
Bro Paul introduced us and the team of RLI along with the PMI (Power’s Ministry International) Team.
Our team did the “Sin Chair Skit.” It was fun, and a easy opener to presenting the Gospel message.
After the skit, Bro Paul shared the message of Christ. Telling them that Salvation is a free gift, not something we can deserve or pay for, but is given freely. He asked how many of them would like to receive this free gift, and hand went up all over. He lead them into the sinner’s prayer for salvation. Praise God for those who came and heard the Gospel!
Afterwords everyone lined up to receive the free gifts we’d brought. That began a couple of hours of handing out shoes and checking sizes.
Sarah Dale who was busy at the front of the line where the ladies were sizing the kids feet for shoes, brought to our attention a pair of shoes she found on one of the little boys in line.
Breaks your heart when you see shoes like these, but then again it also makes you thankful and glad that ministries like PMI and RLI are around making a difference in the world. Thank you Lord for the amazing opportunity to give to the needy.
We were truly blessed to be apart of these outreaches. Though it cost to do this work and to have the manpower to carry it out, it’s truly priceless when you see first hand the lives that are being touched. It’s not a burden, it’s not a sacrifice, it’s an honor.
Isaiah 52:7
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.
