At what age did you recieve your first pair of shoes?

For some of our children, as young as one years old (Desire) and for others.... 12 years old! They received their first pair of shoes just weeks ago and were speechless. Our friend Kathy, who also lives in Burundi had it in her heart to help our children, and truly they were so grateful. Some, didn't even want to wear them at all, but just keep them in their rooms and treasure them in a good condition! Others, only wanting to wear them on Sunday's! And for Vernist in particular... well, he couldn't stop jumping up and down and is confident his new shoes help him jump very high like he is on a trampoline! He's convinced...

It's interesting, in our culture, in our minds a pair of shoes is just part of our everyday life. For example, Malaki got a pair of shoes before he was even one... and now he has a few! But for our children, its so much deeper than "just a pair of shoes..." Yes, its their first but its more than a material thing to them. To our children, this is another building block that shows them we love them and care for their little feet that have scars and holes from worms from years of being barefoot. Their JOY and HUGE smiles were just PRICELESS...

A big thanks to all who are compelled to make a difference in the lives of our children. A big thanks! They are one of the many keys to the future of Burundi, a hope for a nation. They are.