Almost 2 months ago, we were at the Atlanta airport feeling excited to board a plane and start off our World Race journey. While I was waiting for the rest of my squad mates to check in, the Holy Spirit led me to talk to a man named Anthony who worked at the shoe shine station.
The shoe shine station reminded me of my dad. When I was young, my dad had one pair of dress shoes that he would wear for church or special occasions. I would watch him intently, fascinated by the smell of the shoe polish and the sound of the brush as he would sweep it across his leather shoes in a rhythmic fashion.
I found myself sharing these stories with Anthony. And he began to share his stories with me also. At the end of our conversation, I felt at peace. God was reminding me that He was with me and that He will provide comfort for me during the times when I would miss my dad the most.
After our month in the Dominican Republic, we took a coach bus and headed to Haiti for ministry. I was feeling sad, thinking of my wonderful time in Dominican Republic and all the people I would miss. As I saw the mountains pass us by I was reminded of the memories I have with my dad who I was also missing. A few years ago, we climbed up mountains during our vacation to the Sequoia National Park in California. I know my dad is cheering me on and seeing all of God’s glory from the perfect spot above. But, I asked God to come again and comfort me during this transition of saying goodbye and hello to the next part of our journey.
At the border crossing between the Dominican Republic and Haiti, there were boys asking to shine people’s shoes. One of the boys gestured towards my feet. I was feeling sorry because I didn’t have any Gourdes to pay him with, but he wanted to do it for free. He ran up to me telling me to put my foot up on this small wooden pedestal. I was hesitant because I noticed that he didn’t have any shoe polish, but he had a bottle with some sort of soap mixture and a shoe shine brush. Also, I wasn’t wearing shoes. I was wearing sandals. Again, the boy beckoned me to place my foot on the pedestal.
Instead, I knelt to meet him where he was. His name was Bon Bon and he began “shining” my feet. I felt vulnerable and exposed but, I haven’t seen my feet look so clean in a long time. As I watched him, I thanked God for being faithful to comfort me, providing a tender moment with this sweet boy.
Jesus came and washed the feet of His disciples. Afterwards, He instructed His disciples to wash one another’s feet. The Lord and Savior washed the disciples’ feet even when they didn’t have anything to offer Him. They were vulnerable, left in awe that He would do such a thing. But, such a thing was needed. Jesus did this to welcome us into servanthood alongside Him and to equip us to serve one another in Love (John 13:5-16). He set an example that His disciples would never forget.
As I listened to Bon Bon humming a tune while he washed my feet with joy-filled eyes, I felt the presence of Jesus. I’m more than a believer and more than His beloved. I’m called to follow Him as a disciple and a servant. Jesus is Lord. And this time, He spoke through the servant-heart of a little boy in the crossing between two countries.
