John 13:1-5
Most of us have grown up hearing the example of Jesus’ washing his disciples feet told over and over again. I, myself, have seen this example played out in many churches and christian settings, and it is quite moving. The symbolism in the action is powerful, but I must admit I have never been quite so convicted as when I saw it happen in Moldova.
Noe and I were visiting a team in a village called Bieshti. It was cold, rainy, and probably the muddiest place I have ever been. A young family had opened up their home to the team while they were there for the week to minister to the villagers. During our stay, we all sought refuge in the one heated room in the home and watched with awe as the 21 year old wife and mother took care of us.I have seen some pretty inspiring women during my travels, especially in Africa, but this young lady really struck me.
While her husband spends many nights and days away in another village working, she is left to tend to the home, the garden, the farm animals, and their little girl. Plus a team of American missionaries and translators for a week! She never sat still the whole time we were there, yet she also never gave a hint that she was tired or resentful about all the work she did. I wish I could have talked to her, but because of the language barrier we mostly smiled and laughed at each other while peeling potatoes and chopping vegetables.
When it was time for Noe and I to end our visit, we said our goodbyes to the team the night before our departure as we had to leave very early the next morning. Well, of course who should be up and waiting for us at 6:00am but our amazing host! She absolutely insisted on walking with us through the mud to the bus stop. So off she goes traipsing through the mud like it’s no big deal, when she looks behind and sees me completely struggling and sliding all over the place. She comes back to me, grabs my hand firmly and then begins to half drag and half support me down the muddy slope. I laughed so hard at my own inability to walk in the mud, but also at how ridiculous we probably looked. At the bottom of the hill though I was extremely grateful for her firm grip.
She doesn’t stop there though, and before I know it she is now leading me to a small creek just before the bus stop. We come right up to the water’s edge and then she bends over, picks up my leg, and begins washing my muddy foot. All I could do was hold on to her so I wouldn’t fall, and watch as this young woman continued to amaze me. Here she was kneeling before me to clean the mud and manure off my shoes with her bare hands. I had done nothing to deserve her kindness nor could I truly express how meaningful this was, yet it didn’t matter. She wasn’t washing my feet because I deserved it, she simply understood the example Jesus set before us. To her, she was just loving and serving her sister in Christ.
