Ummmmm...Feet!

Serving lunch in Masese has been crazy! SO crazy that we felt like we have barely gotten to know any of the people or children. Last Wednesday we piki'ed to Masese to deliver the 25 kilos of beans for this week's meal, but also to spend some quality time with the villagers. Our plan...to show them love, the kind of love that isn't easily shown while shouting for kids to make a line, stop grabbing and to back away from the food! We brought basins, soap and towels. We purchased water from the local well. We spent several hours washing children's feet. We had young toddlers who waddled over to the soapy water and tried not to cry as the mzungu touched them up to 15-year-old guys who had calloused soccer-playing feet. After their feet were scrubbed clean with soap and water, we dried them and painted their toenails. It was an experience everyone should have. To be down on your knees in the mud with the sun beating down on your back, dripping in sweat and touching feet that have walked for years and years without shoes or any kind of protection from the rough African dirt. Most of the feet were caked in dirt and required some rough scrubbing. Some had cuts and blisters from running and playing with bare feet. We cleaned their wounds, and covered them with band-aids. The kids then sat patiently while we painted their nails in bright red and pink colors (even the boys!). Arielle happily started singing a song about Jesus, and soon everyone Christian or non-Christian caught on and were singing about dancing for Jesus.
The first two girls, about 13-years each were nearest to the bench where we set up. We motioned to them to sit on the bench and put their feet in the bucket. One did as she was told, but the other got down and started to wash her friends feet. We were touched by her readiness to serve her friend. When we both started quickly telling her to get up and sit at the other station and put her feet in the bucket, she got the biggest beaming smile. The children were shy as we washed their feet. They laughed quietly when it tickled and glanced around proudly as their friends watched. Many parents came by and we can't tell you how many times we heard them say, "well done mzungus." Others told us we were doing "good work" and "thank you sooo much for serving the children." Amazingly, we washed and painted every child and teen's feet!
It was a humbling experience. One that we should have done before. I think the people were able to see the love and respect that we have for them. We wanted to teach the children that just because we we're white and appear powerful and rich, we're not any better. We are all equal in our (R and A) eyes and the eyes of God. No matter where we come from, our background, the mansion or village hut we grow-up in, we are the same. God loves us all.

We served another lunch yesterday to the children and I don't know if it was our work on Wednesday, but things went amazingly well. The children made a line, came through to get their beans, chapati, and watermelon-pineapple juice and went to eat in a shady spot. We saw lots of painted toenails come through the line and are happy to report that every child who came for the meal was fed.