The Miracle of Multiplication

Today, a beautiful thing happened.  It was a miracle of multiplication. 

This summer, we are planning the third annual JoyHouse soccer tournament.  It's proven to be a very effective way to reach the young men in the community of Gressier with the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The players are given matching team jerseys, a pair of coaches--one Haitian and one American--who cheer them on, and a chance to win medals, trophies, and bragging rights.  However, we have noticed that many of the players come to the soccer field without any shoes.  Can you imagine playing soccer barefoot on a field where goats live (and poop), where glass is broken and barbed wire pokes out unexpectedly?   In the spirit of teamwork, often times we see boys on the sidelines sharing their shoes with boys who are playing--even if the shoes are several sizes too big or small.  

So, a vision was cast for us by a fellow friend of JoyHouse ministries to take 300 pairs of shoes to Haiti this summer.  We always end our soccer tournament with a big celebration at the church for all the players and coaches, where we provide each player with a gift (usually a soccer ball and sling bag)--but this year we wanted to use these shoes as gifts for the players.  A ministry called Samaritan's Feet will provide new athletic shoes for us at a very discounted price--just $10 a pair.  And the best part---when we give them the shoes, we wash their dirty, calloused feet and share the gospel face-to-face.  It's a beautiful vision.  

However, you do the math.  300 pairs of shoes x $10 each = a lot of moolah.  

Thankfully, God ALWAYS provides.  Our family loves Upward Sports and the children's ministry leaders at church graciously gave us the opportunity to share this vision at the last couple of Upward basketball games.  Today Julie shared at the half-times of all eight games about this summer's soccer tournaments and our need of shoes.  

To make it fun--and to help them identify with the kids who play sports barefoot all around the world--we invited players and coaches in the Upward games to play one minute of their game without shoes.  

Finally, Upward families were also given the opportunity to donate gently used shoes or $10 to purchase a new pair through Samaritan's Feet.  

The response was humbling.  In one day, through the generous donations of Upward families, we collected 215 pairs of shoes for these precious Haitian soccer players.   We are so very grateful for this miracle of multiplication.  This is how our Lord does math--He takes a little bit from a lot of people and multiplies it into something incredibly beautiful.

But there was one envelope in the collection box that touched my heart the most.  After hearing about the ministry of the JoyHouse and Samaritan's Feet, one sweet little Upward player went home and emptied his piggy bank.  He scraped together $10 in dollars, quarters and pennies, and put it in an envelope for Samaritan's Feet.  

Oh Jesus, please bless this child for giving with a joyful heart, and please bless the Haitian child who will receive a pair of shoes because of this beautiful gift. 

In the 14th chapter of Matthew, we read about a child's gift of his lunch--five loaves and two fish.  Jesus took this little gift and multiplied it to meet the needs of many.  One child's lunch in the hands of the Almighty can make a tremendous impact on a community.  

I pray the sweet gifts of these Upward children reach far and wide in the community of Gressier.  

It's heavenly math--the miracle of multiplication.