Sharing a Pair in Chiquimula

After arriving late Monday night, Megan and Ben woke up to a new world Tuesday morning—lush green hills, roosters crowing, and misty fog rolling over the Guatemalan countryside. Their first fitting took place in Chiquimula, about 40 minutes away, part of which required standing in the back of a pickup truck on rugged, unpaved mountain roads. Along the way, they saw cows, stray dogs, and families carrying bundles of wood and hay up steep paths.

When they arrived at Iglesia Evangelica, a local feeding center, they were greeted with smiles, giggles, and warm “holas.” As the team unpacked boxes and sorted shoes by size, the crowd quietly waited in anticipation. That day, more than 300 children and mothers were fit with shoes.

The language barrier sometimes made communication challenging, but a mix of hand gestures, smiles, and determination bridged the gap. Each interaction told a story—like the 75-year-old woman who walked barefoot for over an hour from her mountain village to reach the fitting, or the mother who came to find shoes for her five children, ages 4 to 15.

After receiving their shoes, families carried them home, often alongside heavy cinder blocks used for home projects. One woman balanced two boxes of shoes under her arm and two cinder blocks on her head, her children following behind, doing the same.

Every family served lived in extreme poverty, where most meals consisted of little more than tortillas. For many, a new pair of shoes meant not only comfort and protection, but also an opportunity—something to trade or treasure. Despite their challenges, the Guatemalan people radiated joy, gratitude, and pride in their culture.

The day ended with hugs, laughter, and even a few tears—one young girl ran back to give Megan a kiss on the cheek after receiving her new shoes.

Through Share-A-Pair and Soles4Souls, Stan’s continues its mission of making a difference one step at a time, bringing comfort and dignity to people around the world.