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“I don’t want your money, I want your soul. Your shoe sole that is!” This is the slogan used by Pastor George Hutchings, also affectionately known as “The Shoeman.”
Every once in a while a story comes along that just has to be told, and this is one of those stories. I was invited by the founders and staff of Inspiranza Designs here in Millstadt to meet a rather interesting man, with an unusual ministry of collecting shoes. My curiosity was aroused, so I accepted the invitation, and I am so glad I did. First of all, when I first walked in to “Inspiranza Designs” I was met by founders Diane Lawrence & Dawn Pochek, and then to the rest of the staff, of which were the most hospitable people you would ever want to meet, they made me feel like old friends. Then I met the man-of-the-hour, standing tall in blue jeans, black shirt, black leather vest, and a large black Cowboy hat. His presence alone just seemed to command respect, and rightly so being a former Marine and Vietnam Veteran. His stature and deep soft voice captivated my attention immediately. Here is his story:
As a former Marine, Vietnam Veteran with a desire to do good in the world, he looked for his niche, and he found it after attending Living Waters International in Houston, Texas. He had been to Kenya many times and knew of the water crisis, but he knew nothing about drilling for water. Living Water International taught him how to use a drilling rig. Then he said, “ I had a problem, I knew Kenyan people were dying for water and I knew how to operate the equipment that would solve the problem. I prayed and then it was as if an invisible hand had just reached out and said, ‘Want to dance?’ I said, ‘Yes.’”
Right in the middle of telling his story, he stopped to mention his lovely wife Becky of 40 years. I have learned that behind a good man, there is a great woman that stands in support. The shear way he mention her told you immediately she was such that woman.
Pastor Hutchings now collects old shoes through shoe drives that are started by schools, businesses, churches, temples, scout troops, and even motorcycle groups. When I asked him how he turned shoes into water, he said, “I collect the shoes then sell them for 35 cents a pound, that end up usually in South America where people can’t afford new shoes, but are able to buy the used shoes for pennies on the dollar. With the money made with the shoes I then buy drilling rigs.”
In 2008, he collected 154,000 pairs of shoes and was able to buy 3 drilling rigs to take to Kenya. He was in Kenya the month of August 2009 and the wells drilled will provide fresh water for 120,000 people! There was a school of 600 students who had not had clean water in 10 years and he drilled a well right on the school property. “The pure joy that day is hard to put into words! Amazing, isn't it? Old Shoes Turned Into Fresh Water,” exclaimed Hutchings.
Pastor Hutchings told us a story of some women from one village who began digging a well that was 5 feet wide and some 20 feet deep, looking for water, but ran into a bedrock. He went into the well, explaining that he was thinking like man in his 20’s, but soon realized he was trying to cash a check that his body wouldn’t allow. Prior to that he did not have rigs or bits that could cut through bedrock. He ordered a rig that can now cut through bedrock, going down some 400 feet with a 1 ½” round bit. This rig can drill some 30 wells a year and provide fresh water for several thousand people.
When we go to our kitchen or bathroom faucet, we turn it on and expect clean, fresh water to flow through the pipes. Sometimes after the city flushes their hydrants we get water that comes out a rusty color, and complain. In most parts of Kenya there are no faucets flowing with water, but rather filthing, contamidated, flowing streams of which water is had. And the rusty looking water that ocassionally flow through our pipes would be a blessing for the people of Kenya, compared to what they have to drink. So the next time you turn on your faucet, don’t take it for granite, think about “Water for Kenya” and how you can do your part in providing clean water through donating your old shoes. “Inspiranza Designs” is starting a shoe drive in Millstadt to help George “The Shoeman” drill the next well in Kenya. By the end of this week (December 4th ) they should have a drop-off hut to place old shoes in, but if not they will accept them within their business until the drop-off hut arrives. Their location is at 530 East Washington Street here in Millstadt. Their goal is 500 pairs of shoes, but I know the wonderful citizens of Millstadt can exceed that goal, so start looking through your closets, and donate those shoes. Please tie the shoe strings together to help keep the pairs together, and for pairs without shoestrings, perhaps place them in bags.
For more information and pictures of “The Shoeman” you can go to his website at
www.shoeman.org.
Also, to get more information about “Inspiranza Designs” you can go to
www.InspiranzaDesigns.com.
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