Changed Forever

Nine air plane rides later the Sole Hope team arrived safely on American soil yesterday morning after our two week trip to Uganda and Zambia, Africa.  I've tried to write this blog a hundred times and every time I am struck with a lack of words.  Over the next few weeks I will be unpacking our trip in photographs, and I will tell you the story that changed four American lives forever.  To give you a glimpse of my heart I will share this excerpt from my personal blog,

"If I only had one thousand words I might be able to explain to you the last two weeks of my life.  The problem is, my heart has a thousand recollections that leave me speechless.

It has been about two weeks; two weeks for me to gather my thoughts about the one of the deepest experiences of my life.  How do I explain what it feels like to have my heart go walking outside of my body?  How do I gather the words that will paint a picture of pure bliss in the midst of poverty, hurt and pain?  My experience in Africa was taken in this time in a very personal way.  My heart was touched deeply, dare I say, deeper than ever before.  I experienced more highs and lows in the past two weeks than I have in the past eight months.  Leaving my family in Asheville while I venture off into the unknown, on a trip I knew would make my heart set sail has been beyond hard.  I grew closer to three of my friends from Asheville that accompanied me than I ever thought I would.  I grew to love five "strangers" in Uganda that I now call, with all sincerity, my family.  I watched God do miracle after miracle and prepare the way for the greatness he has in store for Sole Hope.  I experienced his favor and mercy in great ways.  I witnessed the hard work and resiliency of over 100 Sole Hope workers in Zambia and Uganda.  I saw hearts changed and lives moved, including my own."

This was just one pair of jigger infested feet.  

From the Sole Hope Africa team, we thank you for your support and love!  We could not impact others without you.  This is not something we do on our own, nor is it something we desire to take glory for.  There are over 100 men and women in Africa that have had their lives forever changed because of the hard work and dedication they have already put into shoe making with Sole Hope.  Because of you were were able to buy two sewing machines and repair five more for shoe making.  We were able to buy supplies for shoe making IN country to support the local economy and aid the self sustainability of the business.  

Thank you very very much!  

~Asher Collie