Irene Update March 2013 – Wins Again
For all who are following our work with Irene, the 15 year-old runner who lives in a White squatter camp near Pretoria, South Africa, here’s the news:
On my last trip I went to a school regional track meet where Irene ran in both the 800m and the 1500m races. She won Gold in both (see photos). I also discovered that she runs barefoot, as do most of the children, because they can’t afford shoes. The shoes we made for Irene were customized since she has no toes. They were stolen within days by a drug addict in the camp. He sold them so we can’t get them back even though we know who he is. So now she runs with no shoes.
I was told that Irene’s time in the 1500m was 4:48. The world record for 15-year-olds is 4:00. She is doing very well.
I also found out that she is in a Special Ed school. I don’t believe this has anything to do with her abilities. I think that as a result of the trauma in her life, which we are still investigating, she simply cannot cope with regular classes and in South Africa, the solution is to send all these students, regardless of the real issues, to Special Ed schools. Unfortunately, this turns out to be baby-sitting, not education. So, one more issue that we must address with Irene.
Please pray for her. We are doing what we can, thanks to many of you, but the problems are much deeper than we thought.
Skip
Way to go Ireneo/
You are truly blessed by God.
Blessings,
Chris
Skip,
Thanks for remaining so loyal to Irene and her plight. I know it seems like an uphill battle but I have no doubt that you’re making an impact in her life.
How much would it cost to have another pair of her special shoes made? Does it make any sense or is it folly to think they too would not be stolen?
Bless You Skip for sticking with this little one. It would be helpful if you added a direct link to donate to her.
Any and all donations can be made to At God’s Table (and therefore deductible). Just indicate “Irene” somewhere in the process.
skipmoen.com/donate
Your intentions were kind in giving her the shoes. But, it was probably a blessing for her feet they were stolen. Walking and running barefooted is how God designed us to get around. It causes good posture, eliminates structural issues, enables electrons to enter through our bare feet from the earth to neutralize disease causing radical stressors, strengthens our feet and ankles, eliminating foot issues, just to name a few of the benefits. Shoes on occasion could be useful on rough terrain only.
I agree Robin. My agreement comes from trying and experiencing barefoot walking and running myself. I was aghast at the thought initially from my ingrained Western shoe mentality. The fact is more walkers and runners sustain injuries via their footwear than those that simple go natural – barefoot. True, it does take time, weeks or months, to make a good transition from typical high heel shoes (where the heel is elevated above the ball of the foot). However, after my slow but disciplined acclamation, I much prefer barefoot in things that don’t require rocks and heavy debris. I’m barefoot as much as I can possibly be. Outdoors in normal life, I typically (99%) of the time wear Vibram Five Finger ‘shoes.’ I love them.
Regarding the spirited Irene, I am in awe of her willingness to run. The thing that seems the most challenging to me is not having any toes. Toes are what balances us, so I’m sure she must have learned to compensate for that. They also assist in directing power in the walking/running ballet.
Many of the longest distance runners run barefoot of with minimalist sandals consisting of the thinnest piece of rubber or other material held on with lace. So, in summary, I am not concerned she is running barefoot. I’m probably more concerned for those runners with tennis shoes/running shoes as they are statistically more susceptible to foot/leg/back injuries.
She seems, by her smile, to be taking things in stride (no pun intended!) and someone intent on accomplishment. Can’t tell everything from a few pictures, just gleaning from what I can from her composer in the shots.
Blessings to her.
Yes, but they are ESSENTIAL when you train without a track, and on the track, most of these kids have terrible blisters. Maybe God designed us to walk without shoes but I am not so sure He intended us to compete on artificial surfaces without them.
Skip,
I would like buy her several pairs of shoes. What is the chances that they will be stolen again. Would it be wise to buy the shoes. She deserves them. It is very sad about the conditions in the area where she lives and many other areas are in the same condition.
Thanks Skip for the ministry you have started in S. Africa. God bless you my brother.
Richard McDonald
We are thinking that the shoes, if we can replace them, need to be kept someplace where they aren’t available to others in the camp. We will work on that. The problem is that she really needs them for training, since that is the rough ground. And that happens where she lives.
If you want to help, just contribute to At God’s Table and mark it for Irene. We have a fund in South Africa for her now. Carefully monitored.
Skip,
Thanks so much for the update on Irene! As I told you previously, my little class is praying for her daily. They were blessed by the pictures. They have been saving up a bit at a time as they can to donate to Irene and her family. (It is not much. We are a small group.) We’ll be doing a lemonade/ice tea stand this spring and summer and will raise more funds in this way. They want Irene to come visit them someday! I’d love to take them to her:) Thank you for keeping us up to date.