The Fishers in La Paz, Bolivia

In the States, public shoe shining is mostly out of vogue, except maybe in some larger cities. Perhaps because many people no longer wear actual leather shoes that need to be shined, or people don’t have time to stop for a good shoe shine or perhaps it’s that independent, do-it-yourself American mindset. In any case, we don’t have those issues here in Bolivia, and I get asked on a daily basis if I want my shoes shined. Mind you, I am often wearing shoes that are mostly fabric or my casual hiking-type shoes that have lots of large holes in them, and a shoe shine would not be pleasant or perhaps even ruin my shoes. The mostly young boys who offer to get the dust off my shoes don’t really think through those implications, and they just keep asking even if you’re wearing flip flops. I have never actually given in when wearing appropriate shoes and paid for a shoe shine, but I’m thinking I might soon. I have more respect now for these boys and for the ones who wash/watch cars parked on the street and for the ladies selling gum and tissues. At least they are offering some kind of product or service to try to make a living.

 We also have lots of begging here. At first I felt compelled to give to the older women who are typically the ones asking for money. Now I have to admit I get irritated because as soon as they see a foreigner getting close, they start talking in a very high-pitched, whiny voice saying “Senorita, Senorita” and they get a particularly pained look on their face. (I get enough of this type of behavior from my three year old!) As soon as you walk past them, they turn around as pleasant as can be and talk to their friend in a normal voice. I guess it’s the “act” and lack of sincerity that bothers me. Sometimes they actually come in a restaurant while you’re eating and stand at your table and beg – talk about uncomfortable! As much as this annoys me, I also want to show Christ’s compassion to the poor and be part of a small solution to the poverty here. In the States, we knew what organizations to donate to that would help with meals, job training, drug treatment, etc. where you knew you were actually helping more than if you just gave a dollar here or there. Right now, we really don’t know how to connect with these type of ministries, so we feel kind of helpless in knowing the right thing to do. I guess one step is to buy the gum and tissues or get a shoe shine, even if we don’t need those things, just to help those who are trying to run a legitimate business. I also plan to ask some friends about ministries they’re involved in so we might be able to give some money and volunteer with causes we know are worthwhile. Finally, I think I need to remember that there is a person behind that whiny voice and whether or not I give them some change, I can treat them with kindness and dignity when I interact with them.