Barefoot Dreams: A Journey to Rongkemi

Karbi Anglong District, Assam | June 2026

Some journeys are measured in kilometres. Others are measured in the way they change your heart.
In June 2026, I set out for a small village called Rongkemi in the Karbi Anglong district. Though the
village was only about three kilometres from the nearest motorable road, reaching it was far from easy.
The kacha road had turned into a muddy trail after the rains. The vehicle carrying us struggled through the
slush, and at one point my nephew’s car became firmly stuck in the mud. For a while, it seemed as though
the road itself was testing our determination.
But as I would soon discover, some destinations are worth every struggle.
When we finally arrived, a group of children came running out to greet us. Their smiles were bright, their
curiosity infectious, and yet something about them immediately touched my heart. Most of them were
barefoot.
As we sat down together and handed out packets of chips, their faces lit up
with simple joy. It was a moment of happiness that required no language.
Yet behind those smiles lay a reality that was difficult to ignore.
I learned that there were 43 young children in the village who had never
seen the inside of a school.

Behind every face is a dream waiting for an opportunity
The nearest schools were three to four kilometres away. For adults, that distance
may seem insignificant. For a three- or four-year-old child, it is an impossible
journey.
As I looked at those eager little faces, I could not stop asking myself a simple
question: What future awaits these children if education remains out of reach?
That day, we made a decision that filled me with hope. The children would be
enrolled in nearby schools, but we would also arrange for teachers to come into the
village and teach them where they lived. It was only a beginning, but every
meaningful journey starts with a first step.

As the children lined up patiently to receive the small gifts we had brought, my eyes kept returning to their
bare feet. I thought about the extra shoes sitting unused in our homes—the pairs tucked away in cupboards,
forgotten on shelves, or kept simply because we have more than we need.
For these children, a single pair of shoes could make a world of difference.
At that moment, a verse from the Bible echoed powerfully in my heart:
“There will always be some in the land who are poor. That is why I am commanding you to share freely
with the poor and with other Israelites in need.”
— Deuteronomy 15:11
What struck me most was not the encouragement to give, but the word “commanding.”
This was not a suggestion. It was not a request. It was God’s command.
Sometimes we read Scripture and wonder how it applies to our lives today. Yet standing in Rongkemi,
surrounded by children longing for opportunities most of us take for granted, I felt as though this verse
had come alive before my eyes.

The experience reminded me that generosity is not measured by how much we give, but by how willing
we are to share what God has already entrusted to us.
Education, shoes, clothing, food, encouragement—each of us possesses something that can become a
blessing in someone else’s life.
As I left the village, I knew that this visit was not the end of a story. It was the beginning of a long journey
with these children. There will be challenges ahead, but there is also tremendous hope. I dream of the day
when the children of Rongkemi will walk confidently into classrooms, discover their gifts, and build
futures that today seem unimaginable.
Another verse stayed with me as I reflected on the day:
“You are my friends if you do what I command.” — John 15:14 (NLT)
Imagine being called a friend of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Perhaps friendship with Jesus is found not only in prayer and worship, but also in muddy roads, in acts of
compassion, and in the willingness to notice the needs of those whom the world often overlooks.
The barefoot children of Rongkemi taught me a lesson I will never forget when we choose to share, we
become instruments of God’s love.
And sometimes, the greatest blessings arrive disguised as a difficult road leading to a forgotten village.

Humbled beyond words
Lily P Chawang