Transforming a Life Towards Purpose
When Tess Leighton reflects on the last decade of her life, she sees a story woven with unexpected turns—moments of restlessness, rediscovery, and ultimately a renewed sense of calling. Today, Tess is the Market Leader for Movement Mortgage in Rhode Island, a mother, and a passionate advocate for purposeful living. But before she encountered Samaritan’s Feet International, she was searching for something more.
A Season of Disenchantment and a Search for Purpose
Tess had spent 12 successful years in the mortgage industry, but over time the work felt hollow. She describes herself during that season as “disenchanted and looking for purpose.” She was ready for something radically different—so much so that she began planning a move to France for a fresh start.
Before she could uproot her life, a group of close friends invited her on a discovery trip with Movement Mortgage. She agreed to go, mostly for fun, and fully expected that nothing on this trip would alter her plans—or her career.
But that trip would be the first domino in a chain of life-changing events.
Impressed by Movement’s mission-driven culture, Tess soon joined the company, unaware that this new path would soon introduce her to Samaritan’s Feet International. On her very first President’s Club trip with Movement, she found herself in Mexico for a day of service with SFI. She had no idea her life was about to shift.
A Moment in Mexico That Changed Everything
Prior to that trip, Tess had never heard of Samaritan’s Feet. Growing up in New England—where conversations about faith were rare—and working in a largely non-diverse environment, she and her colleagues felt unsure about the idea of washing feet. It was unfamiliar, uncomfortable, and to many, confusing.
Then Tess heard Founder Manny Ohonme’s story. She learned how a simple pair of shoes—and an act of dignity—changed his life. Suddenly the practice of foot washing made sense: it wasn’t symbolic alone; it was preventative, protective, and profoundly personal.
Still, nothing prepared her for the moment she knelt to wash the feet of a five-year-old girl whose tiny feet were caked in dirt. “She wasn’t just excited about getting new shoes,” Tess remembers. “She lit up because someone saw her—right where she was—and acknowledged her.” That single moment awakened something in Tess. “I left that experience ready to change the world,” she says. And in many ways, she did.
A Mission Trip, a Love Story, and an Unforgettable Wedding
Months later, Tess heard about a mission trip to El Salvador and decided to go—this time with her fiancé Paul, an EMT and firefighter. They packed medical supplies and joined the team with open hearts but no idea of the journey ahead.
As they traveled from village to village, washing feet, distributing shoes, and connecting with families, Tess and Paul fell in love not just with the country, but with the mission of serving together.
The idea of eloping—right there, in the heart of the communities they were serving—started as a whisper but grew louder with every passing day.
Their mission team rallied around them. If the final day’s village felt right, they decided, they would get married.
That last day, everything aligned.
Despite arriving late in a torrential storm, children ran out to greet the bus, holding umbrellas—children who had almost nothing offering protection to strangers. Tess and Paul were so moved they handed the umbrellas back to the children.
The villagers had prepared a tent filled with flowers. Tess borrowed a sarong from a local woman. Her brother walked her down the aisle. Rain beat down as a nearby village pastor officiated the wedding. Tess recalls getting little electrical shocks from the microphone as she spoke her vows—but even the storm couldn’t overshadow the joy of the moment.
After returning home, Tess and Paul invested $20,000—matched by Movement—to build a Hope Center in that village, now named in honor of their daughter. The structure became a beacon of safety and opportunity; in places where Hope Centers exist, gangs typically leave children alone, recognizing the protection and stability the center provides.
For Tess and Paul, El Salvador became part of their family’s legacy forever.
Rediscovering Purpose After a Challenging Season
Life evolved quickly in the years that followed. Tess welcomed children, navigated the mortgage industry during some of the most restrictive periods in its history, and found herself doing far less charitable work than before. Yet Samaritan’s Feet still quietly tugged at her heart.
In December 2025, while enduring what she describes as one of the most challenging weeks of her career, she began following Samaritan’s Feet again on social media. That same week, she learned that Manny would be speaking at a Movement Mortgage event in Charlotte. At the last minute, she decided to go.
Sitting in that room, listening to Manny speak, Tess felt everything snap back into focus.
“It reminded me that my purpose should always be my priority,” she said. “The rest will come.”
That night, at the Movement Christmas party, Tess and Paul unexpectedly ran into Manny and shared their story with him—the impact of that first foot washing, the mission trip, the wedding, the Hope Center, and the way his message had reignited their purpose.
“I don’t get starstruck,” Tess says with a laugh, “but meeting Manny is like meeting a rockstar.”
A Life Forever Changed
From a season of disillusionment to discovering movement, mission, love, and renewed purpose, Tess Leighton’s journey is a testament to the ripple effect of service. Samaritan’s Feet didn’t just change her life—it shaped her family’s story, anchored her values, and continues to call her back to what matters most.
For Tess, purpose is no longer something she seeks. It’s something she carries.
And it all began with kneeling to wash a child’s feet in Mexico.
