I bought a key chain last night from Ishmael... Solid mahogany, beautifully hand carved and special ordered with my name on one side. He came with a backpack full of incredible hand carved pieces, from the little trinkets, to Noah's Ark, including little animals going "two by two" he said with a smile on his face the size of a banana. I asked how much I was to pay for the key chain. He said 300 Kwacha, which, in US money, comes to a whopping 2 bucks. We bought a few more things from Ishmael, spending probably a grand total of $15. All the fireworks on the fourth of July couldn't match the size of his smile as he rolled the bills into his pocket and patted his stomach. We casually asked what that meant, and he explained that when he left he planned to go get some chakudya, (food), the first he'd had all day.
Today, I met Samuel. He has no hands. He came up to our car, arms folded carrying his backpack. He proceeded to take out and unroll dozens of what looked like pieces of sack cloth, but as he unrolled further, color flooded the rags and beautiful paintings gave them life. He said he had done these with his feet, and holding the brush where his hands used to be. I was amazed at the detail and sheer beauty of these paintings and once more, the smile and happiness he had while sharing them with us. I bought one of those too.
Later, we went to a village where met Ivey and her friends. I walked up to see the, playing a game, with hand-dug holes in the ground and left over maze seeds. Their tattered and torn garments were beyond filthy and smelled like the pigs that lived in the hut next door. I bent down to one girl to say hello, and nearly cringed at the sight of fleas on her eyelashes that partially shielded the big brown eyes that looked frighteningly at me. All i wanted was to hold them; all of them. I wanted to speak to them in their own language and tell them how beautiful and precious they were. I wanted to take the one, murky water bottle they had and turn it into a 24 pack of Ozarka.
I fell in love today. I can't describe it. These people are so beautiful, so unique. They're so happy, smiling without ceasing. Their laugh is contagious. Their lives, a lesson to us.
We want, needing nothing and having everything. They need, having nothing, and trusting for everything.
