This day it was a week into our journey and I woke up feeling like "I need to stop." But, of course, we weren't stopping. We had been going now right out straight for a week and I was beginning to feel the need to take a breather. But we had much on the agenda for the day.
Our first visit was to Chisomo (which means mercy), this is a drop-in for street children. The kids on the street can drop in for a bath and a meal or stay in residence. Those in residence range in age from 4 - 25 years, they stay until a home is found for them. There are 32 in residence at this time.
I must say this seems to be the hardest thing to write since I have started this blog, I have been overcome with emotion while writing this, just remembering. What I had here was one of my most memorable experiences and quite wonderful but just knowing that these kids are fighting battles unknown to most of us brings me to tears.
At the meeting the night before, we went over the things we would do on this day. Kathy told us that these kids were not as easy as the children we had been seeing. They live a harsh live and are rough. The kids are either orphans or runaways from bad home situations. We were warned that we should be careful about what we say because casual things translate to promises. Kids would want to single you out and we needed to share ourselves with everyone. Our focus for the day was to touch these children in a caring way, let them know who they are is important, they are valued. We would read one on one, play games and be with them.
We pulled up to Chisomo in our bus and the kids were all waiting for us. I admit that I felt reluctance to get off the bus and walk into the crowd of kids. I didn't like that I felt this way but I did. But, of course, I got off the bus and it turned out to be a most touching experience.
Inside the drop-in center and the drummers
The street kids
Street kids and a staff member
We went into the center for an introductory talk from the pastor who runs this drop-in center.
After this talk we went back outside where the kids gave us a drumming and dancing performance. After that we all dispersed and went with different kids. Some played games, some played on the drums and many of us took the bag of books we had and split them up to read with the kids. I read some books to a few kids and then Evans came along. Evans is 20, he was very anxious to read with me. He wanted to read himself. He pointed to each word as he said it, he started off very haltingly but by the time we had read eight or nine picture books he had gained confidence and was even using expression in his reading. We read a few books together then we each went our own way for a little while and then he came back to read some more. We started reading standing up and ended sitting on a cement square that was on the grounds. I went from feeling very unsure about even getting off the bus to feeling like I was in a very beautiful moment in time with a gentle breeze blowing across my face as I listened to him read.
Evans reading with me and Evans and me
There was a young boy, maybe 10 or 11, lying, facing the wall, on some cement steps that went nowhere. He was very bothered and didn't want to do anything but sleep. A staff member told me the boy was probably up all night on the street and he was exhausted and just wanted to sleep. The staff person got him up and took him to have a bath and then he was going to get him a bed to sleep in. I asked why the boys who left at night left instead of having a bed to sleep in. He said they were afraid of losing out on getting money. Just think about the 10 and 11 year olds that you know and imagine them on the street with no parents and no supervision doing whatever they needed to do in order to survive.
The tired street boy and going off to get a bath and a bed
One young teenager came up to me and asked if I would sponsor him, I told him I was very sorry but I couldn't. It didn't phase him, he just went on as though, well, it didn't hurt to ask but he didn't expect an affirmative answer.
Our team playing with the street boys
The doctor and nurses held a medical clinic while we played games and read. After about three hours we prepared to leave. While the bus was pulling out Evans waved to me.
We ate our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on the bus on our way to the Kabwata Cultural Village market. A different tone to this part of the day after being with the street kids. As much as we wanted to shop I think all of us would have liked to stay with the kids. It is in the suburbs of Lusaka, there are original indigenous huts and some of the craftsman live there. The artisans and crafts people must have permission to sell in this village. It was a one stop shop for us. There were tents with merchanise in them and outside them. We could watch people carving their works. There was everything from clothing, carved wooden animals, bowls, masks. The photos will show the variety of African crafts that we saw. It is expected that you will barter with them. We were told that the people were very nice and we should spread our money around. As a note, Kathy told us that if any person is working and is asked for money by a relative, no matter how distant, they give it. The relatives eat on this money. As I have said, Mavis supports about 30 people and the Chikusu family supports one hundred or more.
It was a bit overwhelming in the village because as soon as we appeared everyone was vying for our attention, Mam' come see this, Mam' let me show you this, Mam' I will give you three wooden animals for 50,000 Kwacha and on and on. You had to be very positive when you didn't want something, but the crafts people were very friendly and it was easy to barter because they expected you to do it. I found two masks that were old and used in ceremonial dances in the northwestern provinces, I also got an old spoon looking thing that was used in rain dances. I shopped around and was very satisfied with my day at the market. I didn't bring enough money so Josephine lent me $100 in Kwachas (350,000 Kwachas.)
The Cultural Village
Two friendly sellers holding a basket I bought. I met them later at another market in Lusaka.
At the nightly meeting Kathy talked some about the situations we were seeing. People are dying rapidly, it is as if 40 or 50 percent of our town of Bristol died in one year. Everyone's existence is very precarious, There is an epidemic, a crisis of disease and spirit. Some sniff glue to ease the pain of realityand the suicide rate is high. Throughout all this there is a thirst for education. No matter what happens to them they are not hardened. These kids we saw are good kids, they just want a good future.
Thus ended our busy day of contrasts.
Never let anyone come to you without coming away better and happier. Everyone should see goodness in your face, in your eyes and in your smile. Mother Theresa
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