Beauty Through the Sadness

My time in Zambia was been so many things: beautiful, tragic, inspiring, heartbreaking, amazing... terrible and wonderful at the same time.

In the face of the most extreme poverty I have ever seen, the people are kind, gracious, welcoming, and warm. Children playing with dirt or chicken bones because they have nothing else wave from every yard, greet you with a smile, always happy just being alive. In my clinic, teenagers and people my age with advanced HIV (practically a death sentence there) would ask how my day is going, how did I like Zambia, if the local food is good.

One could be, and many of my fellow volunteers were, moved to tears at the intensity of suffering that can be seen, just to be moved to laughter and happiness by a few minutes' conversation with the people there.

I wish I had a way with words to bring these experiences home with me and to share them with anyone who will listen, but no matter how hard I try, I will fall short. All I can say is that the past month was by far the best thing I have ever done with my life, and all I can hope is that if someone reads this, they will try to help those less fortunate in whatever way they are able, and be thankful for what they have, no matter how little it may seem.

Much love, and a massive thank you to everyone whose support that made this experience possible.