Another day, and I was tramping through the muddy ruts that had been left in the shanty town after the infrequent rains. As I bypassed a shack with fencing and a creaking wooden gate, a young boy stood at the gate, waving at me and speaking unintelligibly. I came nearer, and he beamed at me. All I could think of as I looked at that blindingly innocent smile was, this is what the smile of an angel must look like. Love and happiness radiated from that young lad, despite his humble surroundings. He was delighted to meet someone new, and was welcoming me to his neighbourhood. His mother, a harassed and busy woman, came to the gate to see who it was her son was talking to. She knew me from my days in the town, and explained to me that her son had been mentally challenged since birth. But, she explained to me, his emotional caring and love were the great gift God had given him. She turned back to her washing, after inviting me to drop in at any time to see their family.
I took her at her word, and Ben waited every day at the gate in case I would pass by on my regular clinic visits. Always there would be a smile, and a torrent of words I learned to understand. Ben had his own way of expressing things, and once I got to know him, I understood between his words, his sign language and his mother's interpretation, what he wanted to say. And it was always an outpouring of praise at the beauty of the sunny South African day; or a pig had wandered by, making him laugh at its bristly nose; or he saw a lovely bird; or someone stopped and talked to him, making his day. I grew to love this little chat and visit as I passed the gate, and looked forward to meeting this wonderful little lad.
One day, when I passed by, Ben was outside the gate waving frantically at me. His wonderful eyes were full of tears, and he was waving at his arms. His mom came out, and she told me that Ben had told her he had itching, burning and pain on his skin, but that the 'Angel with the Medicines' would cure him as she had cured so many in the town. I was touched beyond belief at his name for me, by which I was always henceforth known in that town. It was easy to see what was wrong with Ben. It was an itchy and contagious skin infection named scabies, and easy to treat. I left a bottle of lotion with Ben and his mom, with instructions, and the next time I came by Ben was at the gate, waving with his arms to show me his now blemish free and comfortable skin. We rejoiced together, and then I went on to the clinic van.
One day my dad and brother came to visit me. I took them to the shanty town to show them where I was working, and I was keen to introduce them to Ben. I knew Ben would be absolutely delighted to meet them. When I got to the gate, there was no-one there. I could not believe it. This was most unlike Ben. A passerby went past, and I asked him, 'Where is Ben?' 'Up there'. he said. I looked up the hill, and straight at a funeral cortege which was passing by into the cemetery. Tearfully I realised after I spoke further to the passerby, this little angel had passed away peacefully a few nights before in the arms of his father and mother to a better world. I was shattered.
But then I realised afterwards that each of us have a mission when we are put into this world, and Ben fulfilled his at a very early age. He did not only learn the lesson - he was love. To everyone, whether person, animal, plant or insect, he radiated love and respect. And he taught me, through our regular little chats, the greatest lesson we can learn while on this earth; to have joy in the simple things, to have humility, and to be love for others. Lessons which Ben taught me, and I have tried to live through Lumiere Charity. Sometimes those we help, turn out to be our teachers. Ben, may you rest in peace until we meet again.
*Photograph taken by Catherine Nicolette - please feel free to use copyright free for any worthy purpose
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