A Morning in the Market

Since the language conference is winding down on things for us to do, we took a day and explored the market.  There are different 'shopping zones' of the downtown area.  There is one section that has many tiny stores to walk in and select what you're looking for (these range from groceries, electronics, furniture, clothing, etc.).  This isn't too far off from some of our shopping experiences in America.  However, the market is a completely different story.  There is a section of town where farmers come with their goods to sell (which by the way isn't offered in the other section of the town).  This is our target for the day.

We went into the market and almost immediately we had a swarm of boys trying to sell us plastic shopping bags.  Then, after we were able to find our way to the actual produce, things got really interesting.  When we gave an indication that we were interested in purchasing some tangerines, we had several people trying to sell us the fruit from one person's stand -- the majority of them are 'middle men' who try to get things for us, but in the process jack up the prices.  Then, these 'middle men' swarmed around us with various other produce, and once they discovered other things that was on our shopping list, they ran to get them for us.  Whew, what an experience!!!

However, this isn't the thing that stands out the most in my mind.  When we returned to our vehicle which was parked safely in the other shopping district, we were again surrounded - by about four women.  These women were old, and some of them visibly disabled who were begging for some shillings (money) off us.  This isn't something I was prepared for.  We didn't know how to respond so we tried to get in as quickly as possible closing the door behind us.  I'm struggling to get them out of my mind.  Our team coach said, after we all were safely in the vehicle, that it's up to us on how to respond to the homeless.

As I've been thinking about this, I came across Proverbs 21:13 - He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be answered.  The homeless in America have a much different situation than those in E. Africa.  Those in America can find shelters and other charitable organizations who will provide them with a bed, food, hygiene items, etc.  But what about these four old, crippled women?  What is their fate?  Will anyone give them something to eat?  Will anyone have compassion on them if I don't?  Who are they anyway?  Are they widows who have been left to fend for themselves?  Are these women who had a husband, and raised a family only to have her husband and family to die from say AIDS, or other diseases? Who will help those that are physically starving in Africa? And who will help those that are spiritually starving without the Bread of Life?