Local Beggars

 There are people begging for money EVERYWHERE here... they line the streets, parking lots, shopping areas. There will be teenage boys during the day that stand at busy intersections and will go out and stop traffic so you can get through or turn the corner and then put their hands out asking for money.  

There is a store here called Top Market and of all the stores, it usually has the most items on my shopping list.  Saturday, Cory was wanting to make peanut butter bars but we didn't have powdered sugar so he wanted to go to Jambo.  Last time we bought some, it was at that store.  I told him, that means nothing but we will try.  We got to Jambo and sure enough, no powdered sugar.  I told him, if any store was going to have it, it would be Top Market so we headed into town to try it.  There are always kids and adults begging for money in that parking lot.  Sadly, I've gotten immune to it and ignore them. 

This particular morning, I was approached an older gentleman who was selling his hand painted paintings.  I felt somethings inside, and asked him how much. He said, 1000 francs ($0.35). I gave him 5000 francs ($1.75) and he smiled, teared up and gave me 2 pictures.  I wish I had more francs on me to give him.  I thought to myself...5000 francs is nothing to me, but so much to him.  It is so expensive to live here, everything is imported.  The locals don't shop at the grocery stores, the expacts do.  I hope I see that gentleman again, I have some francs set aside for him!

These pictures remind me of the huts we pass on the outside of town.