Market Strike and Christmas Vespers

Market on Strike 
What do you do when the market goes on strike?  Not just the supermarket but the convenience stores and the minimarkets, too! No Weis or Saylors or Turkey Hill or Sheetz are open. How long can you go without buying milk and eggs and bread and fresh produce?  Longer than many folks here, no doubt, because you likely have some food in the refrgerator or the freezer, and Mac'n Cheese on the pantry shelf.
Folks here go to the market every morning to purchase the items they will cook for their families that day. Everything they need is at the local market- from soap and 'scrubbies' to produce & spices, oil & vinegar. Some of these things are coming from local gardens, and ladies go to their neighbors stalls when they can, but many items are purchased at larger markets and brought in daily. 

Every morning, our cooks wend their way thru the rows of stalls to find the items that will be needed to make dinner and supper for 25-30 people. Maybe a kilo of meat(which the butcher has brought in that morning as a hanging quarter of beef or side of mutton),then hot peppers, onions, okra, assorted vegetables, a little tomato paste (spooned into a small piece of plastic bag from the vendor's large can), sugar, oil and vinegar(poured into ½ K plastic bags, and knotted shut)are purchased and placed in the bucket they will balance on the head to carry back to the base.  Elizabeth, who lives in another neighbohood,  carries her load to our old Toyota pick-up truck which has come to pick her up after dropping the school children off at their respective schools.  

NOT today! Fanta says “sugu te!”--there is no market!  It seems the vendors are on strike.  We are not sure exactly who the strikers are or whom they are trying to cause change in, but the bottom line is that there is no market open today.  So Elizabeth will not come to cook and Fanta will cook with what she can secure from the small boutique nearby.  That also means that Fanta will not be doing her regular cleaning routine for Hawa or us.  We do have bags of rice stocked, so there will be that to eat, tho probably not the usual tasty sauce that goaes with it.  We will see! 

When I wrote my last blog about experiencing Christmas here in Mali, I was not aware that we would be having a lovely Christmas vespers service at the Avant Center last night. It was planned by the English speaking fellowship we have been a part of here, and there was a larger than usual representation of the English speaking population of Bamako there. On the front lawn, under creative Christmas lights and decorations strung from tree to pillar and post, we sang Christmas carols together. We sang Silent Night (all 4 verses)in English, and then the first verse in each of 5 other languages, representing the home lands of our gathering. We were also treated to several special Christmas numbers, readings and a devotional by members of our missionary community.  I think my favorite was the Vanderaa family singing a ballad-y piece with at least 5 part harmony.  Lovely!
  
No Christmas gathering would be complete without food, would it? After the vespers we chowed down on the excellent selection of 'sweet or savory' snacks spread out on the buffet, with a beautifully plum-colored mulled cider drink (bi-sap??).  Just like at our potlucks at home, we were each asked to contribute to the buffet, and so we had treats from our many cultures.  It was so nice to chat in our native tongue among these new friends with whom we share a common purpose! 

This week I hope to make a (mock-apple) papaya pie, finish my Christmas baking so that I have some goodies to give to neighbors in celebration of Christ's coming (thanks to Ruth and Charles Lehman for their example of this) and find a tailor who will be able to make us each a good Malian outfit for Paul & Rokia's wedding. Also on the agenda is to schedule a few dates when we can invite friends in to our apt for a meal, or at least an evening of games, tea & cookiesor chocolate fondue.

We are hoping that you are also preparing to celebrate this season of God's great gift to us by telling your neighbors and friends the good news.
Be blessed and be a blessing this Christmas.