Market Business

July 30th, 2007

     ”Sis Ruth…White lady…Ma Ruth,” come the calls from here and there as I walk to the outdoor African market, a basin carried on my hip or balanced on my head. Sometimes I stop to chat, other times I say a quick hello and keep on walking. “I’m going straight, need to buy food and make chop for my husband,” I tell them. They nod their heads in approval. One day as I was carrying home sweet potato greens on my head and an African broom in my hand, my admirers asked, “You can fix African soup?”"Yeah-o!” I replied. Then they just chuckled and laughed!

    Yesterday at the market I was pleasantly surprised by a lively chorus of singing. A Liberian man dancing through the market place was singing praises to God. Between spurts of business, the marketers were joining in with clapping, dancing, and singing. So of course I had to be a part of the lively Jesus celebration. “I love Jesus, too!” I proclaimed, swaying and jumping to the chants.. All my market friends smiled with delight as I participated, and the little children gathered around me to stare. Wow, the African life is full of surprises and adventure. I am truly “back home.”