June 18, 2011 Early Morning Visit

It was early Sabbath morning before breakfast when a group of women appeared with large bundles on their heads.  Not just women, but women and children, from infants to teenagers.  They didn’t say anything, but squatted behind the smokehouse and waited.  After about 10 minutes the matriarch of the family walked over, greeted the visitors, and began an extended conversation.  They then opened their bundles and began to unload charcoal into pans provided.  Later in the day I found out that it was illegal to sell charcoal.  The government is trying to preserve the few trees left in Chad, but charcoal is the only fuel available for cooking.  A catch 22.