Fishing

 Every morning fisherman go out in these small boats and fish with nets.  Usually it's one person to a boat. Most don't have motors.
The boats are usually made from hollowed-out trees. After their catch they bring it on shore and they are sold on the sidewalk around the ocean. It cost a dollar for a fish for about a 12in long fish.

Usually on the way home from work cars and motorcycles will stop and buy a fish or  two. Sometimes they hang them on the outside antennas so the fish smell doesn't get into the car. The fish that don't sell that day are then salted and dried and then sold later.


About 3 miles outside of Dili is a banana plantation. This lady is bringing some of the bananas to Market.  The bananas here come in all shapes, colors, variety and sizes. They seem to have everything but the type of bananas we eat in America. None of them are very pretty. Most have bruises on them.
Most of the rural Farms have very interesting fences. Because of cost few have wire fences. This type of the fence is quite common. Branches are cut off of a tree and then stuck into the ground. The branches start growing and sprout roots and leaves.

The country is having a difficult time transitioning to the new government. There has been no action on the budget so many government purchases are frozen. That added to the normal financial distress here is causing more problems.

Most native know that compared to them Americans are very wealthy. We have about 30 times the annual income that they do. People have started asking us for loans and just for money more often. Just the other day one of the people that helps with our English class asked if we could provide them with $70 a month for the next few months until the government renews his teaching contract.

The $70 per month will cover his $50 a month room rental and his food expenses. We are under strict directions never to loan or give money from our personal funds. The problem is that it may create expectations put upon the next missionary couple who may not be able to give out money.

So we turned him down but we said that we would help him get a job. Fortunately the next day we were able to get him a couple of job leads and now we feel better about the situation.

We've also been approached by our usual taxi driver and by a member of our church group for loans. All the amounts asked for are under $100.








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