We are currently in the midst of Strawberry season in Malawi. It is wonderful. Fresh, plump, juicy, organic strawberries are being sold by street vendors all over the city. In the downtown core, there are men selling their wares in baskets or bowls. They run from vehicle to vehicle trying to persuade occupants that they have the best strawberries, at, of course, the best price! The berries come to Blantyre via Zomba plateau, a highland area about an hour from here.

Our family has devoured mounds of strawberries in the past 2 weeks. First and foremost, because they taste absolutely delicious, and secondly, because they are relatively inexpensive in comparison to strawberries in Ontario. Just like at home, we tend to indulge on fruit that is in season, especially because there are very few imported products. Once strawberry season is finished, we will go a full year without strawberries. No Loblaws trucks carrying berries out of season here!

While I have enjoyed the strawberries immensely, I am also struggling with a crisis of conscience when I eat them.

The strawberries, which are fairly cheap in Canadian dollars, are very expensive to the average Malawian. Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, with an average monthly wage of approximately $250 USD per capita. Today I paid less than $3.50 for 4 pounds of strawberries. I am happy to eat locally produced goods and to support the enterprising person who is selling them in Blantyre. However, I feel conflicted by the fact that my family’s weekly fruit purchase – certainly a luxury – is roughly equal to half a day’s pay of the person who does some cleaning in my house.

The real challenge to living in Malawi is that one is confronted with poverty at every turn. Each day, I greet my Malawian brothers and sisters in Christ and struggle with the fact that I, in comparison, have so much, solely due to the country of my birth.

The issue is certainly multi-layered, but there seem to be two separate issues playing out in the case of the strawberries. The first is my own internal battle with excess and ownership of resources and the second, my external view of justice.

First, I’m challenged to face the excess in my own life. Not only in regards to the berries, but in regards to food consumption and spending in general. Do I really need all that I have? Am I being generous with what I’ve been given? And just because I have it, does that make it mine (like a toddler with a new toy)?

The second challenge lies in examining the systems of poverty and trying (even in small, manageable ways) to advocate for equality for others who have so much less.

(I’ve considered not eating strawberries at all, just so that I don’t have to have this internal conversation each time I purchase them, but I’m not sure this is the answer because then someone is out of a job!)

I’ve been turning to the Bible for guidance and looking up verses around oppression and justice. I’m drawn to a verse in Deuteronomy that says;

“This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor…” (Deut. 15:7-10)

I think where this leaves me is in looking inwardly at my own heart – am I showing compassion and mercy to others? Am I conscious of how my actions (and purchases!) impact others to promote justice?

Clearly paying a fair price for goods is important. I’ve seen Mzungus (white people or foreigners) who barter everything to the last kwacha (penny) trying to get a good ‘deal’ and not pay ‘white people’ prices. But, given our wealth, is that really fair? I know when I’m purchasing goods on the street here that I’m paying a bit more. While I am going to try to be wise and not pay exorbitantly more than what things are worth, I’m not going to haggle to the death for my strawberries. And if I end up paying a bit extra, so what?

The issues around oppression and justice are certainly interlinked. I’m trying hard not to be an ‘oppressor’; even in the small ways. Being confronted with poverty in such an obvious way here leads to great internal conflict about my own life and choices. Even though it’s frustrating, I’m sure it’s a good thing. I don’t want to be numb to the plight of the people around me.

So where does this leave me with my strawberry dilemma?

Today, I’m going to enjoy my strawberries and feel good about the fact that I am supporting someone to have a job at a fair wage. I also plan to share some with our Malawian neighbours who don’t often get to purchase them. And these days I’m praying every day that God moves me to have greater compassion for others and helps me to hold loosely to the things that are ‘mine’ and to be generous with the blessings that I have so freely received.

~ Jesus answered…“Love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbour as yourself’…Do this and you will live” Luke 10:27

-Rebecca Sherbino