Candle offerings

This morning, I found myself walking through the church of San Jose de Mabolo. As in most of our bigger Catholic houses of worship here, you will find vendors selling their religious paraphernalia by the church entrance. This old lady, small and bent from osteoporosis, was the only one I found at the doors today selling candles for about 2 cents each. I tried to converse with her but we both speak different dialects and so I ended up communicating by sign language. Each candle offering represents a prayer, wish or petition made to heaven. I pay for twenty candles and after I hand her the coins, she slowly walks towards her tiny makeshift burner and lights them up for me totally mindless of the hot midday sun.