luke 21:1-4

today was, simply, a beautiful day. i was privileged to work with two elegantly humble clients: one from ethiopia and one from burma.

the day started off with the original intent of taking my first client an hour away to get him registered at a free health clinic. he only needed $15-30 to pay for a clinic that had sliding scale insurance (he is uninsured), but did not have that money, so we were going to the free clinic. as we made our way to the elevator, suddenly he said that he had the $30! he had asked someone and they had given him $50 to help him out. i was blessed by that stranger's generosity and i can't imagine how humbling it would've been to receive...

anyway, that changed the whole story. so we went back to my office and i made him an appointment at a clinic (getting him in significantly earlier than the free clinic would've). and while doing this, he said, "you take care of me like a mother... a sister... family," and made his hand into a fist and put it on his chest and closed his eyes and was tearing up. it felt like a very holy moment... this man was so full of gratitude... (and i was thinking, "i don't even know if the clinic is any good!!") but his humility and elegance was amazing... he said that god is watching over him and using me, and told me he hoped i would be blessed by god... i continue to learn how important it is to do small things with great love (thanks mother t!) and that treating someone with dignity heals in deep ways.

the second client came in and had no idea why she was meeting with me (the interpreter didn't have time to tell her and i spoke no burmese). while helping her with some medical stuff, she started crying and was having some other issues (which is terrifying because someone on the phone is talking to her in burmese, she's responding in burmese and i have no idea what has happened to just make her start crying)... but nonetheless, we got some things worked out. i concluded things with her, shook her hand, she left and i went back to my desk and saw two pieces of gum sitting in front of my computer.

though so small and simple, it was such an extravagant "thank you." i felt a bit like jesus when the women gave him all she had, a few pennies, and that was a lavish gift...

such humility. such holiness.

following work, i dined with my friend and she made this DELICIOUS homemade barbeque chicken pizza (topped with asiago cheese, which we both agree brought it home perfectly!)... even the dough was homemade - she's so amazing and i was so blessed by her food and good conversation

mouth-watering... (the picture does no justice!)

in spite of the awful weather, the day was awfully wonderful (aww... so cliche).