wow. i'm coming up for a 30 minute breath this evening. its been a steady stream of busy around here. which simply reminds me of the space i have to fight for, guarding what's most important as i seek first christ and watch all other things be added. a poetic and lovely promise but hard as heck to work out in real life many days. but where my flesh falters and fails i again see the power and movement of grace covering and loving and moving me.
and i have so many random stories to tell i'm bursting at the seams. i'm coming to see just how many amazing and random RANDOM people we get to know around here. i'd like to introduce you to a friend in the gach. her life has been hard and continues to get harder she cares for a beautiful little boy who we've all seemingly given our hearts to over the years (and chach if you read this you can affirm that we do indeed have the same hair if you catch me on a good morning...) unfortunately though life has taken a toll on our friend and her mind. her stomache is large and round, and it might appear to a rookie onlooker that there could be a baby inside. she would venture to say (and again affirmed in no uncertain terms last night during our visit) that her bouncing baby boy has been awaiting arrival now for over 30 years...i'm telling you i haven't had such a good hearty laugh in quite a while but last night sitting with her and another room owner and kiran i honestly couldn't breathe i was laughing so hard from our friends comments...by the end of the night she had kiran's ear to her belly listening for the baby/man's next kick. oh boy the unexpected delights of visiting the red light area.
there's also one man in this same brothel, not sure exactly his role but he's an old dude that lives next door to our room owner friend (not the baby/man mama) and runs to get us cha every time we visit, but the best part is he walks around with an unlit bidi (small handrolled indian cigarette) and calls me "south africa". so upon entering, interaction with him would look similar to this...me walking into the brothel room, him walking in and saying "ahh south africa huh?", me looking always confused and amused and saying "ahh yes??". and then i get to drink cha.
and then there were the nepalis yesterday. i brought them a big poster from nepal just a touristy mountain scene and a bunch of nepal flag stickers. how can i explain the sight really?...they unrolled that poster and traced every last path with their fingers pointing out every house every person every bit of mountain, snow, tree and road. i would have died to really know what they were thinking, where they've all come from, and how i can get them back there...but for now i just have to make due with a snapshot moment as they transported from a red lit doorstoop to a homeward bound trail...
also for those of you who've read or know personally our friend imagination...i brought her to SB today for an interview and it was so great! i love the way that our ladies welcome in new women and encourage them towards new life and a real shot at freedom. you sure can't put money value on this life i get to live here...