Looking for Gold

Krista and I were pleasantly surprised at Prem Dan this morning. The sister who Krista nicknamed "Nurse Ratchett" has been on our cases from the beginning. She has elbowed Krista out of opportunities to use her degree and help a patient and she has on many occasions made me feel like I was in the way of her work. Both of us have had this experience so both of us were shocked when today- Nurse Ratchett pulled Krista out of the laundrey line and asked her professional opinion on a case with a patient. She smiled and introduced herself as Sister Mary- this woman NEVER smiles. Then, she pulled me out of a crowd of willing volunteers to help her and another sister serve lunch- and that NEVER happens. Doesn't sound like a big deal- but I am telling you...it was a big deal to us.

We had lunch today with an Anglican priest  from Cape Cod named Steven and our friend Jason, who is a writer from Texas and has been living in Hong Kong for four years. The four of us sat in a restaurant off of Rippon Street with roaches running across the oily glass tabletop- the food was decent- the conversation was excellent.  It was a huge comfort that both of these guys were sympathetic to the difficulty of being a woman in this place. It was the first time that Krista and I felt we were among friends here and it reminds us of our amazing guy friends back home- What good men you are!  The way you live is in sharp contrast to this culture and sometimes,as my pal Johnny so simply stated, "You gotta thank people for what they don't do." So thank you guys, for being stand up men. Believe me- I feel so so blessed to have men in my life that protect me, encourage me and show me respect.

Steven is on a plane to Bangkok in the morning. He waved goodbye over his shoulder and said "I will pray for you in this journey." Then he was gone. Such a unique experience to meet people only for an afternoon and then watch them disintegrate into the crowded streets of this city knowing that more than likely our paths will never cross again. But that they had for a few hours, crossed in one of the most unlikely places in the world. Reminds me of C.S. Lewis's oft repeated urging to value these small intersection points with strangers. Find meaning in the triviality of a shared lunch break- there may be gold in the conversation you have. There is no coincidence here- everyone I meet has a message for me.

Goodnight. Love you,

Ev