Saturday

Yesterday we had a spa day at good ole’ Jerome Apartment. One of our friends, Sunita has done beautician training. Sunita also is helping Stephanie with I-Sanctuary. (My roommate Stephanie has a non-profit organization that works with rescued girls. At this point she is teaching them how to make jewelry, and will be selling it in the states…that’s why she’s going back to the US for 2 months…she plans to expand to teaching tailoring and other skills as well. Her ultimate goal is to buy products made by rescued women from all over the world, and to sell them in the US in a boutique...).

So Stephanie invited Sunita over to our flat, with the promise that she would allow us to pay her. It was such a good day…we all just lounged around. We got to hang out with Sunita. I made pancakes in the morning. We had GOOD food for lunch (that we ordered). We all just were. We rested. We were together. And as we hung out in our pretty pink palace yesterday it was full of goodness. And I realized how much this flat is becoming home. How there are more and more memories in this place…laughing, joking, venting about frustrations, encouraging, celebration. I think I would describe Saturday as a day of celebration. And I am so thankful. Thankful for continuing to know Lillia and Stephanie. And I’m thankful for how they are so much a part of my journey…and making my home here so far from home.

At the end of the day, we figured out how much a fair price would be for the work Sunita had been doing all day (that makes is sound like she was just slaving away all day…which is not true…it was fun for all!). It was a whopping grand total of $25.00. When we came up with that total, her eyes bugged out of her head and she said it was too much money, that she didn’t want to take it. So I said, “Sunita, think of this as special money. Use it to do something that you wouldn’t normally have money to spend on.” And immediately there was this light-bulb that clicked in her head….and her eyes lit up…and she declared, “My computer classes! I’m starting computer classes – I can use this money to help pay for my computer class!”

It was so beautiful. To see the possibility click on inside her.

It was a great day. A day of rest. A day of laughter. A day of Sabbath. I am thankful for knowing sunita. I’m thankful for her smile. I’m thankful for her sense of humor. I’m thankful for her sweet spirit…and her hard working spirit. I’m thankful for the chance to help her take a click forward in her education. I’m thankful for the skills and training Sunita has…and how I benefited from that (lets me honest…a spa day is pretty nice!). I’m thankful that my dance class got cancelled and I didn’t have to leave, and I could keep hanging out in the flat with Stephanie and lillia. I’m thankful that steph made macaroni and cheese for dinner. I’m just plain thankful.