amigos

well, it's official. nebat and i are friends.
I have been praying so much since meeting her that we could cross over the barrier that was in place with her as a servant to serve the guests of her inlaws.
we have hung out and walked and talked and joked one on one several times over the past few weeks.
oh hallelujah. answered prayer. what a beautiful thing.
today, salija and i prayed for a daughter of salija, and while we were praying i saw nebat putting her baby's little hands in the praying position.
she, herself, seems to have no interest or intrigue when it comes to what i believe or why...
as i have spent more time with her i have seen her in many circumstances and observed a lot of severe coping habits she has formed. she is so desperate to escape the drudgery of the moment.
salija has become more gracious to her and talks to her more as an equal. but nebat's father in law is sadly in a very selfish rut, where nebat (or anyone else for that matter) is of little consequence to him outside of what they need to do for him.
she serves and serves and serves. not always with a smile, and not always without disdain... but she continues on.

salija sets an amazing example for the most part of faithfulness and tremendous work ethic despite situational burdens.
i hope that as she learns to give more grace to nebat, nebat will start seeing the beauty in salija as she serves and works hard and desire to have whatever it is that salija has that helps her do that.
and that, my friend, is the one and only Jesus.