Mr. Miyagi

I got Markus this plant as a thank you for letting me stay at his flat. You may be saying, "What plant?" Well, that's kind of the point, I was not nearly as fascinated with the plant as I was with Mr. Miyagi who sits under his gnarly little branches.

Probably after I stayed here Markus thought I would leave... but I come to do my laundry, or work when my Blackberry commits suicide on the same day that the internet at my flat goes down. As a thank you service I am making him a cappuccino, to be ready upon arrival home from work.

I spent the afternoon and evening with a new friend. Her name is Valeska, and it was wonderful. I love girl friends. There is just nothing better in life than a great salad, a fantastic glass of wine and a girl to be totally GIRLY with. We laid in the park, went for a run and then headed to dinner. We talked about life, and our parents, our families, our ambitions, our broken hearts, cute boys that walked by, and the ones that we know. It was so stereotypical it's not even funny, and it was perfect.

And it gave me hope again that people want to be shown how to not just hold the values of helping the poor and needy, they want to be shown how to do it practically. I was moved again that it is worth it. It is worth it to tell their stories, it is worth it to not forget their suffering, it is worth it to plea with the world to reach out to them. The poor and needy of the world need a voice and we are it. What an incredible honor. I am humbled and thankful.

My dear Robert I have not forgotten you or your story. You changed me for the good and I will yell and keep yelling until your prayer that your people would be helped is answered.