In San Francisco, I work for Eviction Defense Collaborative (EDC), an organization which helps tenants facing eviction to stay housed. My role is in the legal clinic, which involves conducting intake interviews for tenants, drafting legal documents for clients to file, and later, referring their case to an attorney for representation in court.
Before MVS, I did not have any prior experience working in the legal sector. Even so, I figured that after a few weeks, I would get the hang of it. After all, I was a fast learner… right? I was surprised at how long it took me to learn how to do my job. Each client who came through the door had a slightly different situation which required specific documents and legal defenses for their case. Furthermore, because eviction cases generally take several months to resolve, it took a while for me to see what a case might entail from start to finish. Even now, I am still learning how to do new things.
Working at EDC has helped me grow in patience and confidence. At first, I felt incredibly useless at work. I watched dozens of people come through the door each day, but I was still shadowing my coworkers, trying to take as many notes as I could. I am grateful to them for reminding me to have grace with myself when I make mistakes and for encouraging me to be bold and have confidence in what I know how to do. Now, almost six months later, I can look back and see how far I have come. I am even starting to answer questions for some of my newer coworkers! Still, I often struggle to have patience. Sometimes, I derive great satisfaction from my work, checking things off my to-do list, and helping tenants advocate for themselves. But sometimes I get bogged down by the work. There are always more people coming in who need help, and now, I have some of the same clients coming in for new cases. It is easy to get discouraged by all the people who are experiencing hardship, whether it is due to a corrupt landlord, job loss, health issues, or all of the above.
I have to remind myself that even the smallest tasks can bear fruit. When tenants walk in, they are often stressed, angry, and sad. But when they leave, they often tell me how much better they feel. They tell me that now, they understand what is happening to them and the steps they can take to fix it. All it took was asking a few questions and telling them it was going to be okay, that they are not alone. Now, I am starting to see my clients settle their cases, and that is a beautiful thing to witness. I am reminded that God uses small acts for transformation, if only I can be patient to watch God work.
This patience I am learning would not be possible without faith that God is working in and through me during this season of my life. It’s what gets me to work, what gives me the strength to comfort and accompany tenants facing eviction. It’s what keeps me laughing but also helps me cry because I know that Jesus wept too.
Jesus taught us to care for the ones society had rejected and pushed to the margins. He taught us love and justice. Jesus’ life was also made up of moments, of small interactions that changed the world. He knew that people would not always understand why he was on Earth, but he was (and is) patient with us as we learn more about him and who we are in God. I do not know what the next season of my life will hold, or how what I am learning during my term of service will carry on for the rest of my life. I may pursue a career in the legal sector, or I may do something completely different. But I do know that God is patient with me as I grow in patience and boldness myself. And while I can never live up to the example Jesus set on Earth, I hope that my life can also be a witness to what it means to live and work for a better world.
