I'm Home... I'm Changed... God is the Same

so well as all of you or most of you know I am home now.. all safe and sound.. so the worrying can end and the joyful time of sharing stories and pictures can commence...
But before i share with you all what it's like to be home I would like to tell you about my final days in India, goodbyes, and my trip home... so sorry its gonna be a long one again : )
where I left off after that insanely long post (sorry about that) was Thursday morning...
so main things that happened after that were all the "lasts" of everything and some "first" surprisingly enough...
so on Friday night we went to Lynne's house for dinner.. and we road in an auto there.. It was a whole new perspective on the driving.. you were in the traffic it was not only scary heart and adrenalin pumping it felt like riding the tea cups at an amusement park... So fun...
We ate a great meal of rice and curry haha but it was with AMAZING chicken!!!
then i held little Hannah for 5 hrs in total that night.. she is so precious... and i was very very tired-- the kids had worn me out that day!!! It had been my last day at hostile 2 (HIV positive kids) : (
We stayed at their house till midnight and when we got back to the hostile the door was locked so we had to climb over the gate and jump down on the other side... it was comical... and we were all so tired everything was funny...
But i skipped telling u about my last day at hostile 2 duh.. sorry...
It was sad but good.. i think the kids tried not to think about it and the ones that were little didn’t even understand that it was my last day so they were oblivious... but it went great the kids has soo much fun and we made buckets into bongos and the girls danced it was great fun...
every day i was down there i received boat loads of cards for me and my family.. These kids are so precious... they love to give you anything they have.. even though they don’t have much...
some times they even make envelopes for the cards and glue them shut with cooked rice or old pieces of tape they found--- so the stickers gave them were the best!!! they loved them--- it was so cute when i showed them-- their jaws dropped and were like astonished-- so cute--
so i missed the bus leaving hostile to because the kids wouldn’t let me leave and I was trying to explain that i was coming on Saturday to say bye so they didn’t have to say bye right then...
so on Saturday i spent as much time as i could with the kids while still finishing all of tho bills--- but a little before midnight we finished ALL 3 yrs of bills in order hole punched in binders !!! i can’t believe we finished!!!!
so the goodbyes : (
w started at 2nd hostile with the HIV positive girls and boys... they all went in one room and sat on the floor -- i was able to talk to the whole group as a whole and tel them how wonderful the past 3 weeks had been and how much i was gonna miss them and how much they were loved--- they sang us songs and a few girls got up and sang "friend of god" to show Lynne the song i taught them-- they did a great job--- they also showed everyone their dance and the boys bongo performance on the buckets---
We all ate "egg buggies" they are a snack that consists of a boiled egg in a deep fried breading-- they weren’t half bad-- We also handed out American candy : ) they were most certainty not opposed
so the kids sang and i quietly goofed off with the little boys sitting right in front of me-- Deepak wouldn’t get off my lap -- he was all cuddly yet squirmy...
One of the things they do for goodbyes is give the people leaving these fresh flower garlands so Chinto gave me mine-- I think it weighed more then he did it was so cute--- and then they pray for you---
All of the kids extend their hands toward you while 2 older children pray for you--- and man do they pray-- they prayed for my ear and our travels and that God would keep us safe and a ton of other stuff but they were praying in Telagu so I didnt understand it all but you could still sense the power in it-- even with out a translation... God speaks all languages!!!
so after prayer it was time to leave they showered you in flower peddles ...they all crowded around and say goodbyes-- they were not letting me leave--
It was so hard to drive away but we had to go do the same thing at the other hostile with the HIV neg children---
It was basically the same ceremony at this hostile but all of the kids got in line as they left and did a more orderly good bye well the boys at least-- the girls did the crowding thing---
I have so many goodbye happy journey cards from all the boys and girls -- they are too sweet---
so after formal goodbyes We finished bills and hung out with the girls till it was bed time for them---
we went up stairs and did our laundry-- bucket washing-- a very very long process and then packed-- we got done with that around 1:30-2am ish and then we snacked and watched a box dvd set till around 4am when we had to leave for the airport--
so it was a smooth slick no real problems at the airport and even though our flight was canceled and we had to get a later one from Heathrow to Boston it all worked out and we made it safely home... It was so great to see mom and dad!!!! i missed them terribly : )
but man is it cold here--- i was shocked when we stepped outside.. and when we got to my grandparents house i was shocked again that there was snow... I think sub-consciencely I thought it was gonna be summer when i got home-- boy i was so wrong...
so since i have been home i have indulged in a wonderful chocolate cake from my grandma... thank you so much for that.... and i have enjoyed mashed potato and amazing meat : ) and i have been able to show my parents pictures and share stories it has been wonderful ... it has been great to see and catch up with people...
the time difference is still pain I am falling asleep writing this and I think I will go catch a few Z's when I am done typing this... But it is getting a tad better
I wanted to thank all of you who have prayed for my ear--- I had a doctor's appointment this morning and my left ear is still infected-- but i have been put on antibiotics that will clear and heal it all up --- so praise the Lord--

A few questions that people have been frequently asking me and I thought I would just share with you are:
What was the hardest thing for you while you were down there?
This would have to be when I would come to the realization that these kids have a terminal illness and unlike cancer and other life threatening illnesses Aids has no cure no Chance of survival it is just a waiting game-- and the life expectancy of some one who has had full blown aids is only at most 5 more yrs--- this was so hard to think about as you held a sleeping child that had full blown aids--
to think that this beautiful life your holding will never see adulthood... this was the hardest thing to swallow-- even with the experience i have had with sick children--
but as this is a depressing and git wrenching thing to have your mind dwell on it was also a motivation to make every moment you had with them count.. make every laugh every second you were with them one that could be impacting and a happy memory...

the second question I have been getting is
what is the biggest thing you learned down there:
this could be answered in so many ways with so many examples but one way of explaining it ties into how God helped me handle each day to day moment to moment situation... he showed me Philippians 1 :20. " I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body whether by life or death."
now you may be a tad confused how this ties in but it because a verse I looked to as my prayer.. AT the time i was also reading Ecclesiastes and God was just really penetrating me with the revelation that life in any for is meaning less with out the purpose and direction of God-- nothing we do has meaning or has standing lasting impact with out the will and power of God being its rudder and steering ... We are simply the tools and if we are not doing and fulfilling the hand of the maker what ever we spend our time toiling over will amount to nothing that will last...
not only was my perspective changed but I realized that I desire to live every moment boldly and courageously living out God's call on my life and his mighty purpose--- so that is the biggest things i learned ... through prayer the word trying failing and having God pick me up and tell me to try again I have seen some things I held in such high importance are simply meaningless--- Amen!!!
In conclusion to my trip Yes i will be returning to India .. no I am not sure when and how.. but I know i will... God is moving there in a mighty way but he is moving here as well.. I challenge all of you to take up the challenge i have placed on my self---" view the world that surrounds you as your mission field" God has placed you with the people and in the places you are in for a purpose and do not be ashamed but have courage and exalt Christ in your day to day life by living out His purpose...

Thank you all so much for you Support financially and even more so through you constant prayers an encouragement while i was down there-- we are the hands and feet and with out you my hand wouldn't have been able to reach those children so thank you...
For those wondering I have the next semester off from school since i have finished early and I am currently deciding what way the lord is leading me next and what school he is leading me to..
i am also in search of a job... So you all can keep these two things in prayer as I walk out the next few months of a new era of my life---
If any of you know of a job I am open and would greatly appreciate any suggestions or references... I know God has a plan and He will provide!! He always does...
Don't we serve a Great God!!!
thank you all again for your loving prayer and support.. You are the best!!!!
All My Love
Miss Amy : )
by the way i added a few photo's to past post to put some faces with some stories