November 22, 2007
Hi Everyone,
Very Happy Thanksgiving to all and to all a Good Night!
I am envisioning you are all safely tucked in for the night after a full
and satisfying Thanksgiving Day full of all the friends and family and
foods you enjoy. I had forgotten it was yesterday. I hadn't actually forgotten,
I just thought it was next week on Thursday.
Anyway, I am wrapping things up to come for my fundraising tour and to
have Christmas for the first time since 2002. I am thankful. As you know,
we have been so very fortunate and blessed at the center and in Mozambique.
It's hard to explain all the feelings that come when you are trying to
prepare to leave for a few months. The nervousness of turning everything
over to other people... especially some new people. The excitement of
the possibilities of the trip.. the exhaustion of doing entirely too much
at one time when you are no longer 25 years old.
The coordination of the meetings in Maputo and the pressure of the government
to be in all the provinces (states) here because your project is so great.
The tiredness that comes when you get so caught up in the hype of being
a CNN finalist and then sitting not knowing for a month while trying to
wrap things up. And for all these things and experiences I am really grateful
and thankful. I am having a life that many can only imagine. Even though
at times I'm sure I can't continue for one more minute. Then at times
I am exhilarated beyond the imaginings of life. And then at another time
I feel I've given up everything to be here (home, family, friends). There's
no question I've been to very outer limits of emotion in this experience
and in Faith.
And that brings me back to realizing that these times of frustration or
sheer exhaustion are only times when I'm not listening to my inner-self
or a greater Divine guidance that is saying, "slow down Amy, take
a break" or "You're working with people who aren't supporting
you well ... move on and seek others" or "you now have a new
directive and it's time to release this part to someone else." It's
in my own struggling to continue with things and do things in a certain
way that I come to moments of frustration or exhaustion.
I recall the quote which reminds us God has only three answers, "Yes,
not yet, I have something better in mind for you."
So, my bags are packed and being transported to Maputo where I will meet
up with them on Tuesday. Then I am in Maputo for meetings and presentations
of our dolls for a week and then the 6th I begin my travel back to the
U.S. 5 suitcases and a box of dolls and a lifetime full of Thanksgiving
for these past three years living out of the box, out of the norm and
out of my comfort zone.
I give great thanks to my family at this time for their patience during
these past years. I know this has also been a great stretch of comfort
level, faith, and emotions for them also.
Let me give thanks to each of you also who has supported the children
through me and through AOSCI and TIOS and been patient during my learning
curves and through our growing pains as a person and as a non-profit organization.
There has been so much new to learn. In reality - everything has been
new to learn.... but in some ways I feel you have learned along side of
me... and I hope I've done well to share this experience with you in a
way that is more personal than reading a newspaper article or picking
up a book.
This faith-filled life can be rigorous and demanding; but it has tremendous
reward. I have a lifetime full of memories packed into a few short years
and they are beautiful memories really.
So, to each and every one of you and your family's I wish you the greatest
Thanksgiving ever as we enter this Christmas season to know that your
prayers and support have made a difference in the lives of children half
way around the world; and though we do not celebrate Thanksgiving in Mozambique,
each of us at the Center says, "Thank you - estamos juntos"
(we are together).
From the small heart of Chimoio,
Amy and the kids
Blessings and Grace from Mozambique,
Amy
www.aosci.org
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