It Was You.

A lovely girl that I met over here in the middle of no where Africa told me the other night that she was a giver. She was a giver that had been drained, and emptied out by life, and she came here to refill. It was a simple concept to her, but a profound one to me.

As I write this final entry from computer number 37 at the internet cafe in Obz, Capetown, South Africa on the 92 day of my trip. I am exhausted. I leave for the airport in less than an hour and actually am looking forward to 24 hours of time alone to reflect, to put things in their place in my mind, and to prepare to return to the normalacy of my life.

Perhaps I came here on that cold day in November empty too. So exhausted by life and tired by work to even notice the empty. But this trip has changed me, it has made me more than who I was. It has made me layers deeper with understanding, and scraped off layers of selfishness.

I have survived snakes, spiders, heat, rhinos, aids, tb, malaria, ten flights, two house robberies, 50 very dangerous car rides atleast, stomach flu, hiv, and over a hundred bug bites.

It was you.

I know that it was God looking out for me on this trip because I think He called me to come here. But it was you, my thoughtful friends' cards, my faithful friends' prayers, my parents amazing intrigue with the smallest details of this trip, my brother's missing of me, my emails, my facebook messages, my phone calls, my christmas cards, my galleries incredible understanding of me needing to take risks as an artist, your patience, your letting go of me, your accepting me back, your longing to see me again, your wishes for my safety and for my growth, your 20 dollars you shoved in my pocket on the way out the door, your care for my home, your care for my mail and finances, your inspiration, your faith, your prayers and your love.

You are the reason I will fly home today across almost two oceans with only a little cough and ear infection, but with a heart so full it could burst.

I am full. With tears in my eyes I am ready. I am fulfilled. Im opptimistic. I am happy. I am grateful. I feel full of worth and luck. I am stronger and I am more, and I was able to go to Africa because I could come home to you.

I love you all. You have blessed my life in millions of ways and may I come home with new eyes and a renewed spirit and the air of fulfilling a dream and pass it on to you.

I went to Africa so you didnt have to.
May your life be full.
May your heart be alive.
May you feel ready.
May you feel blessed.

-amy