He is BIGGER

Well I have been home now for just over 2 months. It has been good to see my friends and also to do some things I had missed while I was gone like ice cream at the Meadows, drive ins, and also campfires. I've done all of those things and much more. It has also been somewhat difficult to be home as well. But I am continually getting help from the Lord because that is the only place where my help comes from! Awhile ago I was reminded of the fact that God is BIGGER. I realized that I was fearing the possibility that I could mess up what the Lord had for me by choosing the wrong thing to do next or by not doing something that He wanted me to do. But then all of a sudden the Lord reminded me that He is BIGGER than me - His thoughts are higher than mine and His ways are higher and greater than mine. So therefore I am not able to mess up or miss the plan that He has for my life because He can surely carry it out in my life! So I was very thankful for that reminder and the Lord is faithful to keep reminding me as I still tend to forget.
So far since I have been home I have been doing little jobs here and there which I am enjoying for right now. I have also been traveling a little bit going to weddings, visiting friends and working at a gift show. I am excited to be selling my car this week hopefully, and then going out to buy a new one  :)  I will put pics up of my new car once I get it which should happen very soon! So that is definitely something I am looking forward to. I do not know what the long term future holds for me yet but I am confident in the fact that the Lord will show me what that is and I will choose to be content while waiting for it and doing the small, little things in my near future that I know to do.

Home to America

Well I haven't written here in awhile, but my time in England was great and now I'm back home in America. Here's some pics of England.

My parents surprised me and came early

Walking around Hampton Court

Beautiful flowers at Hampton Court

Cream Tea!

Touring Bath for Easter weekend  :)

Very Beautiful!

It all was a lot of fun in England and I was able to adjust to it quickly  :)  It was sad to leave the kids and everybody in India though, but great to see my friends in England and also America. It was strange at first being back at home but now it's been a week, and it's getting better and more normal.  Not sure what the next step for me is right now, but I will take it one step at a time as the Lord leads me. (Which He definitely does ALL the time!) I'll keep you posted as to what I will be up to!

Sorry it's been awhile since I've written anything. It's been a little busy and I was trying to decide a few different things.  But now I'm down to less than 1 week so the time is coming to an end. I'm doing my last minute shopping for things that I want to take back and things like that. The kids are not excited about me leaving, they keep telling me to just stay :)  But on Tuesday we are going to an amusement park with everyone so that will be a lot of fun. Also this weekend some of their relatives are visiting. Some of them haven't seen their relatives for 2 years and at first they were a bit shy but they are doing well.  :)  It's fun to watch them and see their reactions to everything. Heres just some different pictures below. Probably the next time I write, I will be in England.

They love their bubble time   :)

Pure joy   :)

Had to wake up early one morning and take care of a crying child, but I got to see the beautiful sunrise 

They were supposed to be playing cricket.... 

2nd time in my life playing cricket.... not too bad.

The ball went over and so did the kids...

Cricket!

Quick Update

So just a quick update since I realized that I didn't mention this in my last post... But I'm back with the kids now. Everything we were waiting for with the government happened and now I'm back to being with the kids. Just a couple more weeks to go and then I'll be moving on. We have some upcoming things planned one being we're going to an amusement park with all of the kids. So that should be fun and we're doing it right before I go.   :)  So just wanted to give a quick update now but will write more later. 

Traveling

So we're back now from our little break, and it was very nice. It was a nice relaxing time and we also got to do some fun things. It was located at a coffee plantation so we also got to walk through some of the trails. Below are some of the pics from our time.  Also when we got back, I ended up going out with the other American girl here. It was my second adventure out by myself and we succeeded :) We just spent the evening out but it was fun. We took an auto to one of the roads and then walked up and down to all of the shops. Then we walked to another busy road with shops and walked all around that. Afterwards we walked to a Hard Rock Cafe, which was a nice change. Needless to say our feet were a bit sore, but it all was fun. Then we got picked up by someone so that way we didn't need to take an auto all the way back at night. So adventure out #2 leading the way, was quite successful 

Driving down the road, workers picking pepper

We were in a boat and saw this :)

Elephants getting a bath. Quite amusing. 

Driving along...

Walking through the coffee and pepper plantation

We also went fishing :) ...Didn't catch anything though....

Then we went to a fall. It was a crazy walk up and I ran part of it...

Watch out for snakes.... Didn't see any....

And look out for monkeys.... Didn't see any of these either...

Walking back we see some cows along the way :)

Just giving a quick update. I will be leaving to North Karnataka in two days and will be there for several days with the family. So I'm really looking forward to that and I'm sure it will be lots of fun. This week was busy again with working on the computer and helping out with this curriculum which is ALMOST done. Also I've been cooking up a storm it seems this week. Today I made chocolate mixed berry crumb bars which tasted very nice but I had left it in the oven a little too long. On Thursday I made my meal that I was planning, except it did not go as I had planned. I ended up making chicken fingers and the mashed potatoes I made were extremely sticky. So it was a bit disappointing, but we were able to come up with something else by experimenting. Manju helped me out and we made something new with the potatoes which turned out to be pretty good. So that was nice. Today again I made a cake for the kids for tomorrow. Also tomorrow I am going to help with making moomoos. I feel like I am becoming a pro at that as I've done it now several times. So I just keep cooking away over here and its fun. So I'm definitely looking forward to this upcoming week. I'm sure I'll have lots of pictures to put up next time :)

I was just sitting on my balcony today and thought this looked like a cool picture

The kids reaction to not being able to see me all week.... a bit staged as well... ha

Goodness

Don't really have any new pictures to put up but thought I would still update everyone. This week has been different as I'm not going over with the kids to see them due to some different things due to the state. But I'm still keeping busy doing other things :)   Yesterday I helped change a flat tire (just at the house) but it was still fun. Didn't really do all that much but helped a little. This week I've also baked two pound cakes which were quite tasty. The first one was regular then the second one I made was with walnuts. So everyone at home has been enjoying the desserts :)  Sometime this week I'm planning on making chicken and mashed potatoes (a true American meal)  and we will be eating with a fork and knife  :) Also this week I plan on making gulab jamun which is what I refer to as the "wet doughnut" which is very tasty! And that name for it is becoming popular around here.... ha.  It's hard to believe that there is only one month to go. This time has just flown by. But the Lord has been so faithful and kind to me the whole time! I am so enjoying the time and looking forward to the next thing the Lord has for me. I'm expecting it to be good because the Lord is ALWAYS good to me and never withholds any good thing from me. And it's not because its me.... but only because of the one I am in... His Son!     :)  

Busy, Busy, Busy

This was another busy busy week for me :) This week I was again living somewhere else near my house living with another American. So it was fun but also busier just going back and forth. And I also had a curfew as they locked their gates at a certain time :)   Also on Wednesday I ventured out for the first time being the leader. I took the other American out and we went to a nearby town in an auto. It was fun and I was glad that I felt like I knew what I was doing and where I was going. We walked around just a little and went to a coffee shop and to the grocery store.  I'm glad I know my way around and can show the auto drivers how to get to my house and everything.  Then on Thursday the homeschool kids took their entrance exam and all 3 passed! They were very excited and we were also very excited for them. The one boy had tears in his eyes he was so excited :) It is for sure an answer to prayer and the Lord helped them so much. We were even singing songs that morning riding the auto to the school as they were a bit nervous and scared. So we sang "Do not fear" and they so enjoyed that. The Lord definitely helped each one of them :) This week I also made apple crisp which was very tasty again. And I also made strawberry custard with pomegranates and grapes. It tasted very nice!  On Saturday night I went to the youth group meeting and while there I became a team captain for a game we were playing. It was similar to ultimate frisbee but with a ball. It was fun and my team also won which was even more fun :)  So it has been a pretty busy week. Tomorrow I will get to move back my house. I'm not all sure yet what this week will be like but I'm sure it will be full with different things :)

They passed their entrance exam! and were given some toys for it!

They were quite excited

The family with another visitor 

The family again :)

We've been doing lots of different things this week. I have moved out of the house b/c we are having another guest staying there. So I have moved into another orphanage across the road with another American girl volunteer. It's been fun and we're having a good time :) Right now I'm back in the house for a few nights and then will move back to the other orphanage for several more nights. It's a good thing I enjoy packing so much :) Cause I really do for some reason! We've also had a birthday party celebration for the house mother. We ate beef biryani which tasted very good. Next week the plan is for me to learn how to make biryani so I can make it back home for all you people :) So I'm looking forward to that as well :) Today the kids and I made no-bake cookies again which they enjoy very much. So we had a good time making those. It was their second time doing it.  The Lord is always so good to me and I'm just enjoying my time here and He is helping me in every way! So I am very thankful and just throughly enjoying my time!

We were playing at the park

Part of the park where they can run around

View of my apartment from the back from the park

 This sari was a gift I got for my birthday and I got to wear it for the first time!

Birthday party time!

They got me flowers for in my hair

Cutting the cake :)  (This table cloth was one my family sent me which they enjoyed!)

Moving along

Things are moving right along over here :) It's weird to think I only have less than 2 more months here but plan on living it to the fullest :) I'm trying to think about what's going on here, but I think things are becoming normal for me here so I don't have as many stories that I can think to share. 

Today we watched Shrek 4 which the kids enjoyed and we also painted.  Later I will be going to a youth meeting today. On Wednesday night I was able to hang out with several other Americans to play games. They are starting to get together weekly and just have fun and hang out. So we had pizza and just played several different games and it was fun. That's all I can think of for now, enjoy the pics below :)

When we were driving, we saw a funeral going on. I quickly tried to get a picture.

A bit hard to see but we are eating boiled peanuts. Very tasty :)

This is just funny I think

For any of you wondering.... I'm still doing very well. I am enjoying being here and finding it hard to believe that I'm already over half way done for my time to be here. I only have 2 more months to go being in India. The time is definitely going by quickly but I'm making sure to enjoy every moment of it.

Yesterday on my day off I got to ride a motorcycle/ scooter. George took me out on it as we had to go somewhere which was maybe 30-40 min away. It's my new favorite means of transportation for right now. It was a lot of fun and I took a few videos while I was on it. I'm a little sore today however but it was fun :) Also my new favorite foods are dosa and gulab jamun which I have referred to as the "wet donut". It is a very tasty dessert and I really like it. 

My ipod got ruined the other day because I spilled water on it accidentally. I couldn't fix it but was able to buy an itouch which is what I have been wanting so I was very thankful to be able to buy it and I'm back to enjoying my music, which I can't live without for very long.  Yesterday I made a mexican dish from taco seasoning that my mom sent me :) Although found out later that you can get the mix here as well. It turned out ok, not great but ok. Things are getting busier as I am doing more things and getting more things to do, which I like. That's all I can think of for now and just a few photos this time but enjoy !

I cleaned out the "study room" or closet where they keep the toys and now we're organizing all the puzzles!

Doing an action worship song :)

Resort

Sorry it has been awhile since I wrote anything.... It is already the end of January and the time is flying by. We went about 40 min away to a resort for the 2 yr Anniversary of the home for one night. It was a nice time and the kids had a lot of fun.  There was lots of stuff to do there including swimming! So we had lots of fun swimming and also trying to teach them how to swim. One boy did very well and could swim and the others kept practicing. The whole time was nice.  Heres some pictures to show what we were doing.

Walking around

Swinging at the resort

Watching the others play cricket from above :)

All the kids

Their new swimming suits :)

Learning to swim

T.V time which they all enjoyed very much

More adventure

And more