As the smoke has risen...

Today, I realized how many battles I've been through in the last few months since planning to go back to Peru and even the personal battles I went through before hand as well and I must say, it has made me incredibly more thankful for the Father in Heaven I have. On that note in the 'father department', it has made much more thankful for my own father whom I've been developing a much better relationship with him now than probably ever before in my life. I can't really describe how thankful I am to have him especially after the many times he has told me how much he didn't have the kind of conversations I've had with him compared to his 'communication life' with his father, for that I am very grateful. I am also very grateful for the lines of communication that my Father in Heaven has provided within this relationship with my father and I, though it's not just my father and I that are growing closer; it's my whole family. Step by step, I'm seeing a change for the better in my family and I'm enjoying this a lot and I would so much rather have this change than have these life changing conversations during the time over someone's death-bed 20 or 30 years down the road, Lord willing longer than those two time-span's I mentioned.

I've been very fortunate to be used in very important relationships here in the States, not just with my family, but my friends as well. I've been able to communicate and renew a friendship with a close NJROTC Cadet brother of mine from high school whom is in the U.S. Army at the moment in Baghdad and en-route to his new location compared to his less war-raging environment in Kuwait he accepted the Lord at 30,000 feet during a pretty turbulent flight, one flight that involved a lightning bolt narrowly missing his transport's right wing by 100 ft. I really thank the Lord for letting me be part of something like this in friendship and in being given the finances to buy him the Bible that would be used in his acceptance of the Lord. I've been SO fortunate to be able to be used in my workplace, granted I have my 'frustrated moments' where I'm not exactly setting an example that God would approve of or calls me to have in those short but ugly moments. This is most certainly an area that the Lord working on, but praise Him the fact that He is providing me with a consistency of 27 hours of work a week which is the max. I can get at the moment and my managers have been assigning me 12 hours shifts quite frequently to the point that I am the first to get them because they've asked me if I don't mind getting them and I said, "I won't be complaining at all for getting them.' Behold, the Lord not only provided me the hours to receive finances to add towards Peru, but also a ton of endurance for it in the area of fatigue. Don't get me wrong, I have my moments close to 7 or 8pm where I act a little...'funny', where all I see is Panera Bread logos, baguettes, and order tickets and I say, 'Twelve hours of this, Lord, help me...oh help me.' Sure enough, He always goes above and beyond I ask for.

Lately, I've been practicing my Spanish when I can and have been incredibly thankful for what the Lord has done for me and is doing for me and for the first time in a long time I am content with where I am, but still waiting patiently to go back to Peru and slowly putting more and more trust in the Lord in certain areas where I know I need to not trust so much in myself, but hold true to His Promises. I say all of this after a major 'heart-surgery', if you will has the Lord has been doing some serious work on my heart. I also want to thank all of YOU! Who are following up with my blog and I thank you so much for your prayers and support no matter how small or large you may think it is, it helps SO MUCH. Anyway, I gotta run. I have to work tomorrow, but not until the afternoon; although I have some other priorities to tend to. God bless and Good Night or Buenos Noches y Dios te Bendiga!

-Danielito...