Book of Oops - Chapter Two

Many of you have requested that I continue to detail the hilarities of my adventures in Costa Rica! So...here it is - the second installment of ridiculous errors made on my journey of language learning. This chapter includes moments created by others as well; they were too hysterical not to mention. Enjoy!

1. I told my tico BROTHER: "tranquila!" which basically means: "no worries, GIRL"
2. I said: "Me bano con jamon" (I bathe with ham) when I was trying to say "Me bano con jabon" (I bathe with soap)
3. My grammar teacher referred to my classmate, Todd, as "Toot"...yeah I almost lost it in class. It took all my strength not to bust out laughing; I was shaking pretty hard in my seat though!
4. When asked by her grammar teacher to conjugate a verb in 13 tenses, my friend Rhonda responded accordingly: "Necesito M&Ms" (I need M&Ms)...in other words: there was not going to be any conjugating of anything without the assistance of chocolate!

So there you have it...some funny moments from mi vida loca (my crazy life). I hope you found as much joy in them as I did! I was laughing in true form...I know you can hear it!

Please note that I can no longer spell in English! Therefore I don't remember how to spell the word "conjugate." Sorry if it's wrong!

Up and Coming

I know...my blogs are lacking at the moment! It's rather sad too, because I have so many things to share with you. However, it is late and I desperately need to lay my head down to rest. Trouble is, I hear the voice of my sweet Shepherd in the twilight hours more often than not, which means it can take sometimes hours for me to fall asleep. Tonight is one of those nights.

Regretfully, I won't be writing anything of detail tonight. But I wanted to let you know what you can look forward to over the next few days:

Book of Oops Chapter Two
Finding Life in Death
Living Up to My Name
How Can I Despise that which Draws Me Nearer to You?

Yes, you're correct. These are titles for my up and coming entries. In the mean time, here are some immediate prayer needs:

1. Physical strength - it's been a rough couple of weeks and my body is feeling it!
2. Financial provision - the Lord has laid it on my heart to stay in Costa Rica longer and need $1600 to do so.
3. All needs that have been spoken to me over this last week - there are so many whom I cherish that are in need of miracles of grace, healing, provision, etc. Please join me in lifting them to the Throne...even if you don't know who or what.

To you, friend, thank you. Thank you for believing in me and the call that God has placed within my heart! I couldn't do this without you.

Con todo mi amor,

Daniela

Mourning with those who mourn

For those who read this blog in order to know how to pray....

I lost a very dear friend of mine this week in a very sudden and unexpected death. And I am grieving....for his wife of only 9 months, for his family, for all of my friends who knew and loved him, and for myself.

I am hurting badly. And I am far from all I hold closest. Pray for:

1. Stacey
2. Cole's family
3. Cole's friends
4. Me

I would write more...words of tribute to a great and godly man...but I cannot just yet. Soon, though, I will write what Cole meant to me and what his dear bride, Stacey, means to me.

For now, just pray. I am mourning far from all...it hurts.

Beyond the 5 Senses

So I got sick this weekend...really, really sick...and on Superbowl Sunday to boot! It was bad! And I've been in bed for nearly 4 days, as I was laid out on Saturday, unable to move, because of my back. So this morning, when I took my first shower since Sunday, I found myself complaining that the water wasn't hot. Now the water here never gets really HOT; it's warm, definitely, but never hot enough to really relax my muscles. And today, that just topped everything else off...and I complained. I gently heard the Holy Spirit whisper, as I dried myself off, "Don't complain Danyal; it will kill you."

Did the Lord mean that I would physically die? No, of course not. But I do believe He was reminding me that if I forget to look for His nearness to me...even in something like a cold shower...it will kill the work He's doing in me while I'm here in Costa Rica. Complaining only does one thing...it refuses to look at what God HAS done and IS doing and chokes the seeds and fruit of His current workings. Look at Exodus 40:38 with me:

"For the cloud of the Lord was above the Tabernacle by day and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys"

God graciously gave Israel physical, visible evidence that He was with them wherever they went. But sometimes God asks something more of His children; sometimes He asks us to rely on a less obvious sign: faith. God is asking that of me in the midst of a stretching season, when I am far from all that is comfortable and familiar.

I must go beyond my natural senses of sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. I must even go beyond my emotions. I must accept God's nearness to me by faith...and in His grace...He'll give me those visible signs along the way!

Help me to walk this journey by faith Lord, and to trust that You are laeading me toward that which truly satisfies my soul...being nearer to YOU!