Emilio Update
Dear Friends and Family,
On Friday Feb 27 our third son, Emilio, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. It was a scary week and the doctor sent us imediately to the hospital. After a week of testing, treatment, and most of all education they sent us home to a new life. While it is a serious desease he can live normally with medication(4 injections per day), balanced diet(no in-between meals), and exercise. Emilio is taking it as well as can be expected and is serious about his new daily regimen. He is giving himself the injections, testing his blood, and keeping accurate records of everything. He has already returned to school and for these next few months he will be monitored closely by regular trips to the hospital. As for the rest of us we have mostly gotten over the shock and we wished it were us instead of him. During difficult situations it would be nice to be home but we understand our work here is not done. God provided GREAT care through the hands of each doctor and nurse and also through our new community of friends. Emilio says THANK YOU!!! for all your prayers. We read to him your emails of encouragement and he felt loved and cared for. My words fall short of accurately expressing our gratitude.
With much love,
Daniel and Family
Posted March 10, 2010 by Daniel and Marie.
February 2010
Our First Year
Dearest Family and Friends,
What an incredible year this has been and this Friday marks the end of our first year! Thank you for all your thoughts, prayers, and words of encouragement. We could not have done it with out you! We miss you all yet we are confident in our role as Ambassadors for Christ in France. (2 Corinthians 5:20). As ambassadors there is nothing special about us except Who we represent.In our jobs as dads, moms, friends, and employees (I didn't think I would miss building trucks so much!) we must all remember our title of Ambassador for Christ. In my prayers for you, I pray 2010 will be a year where your understanding of God and your obedience to Jesus affirms your title as Christian.
I have started and stopped this letter many times wondering just what to communicate about our first year. A friend of mine asked me was I still glad we came and still sure this is where God wanted us to be. He also asked about our five children and how this huge move has impacted them. I want to share my answers with you.
YES, we are still glad to be here. The pain of picking up and moving has been substantial but in the grand scheme of life, minimal. Growing up, maturing, and doing what is right always involves some pain. I grew up in church and my fear was God changing my plans. As I continue to learn about God, I now realize that IS EXACTLY God's plan, to change our desires, plans, and eventually our actions. God does not want the good things we do but He wants to be the center of what we do. After our first year here we are still glad to be here because God is using this move to change our mentality, attitude, and heart in ways we would have never surrendered back home. We are still glad to be here because the needs are great and we are glad to do our part. While the needs are great in every community God has allowed us to be part of the work here. Seeing the news on Haiti every week makes me want to go there but for now we are here.
In regards to our children only time will tell. My goals for my children took a drastic change a few years ago. Once my dream for them all was to be financially successful above everything else. Now my prayer is they have a personal understanding and love for God which moves them to action. They must learn faith is personal but not private. Christianity is not lived out in the pews but out on the pavement! How can we follow the teachings of Jesus and be private about His commands? How can I teach my kids something I have not lived myself?
Not a week goes by where one of our kids(or parents) is ready to return to Texas, which causes us to focus on why we are here. We are here because together we ALL said "here am I, send me".
Thank you for walking this year with us.
With much love,
Daniel,Marie, Antonio, Mario,Emilio,Ignacio,Daniela
Posted February 24, 2010 by Daniel and Marie.
November 2009
SCHOOL,SCHOOL,SCHOOL
The month of September brought the beginning of school and also the most difficult of days since our arrival. Initially all the kids were excited and a bit apprehensive about jumping into French schools. After their first day was over they were shocked into the reality of how difficult a task they had landed in. Day 2 through today is a daily exercise in perseverance. All the boys attend "College Jules Verne". Their daily schedule is similar to a U.S. university model, with every day a different schedule of start and stop times, and different subjects on different days.While France is modern and has many similar things as the USA the attitudes and actions are different which is all new for our children. God knew I could not endure watching Daniela having a difficult time so her school experience has not been the same as the boys. She is at the Primary school. Her schedule is the same every day, she stays in one class room, and her teacher speaks some English. Daniela is like her mother which means she can make friends even without speaking the same language! It is fun to watch Daniela with her new friends as they try to communicate. Each of the kids have had to introduce themselves many times which always leads to explaining why we are here. They have had good conversations about what is a Christian, why they go to church, what holidays they celebrate and why they left the USA. The opportunities to share their faith encourages them to keep pressing on as there are very few Christians.
MINISTRY UPDATE
In September we also launched our Church leadership training and Christian Life Discovery series with more attending than we expected. Every week both groups are growing in their knowledge of the Bible. We are praying for their knowledge to turn into obedience and I am doubling that prayer for me! Currently, I am leading the Discovery study at the International Baptist Church in Nice which challenges me in many ways. It is wonderful to serve in this way and Marie and the kids are all involved as well.Every Thursday evening, Marie makes dinner for everyone and then we study the foundations of the Christian life with people from nearly a dozen different countries. It is great to hear the different perspectives and to watch the universal truths of the Bible answer all our questions.
Pray for these few individuals who are coming every Thursday to better understand what is a Christian.
Pray for the leaders from both churches who are meeting every Tuesday to learn how to study the Bible and to understand their crucial role in the church.
Pray for Pastor James Arnold and his family as he leads, directs, and teaches.
Pray for Chancey Graves who is here for the next year.
Pray for our ability to learn French.
Please know you are in our thoughts and we are praying God continues to work in each of your lives.
Serving with you in France,
Daniel, Marie, Antonio, Mario, Emilio, Ignacio, Daniela
Posted November 8, 2009 by Daniel and Marie.
09-03-2009 September 2009
07-01-2009 July 2009
04-26-2009 April 2009
03-04-2009 March 2009
02-16-2009 February 2009
01-20-2009 January 2009
12-15-2008 December 2008
10-20-2008 October 2008
09-28-2008 September 2008
07-28-2008 July 2008 Update
06-03-2008 June 2008 Update
05-13-2008 May 08 Update
03-25-2008 Waiting on Gods Perfect Timing
11-02-2007 The Orozco Family
10-04-2007 Traveling to France and Africa
08-18-2007 Trusting in God's Timing
06-13-2007 The Orozcos are going to France!
05-30-2007 Latest Update on My Dad
