Erickson’s Philippines Updates

Andrea, pictured on the left with Bebe and kids from the street, has been relentlessly heading up the street feeding ministry in San Pablo City. For the past three months I have watched as she has continues to grow this ministry through consistency, love, compassion, and building a great team. It is amazing to see the faces of these children light up every time we come out to spend time with them.

A typical night involves singing action songs, sharing an inspirational or Bible story, giving of bread and juice, prayer, and usually an activity (like the middle picture, when we gave out balloons and then let the kids draw on them…and many of them asked us to sign them). Every time we go out there are 30-40 kids and teenagers who show up for the ministry.

What really inspired me to write this post is the last picture. I was so touched when I was looking through photos and saw this one of Josiah with his arm around one of the girls from the street. Josiah does not usually go out with us, because I usually have to spend most of the time chasing him down or just making sure he is not wondering off with strangers (he is VERY friendly!), but on occasion he does get to enjoy an evening on the streets. As I looked at this picture I realized that to Josiah, there is no difference between any of the kids out there and himself.

As far as he knows they are exactly the same. He doesn’t know that many of them sleep on a cardboard box on the sidewalk at night. He doesn’t know that many of them do not eat three times a day like him…he simply doesn’t know. What he knows is that he gets to go out and “play” with his friends in the town. What he knows is that he can put his arm around the kids, and laugh with them, and sing with them, and be a part of their lives.

Of course, I am not talking about being blind to the hurt and pain that is out there. Josiah is only 2 years old. I am talking about removing the pre-set mentalities that divide “us” and “them” and simply loving people regardless of our differences. Like Paul wrote in 1st Corinthians 9:22:

”To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.”

Being a father has taught me so much, as I am learning that I can gain as much in my relationship with Josiah as he can gain with me. In this lesson I was reminded to come to Christ as a child, seeing other people through the eyes of innocence, and realizing the only boundaries of love are the ones that we put up ourselves.

Check out a devotional written by Editor Jenn, The Real Jesus.

Note: This is a personal post written by Michael, and should only be read with a soft, melodic, and harmonious song in the background. Preferably one with a strumming guitar.

We’ve all been there. You know what I’m talking about. There. That place where you think you’ll have to reach up to touch rock bottom. Whether in parenting, friendships, career obligations, church/ministry responsibilities, or whatever else…we’ve all had those feelings of failure, loss, pain, regret, and the feeling of our best just not being good enough. Believe me, traveling halfway around the world with my family to a new culture and lifestyle, and working with kids who come from troubled backgrounds has often left me with a feeling of inadequacy.

There have been plenty of things in the past 2 ½ years that I’d change if I knew then what I know now. We go into the town and see the faces of so many kids who were once a part the Refuge Center, and I think maybe I should’ve done something different, or put more time into each of them. I look at my 2 ½ year old son and remember too many times when he wanted my attention, but I was busy with other things, and I think maybe I should’ve done something different, or given him more time. I look at my wife and remember the many times I had to call her to say I cannot meet her for lunch as planned, because something else came up. And I think…you get the point.

The point is our inadequacies often leave us feeling empty, alone, and like failures. But maybe that’s the point. It’s when I realize how small I am, that I realize how big God is. Perhaps our shortcomings shouldn’t frustrate us, but help us realize just how much room in our lives there is for God and His plan.

Andrea and I met briefly with some good friends of ours when we were in the States last year. I’m grateful that they took the time to remind us of our priorities, and putting our relationship and family at the top of the list. Matthew 6:21 says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” It got me thinking of where my efforts and time are, because our time goes toward what is truly important to us. Here is my key to success: God, family, others… Repeat as needed.

I have no doubt that God has called Andrea and I to the Philippines for this time, and no doubt that we are serving with the right ministry (Philippine Frontline Ministries). We’ve seen-firsthand-God transform not just the lives of the kids, but our lives as well. We’ve watched as abused, abandoned, and dangerously neglected kids have risen from the shame of the streets and slums through the renewing and spiritual reviving process that only God can perform. One of our boys going from using his hands to fight for what he has on the streets, to playing keyboard on the worship team. Some of our girls going from experiencing bodily abuse, to using their bodies to dance for our Lord in church and in outreach meetings. We have watched God restore lives one by one.

For anyone reading this post I have advice to give you. Remember the moments like these. Be purposeful about creating memories with your family, friends, and other all loved ones. It doesn’t require much more than thought, consideration, and a purpose of heart. Let me share some of our moments with you.

Family: The left picture below is a recent picture of Josiah and I. We were enjoying ourselves as the FTC kids practiced puppets with Rally (staff member) for the Wednesday summer activity. Ministry: In the middle picture, Sheila del Monte is playing Uno with her kids and several boys from here at FTC. Being able to show love and give time to your biological family and “adopted family” is very important for us, especially living in community amongst the FTC kids. Friends: The last picture is me with one of my new friends, Pastor Erwin. Erwin and I were both computer teachers last year at Frontline Christian Academy.

What is my challenge to anyone who reads this post? Make sure and create at least one lasting memory with loved ones around you in the next week.

Wow! I know it has been awhile since my last post, and I sincerely apologize to all of my fans…both of you It is now summer time here in the Philippines and school is out! We are having a blast enjoying the summer so far. We have activities planned Monday through Friday this summer, such as:

Dancing, arts and crafts, sports, lake outings, swimming, playstation, movies, puppets…and much more. The activity coordinators are:

Monday: Roy and Lelhe

Tuesday: Mike and Andrea

Wednesday: Rally and Marlyn

Thursday: Orick and Sheila

Friday: Bebe and Allan

It is very exciting as our relationships together continue to grow and flourish. We are looking forward to a great summer of fun!

Last night, the girls and I were doing a devotional from Luke, Chapter 1. The topic was quickly changed with question after question about heaven, hell, and eternity. I did my best to give answers to the questions I could, and also explained that some things we are not REALLY sure about. The question arose, “Why was hell created?”

I decided to jump back before answering that question, so I asked, “What was Lucifer’s job in heaven?” The guesses on the answer began to fly. “He sat at God’s right hand.” “He was the guardian of all angels”… but after about 45 seconds of guessing, one of the girls blurted out, “HE WAS A TAX COLLECTOR!” We must have laughed for over 10 minutes. We could no longer take the serious approach to our conversation as we has been. We laughed all the way through the closing prayer. At first this girl was shy and embaressed, but she quickly began laughing with us. What about this morning? Oh yeah, we are still laughing and talking about Lucifer, the devious tax collector

I was so touched last night. I was in our house cleaning when I decided to turn on one of my favorite Hillsong CDs, “The I Heart Revolution.” I am telling the complete truth when I say that not even 10 seconds after the music started, Myrna (6), Josiah (2), and Sara (1) came running through the door, so excited to hear the music. They began dancing and raising their hands, RIGHT THERE IN OUR LIVING ROOM! They did not care about anything else at that moment. They were jumping, kneeling down, raising their hands, and even trying to copy some of the moves they must have seen from our “Body Worship” dance group at church. It was one of those moments when nothing else mattered, then I snapped out of it and took some quick pics.

It is not just the small kids either. Last Sunday, Andrea and I were at church and three of our teenage girls from FTC were sitting between us. It was so encouraging because as I was getting excited (anyone who knows me, knows that I love praise and worship!), the girls were getting more excited! Jumping up and down, moving from side to side, raising their hands… Singing with a kind of passion that is only fit for our King. I would have loved to take a picture, so you could see the sincerity on their faces, but sometimes I think that just distracts what is going on. Maybe next time!

I continue to be excited about what God is doing in our lives, as well as in the lives of the FTC kids. We are not perfect, and we also experience hardships and trials… But God is faithful-so faithful.

Face The Children welcomes Gemma with wide open, loving arms. Gemma is 9 years old, and just arrived with us today, March 3rd, 2009. At FTC, we believe in maintaining a certain level of privacy for the children, but trust me when I say that Gemma was in need of a miracle, and God answered by bringing her in to our lives. It will, once again, be exciting to keep track of Gemma as she grows physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally.

Gemma

It’s been a little rough for me since coming back to the Philippines .  I think around January 1st, I found out I was pregnant.  We were very happy because we have been wanting another child for quite some time.  I was very hesitant about telling anyone (only our parents knew), because I had a feeling that this pregnancy would not go through completion.  Looking back, I believe God was preparing me. 
 
Many of you who knew me as a younger person know that I wanted to have 11 children!  That dream has already been fulfilled. I currently have 24 children here in the orphanage to love and mother 24/7.  Believe me, there is always someone needing something with that many kids around. At the time I thought of having 11 of my own, but I believe God truly knows best.  My brother is 11 years older than me, so when I was young, I didn’t have anyone to play with. I set in my heart then that I wanted children close in age so they could be playmates, although when I think of it God really has answered this prayer as well.  Josiah is surrounded by children around his age to play with every day.  The Lord answers our prayers – even the simplest ones.  It may not always be the answer we want, but it is always for the best.
 
On Tuesday, January 27, I went in for an appointment and found out the baby had no heartbeat, and was only measuring 6 weeks, but I was almost 8 weeks pregnant.  The Doctor gave me some kind of medicine to keep the pregnancy going, and told us to wait another 2 weeks to see if the baby would have a heartbeat.  She told me then to pray.  I believe God can do miracles and I did pray for his will.  I knew in my heart the baby was dead, but believed God could do a miracle.  I kept singing the song “Blessed Be Your Name.”  A little over a week later, I went back to the doctor because I started bleeding.  I remember sitting there waiting outside the doctor’s office and asking God to give me strength.  The baby still had not grown, and no heartbeat.  The doctor gave me medicine complete the process that my body had started on its own. I was in a lot of pain during the first week. While I felt a peace I was also sad, depressed, and hurting.    
 
I believe death entered this world as a result of sin, and sin has caused pain in all our lives.  God allows us to go through things to make us more like Him.  I don’t know what it is like in heaven, nor do I know if I will get to see my little baby when I get there– whether it will even matter or not to me then.  However, I do find peace in the fact that my baby’s soul is alive for eternity.  His or her job was not for this earth, but in heaven.  I am thankful that life on earth is not the end when death happens, but true life is really just beginning.
 
 Lord, thank you for the soul I carried for only 6 weeks and 1 day.  Thank you for the two-year-old son You have given me.  Lord, thank you for my godly husband and for the children in this camp that I can love, hold, cry, and laugh with.  Lord, thank you for your people You surround us with to help us on this journey through Earth. Thank you for life, which is abundant in You. 
 
I didn’t want to announce my pregnancy because if I ended up miscarrying, I did not know if I could deal with the people around me.   I couldn’t stand to have everyone first “dream” with me, or ask me “what you think you will name your baby?”  Or “do you want a boy or a girl?” However, I was quite wrong.  When I did tell people around here what was happening, I felt better – like the burden wasn’t so hard to carry.  I think God also used this to remind me how wonderful it is to have family and friends.  No, everyone does not know what to say or how to say it, but just knowing they were there was a great comfort.  I am reminded to love and to tell others around me how much I care for them NOW while they are still here on Earth.