Erickson’s Philippines Updates

Merry Christmas and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!  As you can see in these two pictures we certainly had fun over the holidays!  In the first picture Andrea participates in a game where you have to balance the calamansi (a type of lemon) on the spoon as you walk around a chair, then you must pass the calamansi to the next person on your team without using your hands.  In the second picture you can see Josiah is already working on his videoke skills.  Videoke is very popular here in the Philippines.  As you can also see in the picture Rowena Pessina is personally training Josiah on his “Vocal and Stage Presence”.  I remember when I first saw grown adults singing videoke I thought it was a little “different”, but now I am best known for my own rendition of “I believe I can fly”.  Again, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Erickson family!

I just want everyone to know that we had a great “Family Night” last night as we also celebrated the Christmas season with all the kids.  As you can see below, the kids enjoyed Filipino-style spaghetti, laughter, and even a “pasalubong” Andrea and I brought from the States.  A pasalubong is a gift you bring back for someone when you return from somewhere.  Since we returned the kids are always asking us if we brought something back for them and if so what it is.  We consistently told them we brought nothing and that they should be grateful just to see us!  Last night we caved in and handed out candy-filled bowls to each kid.  Of course, they loved it!  We put in candy we brought from the States, like Nerds, and Sour Patch.  So. . .now the kids know the truth:  that we brought them each a “pasalubong” from the States.  I wonder if they figured out it is not even Christmas yet?

What did you think we were going to eat, turkey?  Monday, December 17, Andrea and I had a great evening with the PFMI team as we celebrated Christmas with a pig roast, games, and laughter.  One thing I can say about Filipinos is that they know how to have fun, play games, and laugh a lot(even if it is at themselves).  A roasted pig like the one pictured is a treat.  I had never eaten pig like this before my first Christmas in the Philippines (last year).  However, now that I have had it, I LOVE IT!

  

  
Pictured above, children wait to go inside a Christmas party fit for princes and princesses.  Over a month ago a Non-Government Organization, called the KMBI, contacted us and offered to host a Christmas party for 70 less fortunate children. There are 24 kids living in the orphanage, so Oreck Del Monte picked up a large group of kids from a poor area along the train tracks.  What an amazing group!!! As you can see in the pictures below they came fully prepared.

With full table and chair dressings, balloons and clowns, the KMBI not only arrived in style, they proved themselves worthy by providing hours of fun for our kids and other kids who might not have had any type of Christmas celebration.  Last year we had a student group come in and throw a Christmas party for our kids as an elective for their college course.  While it was a huge blessing, it was not on such a grand scale as this.  All of the different near branch locations that participated also had a presentation, and as you can see in the pictures below our kids also were able to perform.  During FTC’s presentation many of the KMBI members began crying.  The song they performed, sang by pastor Rual Del Monte, spoke of God’s restoration power in their lives.   

 

 

What did we eat?  A FULLY catered meal from an excellent local catering service.  Was there a huge bee mascot from a local fast food chain? OF COURSE!  The Jollibee bee mascot came and had lots of fun with the kids (at least the ones who were not scared of this seven-foot bee).  Face The Children and about forty children who live along the tracks of San Pablo City would like to thank the KMBI organization for their outstanding job in throwing what will be probably be remembered in the minds of many kids as the best Christmas party ever.

Congratulations go to Roldan Salaver (who seems to be topping this blog right now) for being picked as November’s “Amazing Boy”.  Every month we pick one girl and one boy as the “most amazing” for the month.  Oreck Del Monte, also pictured here, does an awesome job with the boys.  He wakes them up every weekday and they start off with a daily devotion.  He and his wife provide oversight for the boys’ hygiene, laundry and cleanliness of the dorm. . . SO CONGRATULATIONS ROLDAN AND MANY THANKS TO THE DEL MONTE FAMILY FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION WITH THE KIDS OF FTC!!!

 Ever since I returned to the Philippines on November 15th, Roldan Salaver (you can read his testimony in an article below) has been telling me “Someday, huh, kuya Mike, I’m gonna beat you!”  Of course, we are talking about basketball here.  The only defense I have is that we originally agreed to play to 7, and when the score was 7 to 4, in my favor, they asked if we could play to 11 instead.  This is not the first time the kids have tried to extend our game, they know that I am busy and cannot play every day, so they try to make the fun last as long as possible.

Maybe this is one time, however, I should have said no!  I am not sure how but one minute I am up 7 to 4, and the next the score is 10 to 10.  I had control of the ball.  My plan was to wait until they double teamed me, then I would split down the middle, like I always do, and drive in for the easy layup.  It all happened so fast, I had the ball behind my back, waiting for Peter to take the bait so I could make my move.  All at once I felt the ball being stripped from my hands, no foul,  Peter passed to Roldan who passed back to Peter.  As Peter shot the ball I jumped to block, but somehow he was able to get the ball over me.  Next thing I know they are jumping up and down and screaming, “Yeah! We finally beat you!”  After many attempts and failures, Peter and Roldan beat me in a game of 2 on 1.  Congratulations go out to them, and I pray that they keep that same persistent attitude with life.  Never give up, never give in, GO FOR THE GOAL!
 

As you can see pictured above, I recently caught my son, who is only 13 months old, trying to drive off with a two-year-old girl, Shakina.  Shakina is the daughter of Oreck and Sheila Del Monte, one of our staff families here at FTC.  I knew that one day I would have to deal with the issue of girls in Josiah’s life, I just did not know it would be so soon and with an older girl!  As you can see pictured below, Josiah tries to explain his actions.

He pleaded with me for almost an hour, “I didn’t know she was in the car with me!” “I was just going to give her a ride home” (of course that did not work, they were already home).  And my favorite excuse, “maama mom mom mamma maaammmaa” (He has already figured out who has the soft spot, as he only seems to say her name).  The moral of this story is, even when you are busy doing “things” remember to make time to have fun (speaking to myself in writing this post).