Erickson’s Philippines Updates

Some of the FTC kids put together a dance video that’s now been made available for everyone to watch! These kids are truly talented, and it shows in this video. There are many kids in this video, but the first three you see are Peter, Jefferson and Roldan. Thanks to Bob Clinkert for providing this video online so everyone can watch it.

To watch the video in high resolution click HERE.

If your internet connection is slow, you should watch it in a lower resolution by clicking HERE.

If you enjoyed the clip, please leave a comment! I will make sure that all comments addressed to the kids dancing are read to them.

Jerome is five years old and has been here at Face The Children for about six months now. He and his sister, Richelle were brought to us by the DSWD (like the DCFS in the States). Their mother is no longer in the picture. Their father is in San Pablo, but was not able to take care of them financially and there was some question about his decisions regarding their care. I do not judge the father in any way, as I have never been in his shoes before.

Jerome is such a handsome, energetic young boy. Most of the time he is walking around the camp with a huge smile on his face. He is such a blessing to have here at FTC. When I might be getting discouraged about something, I can go and see him because his good attitude is very contagious. He lives a carefree life and is not yet affected by the pressure and stress of the world. In the first picture, Jerome strikes a serious pose. However, in the second picture he clearly shows off the “big ole’ grin” I am talking about.

In the third and final picture, Jerome is joined by some of the FTC kids who are not yet sponsored to attend Frontline Christian Academy. If you would like to find out more about sponsoring a child here at FTC you can email me at mike@worldhistorymakers.net, or Click Here.

We would like to congratulate Krishelle and Anabelle (left to right), for their decisions to be baptized. Anabelle accepted the Lord as her Savior about a year ago and Krishelle made the decision last Thursday, April 17, 2008. The two women standing with them are Marlyn Razon (she and her husband serve at FTC as ʽhouse parentsʼ for the girls) and, of course, my wife Andrea. Before a person is baptized they read their testimony in the church. Then someone gives a short testimony about the one being baptized (in this case, Marlyn). After that, another individual will pray for them (in this case, Andrea) and then they will be baptized. This allows the people watching to hear how they came to know Jesus and gain a bit of information about them before they are prayed for and baptized. We love you, Krishelle and Anabelle, and we know that God has BIG PLANS for your lives!

What a blast April 4th was! Although none of our kids graduated, we all attended the graduation/award ceremony (all of the kids enrolled in FCA that is). . .and Judea cleaned house! She won…drum roll please… FIVE AWARDS that night! 1. Most completed paces 2. Most 100%’s 3. Honor Roll-C 4. Best behavior (in her grade) 5. Model student of the year (for the entire school!). Needless to say, we are very proud of Judea! She is a very bright and beautiful young girl. We love you, Judea and we look forward to greater things to come for you!

 

On April 4th, 2008 we had a graduation ceremony at Frontline Christian Academy, a Christian private school run by the Frontline here in San Pablo. Eight of our FTC kids attended FCA last school year and we hope to get most of the others enrolled this coming year. Although none of our kids graduated, we all attended and had a great time! As I was looking through the pictures the girls took with Andrea’s camera from that night, I started thinking of how grown up they have become even in just the past year.

For sure, I believe you are looking at future missionaries, pastors, evangelists, worship leaders…servants of Christ. Not only in the Philippines. . .many of the kids have already expressed their desire to go to other parts of Asia, Denmark, and even the States. I began to think of how beautiful, as you can see in the pictures, that God made them (Left to right: Cristina, Anabelle and Babylyn). What we are doing now is imparting God’s principles into their lives, and we are praying that their inner beauty will far outweigh that of their outer beauty.

I am not sure how long God will keep our family here in the Philippines working with these wonderful children. I do know, however, that it is an honor to be a part of what God is doing in the Philippines. Many times you hear of the “10/40 window”. This “window” refers to between 10 and 40 degrees north of the equator where many people are ‘untouched’ by the gospel. Many Christians, including myself, believe that the Filipino people will be able to go to many places that others cannot go and spread the gospel of Christ. I realize that these kids will not always be just a walk down the camp from me, and knowing that God has great plans for them, we will not try and hold on, making it hard for them to leave us when it’s time. Instead, we will do our best to guide these kids with love, building character in them that will endure through whatever God has for them in the future.

What is with the buzz in the first picture?! I would like to introduce to you Lanie and her five month old baby, Sarah. They are the ones at the center of this event. When a baby is dedicated to the Lord, the parents will choose people close to their lives who will agree to be a part of the baby’s life. Everyone surrounding Lanie in the second picture are Ninong’s (male) and Ninang’s (female). Basically as a Ninong or Ninang you agree to play a part in the child’s life; spiritually, physically, and sometimes even financially. It is an honor that Andrea and I, along with 63 other people, were asked to play this role in Sarah’s life.

In fall of 2006 Lanie came to Face The Children. The guy next to Lanie is Bob. God used him and Jeff Rice to convince Lanie that He has a better plan for her life than living on the streets. Lanie did not know it at that time but at the age of 15 she was one month pregnant. When we take children into FTC we accept them completely as they are. In the past that has meant accepting heartache, siblings, angry relatives, and babies. When we find a child who is living a life away from God, we do not judge them on where they have come from. Instead we direct them to where they should be going.

In the third and final picture, Andrea and I joined Jeff Rice and Bob Clinkert’s team for a dedication celebration. Andrea prepared a gift for Lanie that was, as you can see, exciting and practical. It consisted of wash clothes, baby powder, baby soap, and other things that I have no idea about…things that every mother needs! We love Lanie and Sarah VERY much and we know that God has awesome plans for their lives. Lanie is a very loving mother who takes excellent care of the precious life the Lord gave her. Remember Sarah, we are always here for you!

Recently a group from Canada came to the Philippines with dental supplies donated by a Filipina dentist who now lives in Canada. In the first picture you see Ruel and Flor Del Monte; they are a staff family here at PFMI and have two kids, Russell and Rachel Fae. They were tasked with organizing three separate dental clinics in three separate locations that reached hundreds of people. This included finding dentists who would donate their time, creating and distributing a set number of tickets for the clinic, and purchasing all the remaining supplies that were needed on the budget given. Start to finish, they did a GREAT job!

In the second picture you can see me taking the blood pressure of the patients before they were seen by the dentist. Before I came to the Philippines I was able acquire my EMT-B certificate (Emergency Medical Technician – Basic), which I have since lost because you must keep up on hours to renew (impossible to do from the Philippines). I was able to participate in two of the three events. In the third and final picture I am taking Babylyn’s blood pressure. Babylyn is one of the kids here at Face The Children. FTC was allowed to bring all of our kids in for the clinic, PRAISE GOD!

Andrea and I have been afraid of cutting Josiah’s hair, because many times the “baby curls” never come back. However, it is getting pretty hot over here and Josiah’s hair was pretty scraggly. So . . .we finally did it. We went to the barber that I always go to but he was out for the day. We then ventured into the town and found a guy who was great with Josiah! I did not post any pictures of the actual haircut because Josiah was pretty much just crying and squirming the whole time. As you can see the results of the haircut are in, he is very “pogi” (handsome). The girl in the pictures is Shekinah, daughter of FTC staff Oreck and Sheila Del Monte.