Erickson’s Philippines Updates

We’ll soon be heading back Stateside for 6 weeks, arriving on Thanksgiving Day (TURKEY!). We look forward to spending time with our friends and family. While in the U.S., we also have 3 or 4 speaking engagements planned.

I have some articles concerning FTC that I will be posting while we’re home, but in the meantime check out the blog of our director, Jeff Pessina-HERE. He wrote an article entitled 10,000 Great Discoveries! about a message I recently shared on Sunday morning at church.

November 1st, All Saints Day, is a much celebrated day here in the Philippines. Millions of people gather in the cemeteries to remember their loved lost ones. Some people, however, take it all a little too far by bringing food and leaving it on the grave, for the “spirits” to eat, so that they will not bother the living family. Of course, as Christians, we do not recognize this action as truth because we know once we die our soul only has two possible destinations, and at that point it is not negotiable.

I had to laugh Sunday as Pastor Jeff Pessina was sharing about the Christians’ perspective for “All Saints Day” (November 1st) and “All Souls Day” (November 2nd). He asked the church, “Who wants to go to Heaven?” I believe every person in the building proudly raised their hands as high as possible. Secondly, he asked, “Who wants to die?” Not a hand in the building so much as moved, not a single one! The whole church, realizing what just happened, laughed together. We were once again reminded about the irony of counting the cost.

A few weeks ago, Judea was talking to Andrea and I and said, “We haven’t gone swimming since before school started.”  School started in June.  As we thought about it, we realized that she was right.  We just finished a two-week mid-semester break today by returning to school.  So yesterday we took the kids to one of our favorite swimming places, Dioko.  We had a blast!  Below are some pictures from our AWESOME day of fun and fellowship together.

(Left to right) 1. Roldan jumps over Krishelle. 2. Angelica performs a perfect cannon ball. 3. Edison shows off his skill.

(Left to right) 1. Jefferson does the superman. 2. Banjo gives a shout-out. 3. Roldan “flies” over Banjo and Peter.

(Left to right) 1. Krishelle and Jennilyn sit by the pool. 2. Edison, Che-Che, Diane, and Babylene pose for the picture. 3. Josiah and I get some father-son bonding time in.

(Left to right) 1. Cristina, Dori, and Jennilyn. 2. Andrea hands out the mid-morning snack. 3. “David and Goliath”, Jefferson and I get in some 1-on-1 basketball.  Do not be fooled, he beats me about half the time!