Dear Balikatan Family,

. . . Our Hurried Life . . .                                   ..

The month of August was very busy for us.  Our full attention was on the  preparation for our IVCF Annual Corporation Meeting. Erickson finished the IVCF Philippines’ Annual Report, Plans and Budget and presented them in the meeting last August 16. Dot managed to produce a new issue of Campus Impact newsletter and new IVCF brochure in time for the meeting. We are thankful to our partner printshop which printed the newsletters and brochures for free.

With IVCF Staff

The Corporation Meeting was well attended.  The members approved the new RBM annual plans and budget for this school year.  We praise the Lord for the IVCF constituents’ renewed commitment, support and passionate involvement to our ministry.

Dot with IVCF display

We praise God for the opportunities to be with students and graduates in several occasions, during the corporation meeting, at the Metro Manila Regional Unit’s Saya-lympics, and when we joined the ISCF Get-Together in Cavite. The Resource Development Department team promoted IVCF at the United Church of the Good Shepherd in Mandaluyong.  Erickson preached at their two worship services. And we met many IVCFers there.  We enjoyed these kinds of activities.  We missed doing these things.

With our graduate partners in Cavite

Both of us are now very involved with Faith Baptist Church. Erickson started preaching and leading the prayer time.  Dot started to lead praise and worship, which she really enjoys. We, especially Zeik & Jahd, are enjoying new and renewed friendships at the church.

The kids are still adjusting to the new family dynamics. Though our office and house are in one building, we weren’t able to spend much time with them during the day, unlike in Baguio. They usually either fetch us or stay with us in the office when they miss us. That’s why we are so glad for the holidays this month. We were able to spend, not just quality, but quantity, time with them.

Dot with Faith Baptist Church worship team

Dot celebrated her 35th birthday last August 27. Erickson, Zeik and Jahd, surprised her by making breakfast (pancakes), birthday cards, no bake cheesecake, and by giving her a “day off”.  The 3 of them did all the house chores that day. We had a very sumptuous lunch and roamed at the mall.

With their birthday cards

Our life this August was fast paced. We had so much work to do with so little time. But we try to slow down and take one day at a time. We know that we could only do so much and to just daily depend on God’s grace for our health, provision (Praise God our salaries are on time, PTL!), traveling mercies ( Pray for us as we go to Bicol on September 4-8), and inspiration. Pray that we could balance family life and ministry well. The Lord continually reassures us of our calling through His Words, students, graduates and friends.

Thank you very much for surrounding us with love and prayers.  In our own ways, we also send you our love and concern.  Praise the Lord for knitting our hearts and lives.

In His Care,           .
Erickson & Dot        .
with Zeik & Jahd

I am glad to connect with you again through this prayer letter.

Blessed to be a blessing

“I am blessing you so that you will be a blessing to others,” this was the message I received from God through the Bible expositions during our June staff conference.  My recent trip to the USA to attend the annual Balikatan Conference, to visit friends, and to have a respite is one rich blessing I have just received. Not that I had much money or had received a sponsorship. I was able to get a roundtrip Northwest reward ticket from my accumulated air mileage plus some gift miles from my best friend. Through this, I was blessed to meet again a good number of friends and partners in the ministry in the US.

I spent my holiday with Leah in LA, Arizona, Chicago, New York and New Jersey. What a great blessing to have friends in these places who warmly welcomed us to their homes, fed us, brought us to nice places, treated us to great restaurants, took us to the movie, shopped for us, and even gave us some pocket money! Their hospitality and generosity move me to show kindness and generosity to others, too. Indeed, I am blessed in order to be a blessing to others.

Coming to Terms with Mortality

Death has come our clan recently. One of my first-cousins died suddenly of heart attack two weeks ago. Last Sunday I visited another cousin who is struggling with cancer. She does not look good, and I am afraid she might go soon. Death is becoming more real to me now that I am about to turn 57 and beginning to feel some signs of physical weariness. Honestly, the thought of dying of stroke comes every now and then because of my high level of cholesterol. I know I must watch my diet and should exercise regularly but I lack self-control and discipline. Lord forgive!

When I was younger I thought I could die at 60. Now that I approach this age, I am moving it to 75. Ha! Ha! Ha! Some friends say my lineage is that of longevity and that perhaps I will reach 80 or 90! Papang died at 84 and Ma will turn 90 this coming September. I must admit I am not ready to die yet. I have not written my last will and testament and have not prepared my liturgy for my funeral. I still have a few unfinished business such as the small house and lot which I am still paying. But I want to prepare myself for a good death. I don’t want to grow too old and be a burden to others. Who will take care of me? I have no husband and children.

I have heard it several times that the best way to prepare for one’s death is to live well and to make life count. This is exactly what I want to do. I want to give attention to what really matters in life. I want to love and give my self to God and to others.  I want to enjoy this gift of life and make it count!

Setting Up Others for Success

At the Balikatan Conference, I was deeply moved by the messages given by Ate Lisa Chinn from 1 Chronicles 29. King David did all he could to set up Solomon, his successor, for success. He gave to him all his treasures and he rallied the people.  He supported Solomon in every way to ensure his success in building God’s temple.

I want to follow the example of David. I look at my role as Human Resource Development Coordinator as a great opportunity to set up fellow staff, volunteers and student leaders for success. As I design and conduct training, as I mentor, and as I provide pastoral care, may I be able to contribute in setting up others for success.

Will you pray for me?

*   that I may be more disciplined in my spiritual as well as physical exercises

* that I may be a blessing to our staff and our volunteers as we conduct regional training in Mindoro on August 27-30, in Northern Luzon on September 26-28, in Central Eastern Visayas on October 30-November 6 and in Bicol on December 11-13.

* that I will be effective in teaching and ministering to women Christian leaders in Laos and Vietnam this coming October and November

* that I will be able to adequately coach, nurture, and encourage the leaders of State Varsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF chapter in UP Diliman), which is my campus assignment

* that our plan to celebrate my Mom’s 90th birthday this coming September 13 be a blessing to our relatives and friends and that she will really enjoy it

Thank you for your friendship and partnership in my ministry with IVCF. You are God’s gift to me and I am grateful. How about dropping a few lines for me? I would love to hear from you and to pray for you as well.

Blessed to be a blessing,

Elsie

September 2008 – On a Roll

Hello! How have you been? Praying that you and your loved ones are doing well.

After the June staff conference, it was like we hit the ground running and we’ve been on a roll ever since. We thank God for a full first quarter and for the varied things He allowed us to experience and accomplish.

A l d w i n ‘s  H o u s e k e e p i n g

The months of June and July had Aldwin busy with ‘housekeeping’  literally and otherwise. He was OIC for a month (June-July) while our National Director was in the US to attend the Balikatan Conference.  At that time, he was also busy cleaning and sorting out stuff in the IVCF Building. The Building  underwent renovation early this year but the project left behind a lot of clutter which had to be sorted, organized or disposed of. Fortunately, there’s ‘cash in trash,’ says Henry Sy. Aldwin earned modest sums for IVCF by taking the recyclable waste stuff to the monthly SM Waste Market.

Isn’t it great that people are now become more environment-conscious? To respond to current awareness in this area, IVCF has included Environment Advocacy in its discipleship program this year.  For us Christians, we know that this is just part of our God-given mandate to ‘rule over the earth’. Di remembers that when she was a member of SVCF-Diliman they had posted a ‘Bawal ang Styropor Dito!’ in the tambayan as a matter of stewardship of the earth.

D i ‘s  T r a i n i n g   E v e n t s

Di, on the other hand, was busy with training events. She coordinated a Counselors Training & Consultation (CTC) for the ISCF Counselors from UP Diliman last June 25-26. Some of the participants at this CTC joined her and other ISCF staff in opening new ISCF work in Makati Science High School last August 15. As an entry point, Di conducted a Youth Sexuality Workshop because it fit in with the school’s need to comply with a DECS requirement to have a gender development program. All 136 senior students of the school participated in the event. Truly, it was God’s work from the start – from the concerned Christian parents who ‘begged’ us to assist them in beginning a ministry there, to the availability of the enthusiastic and very skilled UP counselors and to the receptiveness of the students. Do pray for how God’s work in this school can be sustained.

Di and the UP-Dil ISCF Team after the Counselors' Training & Consultation

Di speaking at a retreat for Phil Science HS students.

C o r p o r a t i o n  M e e t i n g

From July to August we were busy with preparations for the Annual Corporation Meeting held last August 16 at ATS.  Praise God because it was an opportune time for the IVCF movement to come together in repentance and unity. Our redefined vision, mission and goals were approved by the corporation body. Our new National Director, Board of Trustees, Grad Team Volunteers, College Counselors and Student-Leaders were also commissioned and prayed for at the Meeting. Indeed, there is much to look forward to in the coming years because our faithful God continues to journey with us!  <<insert corpo picture>>

After the Corporation Meeting, Aldwin attended a 3-day seminar on ‘Accounting for Non-Accountants’ by Christ’s Public Accountants Ministries. He thoroughly enjoyed this informative seminar.

T i m e   f o r   a   B r e a k

After the successive events we’ve decided to take a much-needed break not only to rest but also to spend more time with Yana. We were especially busy the week before the Corporation Meeting and Yana must have been feeling neglected because one time she came up to Di who was on the computer and asked to be held. After some time, Di called for Josie, our househelp, to take her but she wouldn’t let go.

We take Yana with us whenever we can so that our time with her is not reduced by our work. She seems to be an extrovert because she enjoys being with people. She’s a good traveler, too and enjoys exploring new places. At 16 months she’s a very active toddler. She like books and expects that we read to her at bedtime. What she doesn’t like is having her teeth brushed or drinking milk.  Sigh! Thank God that Di is still able to breastfeed her.

Yana's in staffwork, too! Sometimes she tags along with us like in this GT training held last August 30 in Tanza, Cavite.

Yana’s in staffwork, too! Sometimes she tags along with us like in this GT training held last August 30 in Tanza, Cavite.

B a t a n g a s  V i s i t

But before taking our leave, we’ll be visiting Batangas City to conduct an ISCF Leadership Workshop in Regis Benedictine Academy, have fellowship with and communicate updates to the IVCF graduates and finally to conduct a Youth Sexuality Workshop for the Youth Fellowship of an IVCF’s graduate’s church. Please pray that our visit will be fruitful and helpful for the students and graduates that we will be meeting.

O u r   P r a y e r   f o r   y o u   a n d   u s

During a recent staff meeting, we studied John 15, the passage where Jesus talks about being the True Vine and his disciples being the branches. We were reminded that fruitfulness (which is not necessarily ‘success’ as the world understands) is possible only when we keep our connection with Jesus, something that Jesus calls ‘abiding in Him.’ It is our prayer for ourselves and for you, too, that we will remain ever so close and intimate with our Lord so that our lives can bear the fruits that glorify Him.

Yours in Christ,

Aldwin & Di with Yana

P r a i s e  &  P r a y e r

Answered prayer! We rejoice that our salaries have been on time for the past month and a half!

Praise God also for sustaining our family during the times when we both got sick in July. Fortunately it was not at the same time. Praise God for His sustaining grace during the very busy month of August.

Answered prayer! Praise God for Bibang, Paolo and Borj who have committed to help Di in the work of promoting ISCF. Please pray as they plan and produce ISCF promo materials and events.

Please pray for our Batangas Visit on Sept 5-7. Please pray for safety as we travel, for our workshops to have an impact and for meaningful times with the students and graduates.

Please pray for the ISCF Summer Camps Planning that Di will be coordinating with some ISCF staff, counselors and students. The outcome will be used by all the regional units so do pray for wisdom and creativity so that they will be able to produce relevant camp curricula for evangelism, discipleship and leadership.

Please pray for the weekly Bible Study group that Di and Joanne (a new ISCF staff) handles for the freshmen in Phil Science HS. Please pray for fruitful meetings and also that more students will join the six students who regularly attended last month.

Please pray for Aldwin as he recruits volunteers for a major clean-up drive of the IVCF Building. Pray also that he might find donors who will provide new furniture and equipment for the IVCF Office.

Dear IVCF Family & Supporters,

Greetings in Christ Jesus our Lord! I bring you a good report about what God has done in and through the ministries of IVCF Philippines during the first quarter of this schoolyear. In the following pages, I present to you the results of our Evangelism, Discipleship, Mission, Leadership & Nurturing the Movement flagship programs. Read, not only about the number of IVCF activities, but about the impact of our ministries in the lives of students and graduates in our 8 regional units. Be inspired with the testimonies and be encouraged with the pictures in this ministry update. We are equipping our people to be servant-leaders for Christ. May you respond in praise and thanksgiving to God.

May you be challenged to continue to support our movement in the building of God’s kingdom in the Philippines.

Your servant-leader,

Erickson M. Velardo
IVCF National Director

Clickk Here to Read the Report