Adam Erickson

Musings on life and youth ministry

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November Update

An update on what we've been up to lately in Cambodia. Check it out!

4th grade students in YAGM Lindsay’s afternoon class

It’s been quite some time since we’ve written anything, and so thought it would be a good time to give you a general update on life here in Cambodia.

After a 24-day orientation, we “released” the YAGM volunteers to their service sites on September 21. Sarah and I took a few days to decompress (read: sleep) and clean up after orientation, and…

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Week 1

YAGMs exploring the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh.

Crazy (to us) Fact: We’ve finished almost one week of in-country orientation!

Fast Fact: Our YAGMs have already done 10 hours of Khmer language study (with almost 40 to go – see facebook for a picture of them hard at work!).

Fun Fact: The YAGMS have either participated in, or cheered on fellow YAGMs in, local, outdoor, line dancing.

Interesting Fact:

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Better than Target

Orientation shopping at Orussey Market!

10 DAYS.  THEY COME IN 10 DAYS.

I could do a whole post on how this is both amazing and terrifying, but that just seems obvious.

And no matter how excited and terrified we are as coordinators, the excitement and terror is tenfold that for these YAGMs who are about to arrive.

So, for today, just a picture. A picture of us preparing for the excitement and…

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On the Road

YAGM Cambodia has a new blog post: "On the Road"

The back of the pickup got a little dirty after our first trip with it into the provinces.

Since we’ve arrived in February we haven’t had a vehicle. Primarily, we have gotten around using tuk-tuks (in fact, we have our “own” driver, which is awesome!), but we’ve also been driven around the provinces by Life With Dignity and Lutheran Church in Cambodia staff, taken buses, taken a taxicab and a…

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July Update

We've got a new blog post! Check it out: July Update

Visiting one of the many temples at Angkor.

It’s been a while since we’ve posted anything on the blog, so thought we’d provide a quick update:

A highlight of our time this “summer” has been a trip to Siem Reap in June to visit the temples of Angkor. A part of the in-country orientation when the YAGMs arrive will be spent on Cambodian culture and history, and so we thought that it was important to…

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In the Shadow of the Banyan

I've reviewd a book: "In the Shadow of the Banyan". Check it out!

When we arrived in Cambodia in February we had to hit the ground running: find a place to live, visit and meet with potential YAGM partners, select YAGM service sites, put together a presentation for the Discernment-Interview-Placement (DIP) event, fly back to Chicago for two weeks and then fly back to Phnom Penh, and start learning the language. We spent all of our time going from one place to…

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They're Really Coming

YAGM program staff, country coordinators, and Time for God staff all meeting together in Chicago before DIP.

We have people coming to Cambodia!!!! After several meetings, a couple presentations, lots of interviews, long conversation, and prayer, we are finally able to tell you that we’re ECSTATIC about the 7 people that have accepted the call to come serve in Cambodia this year!

Yes, you read…

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DIP

We've got a new blog post! Check it out!

Working on the country presentation for DIP.

In just a few hours (less than 10 at this point) we will be getting on a plane and heading back to the United States.  No, we didn’t quit our job and, no, we weren’t kicked out of the country (although, part of the reason we’re leaving is because our visas expire today and we need to leave and re-enter the country before being able to apply for a…

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Meetings, Meetings, and More Meetings

Meeting with LWD staff, the teachers, administrators, and principal of a local school.

So what happens, exactly, when two people are dropped into a country with no place to live, no schedule set up, no knowledge of the culture or language, and equipped only with the directive to “figure it out” – both their lives and the entire base of a new program… in 2 months?

There is, of course, the typical…

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The Harvest

There's a new blog post! We'd love it if you took a minute to read it:

During our time in Kansas City, we had the good fortune of working with, and getting to know, Dr. Pat Taylor Ellison of Church Innovations.  Pat developed a “spiritual practice of deep listening” technique called “Dwelling in the Word”, in which groups commit to “dwelling” in a particular scripture passage whenever they meet.  Some groups may choose to dwell in a passage only once, and others may…

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March 29: Time Alone

March 29: Time Alone

Scripture: Matthew 15:29-39

“After Jesus had left that place, he passed along the Sea of Galilee, and he went up the mountain, where he sat down.” (v 29)

Last summer there was one of those “Buzzfeed” lists that one often sees on Facebook that was called, “27 Problems Only Introverts Will Understand” (CAUTION: If you choose to click on this link, be aware that the language is not kid-friendly!).…

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March 28: Seven Last Words

March 28: Seven Last Words

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-28

“Then the Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, ‘Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders?’” (vv 1-2a)

Traditions are important.  They connect generations across time, they unite us across boundary and language barriers, and they teach us.  Traditions are especially important in the Christian faith, which spread outward from a…

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March 27: Feeding the World

March 27: Feeding the World

Scripture: Matthew 14:1-36

“Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.” (v 19b)

One of the things I struggle with both personally and professionally is delegating.  I don’t really understand why, either.  At my core, I’m basically a lazy person, so I don’t know why I…

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March 25: Treasures New and Old

March 25: Treasures New and Old

Scripture: Matthew 13:44-58

“‘Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.’” (v 52b)

This past July I decided that since my cell phone contract was up it was time for me to switch carriers, get a new Missouri phone number, and purchase a new smartphone.  My last cell phone was…

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March 24: Hidden in Plain View

March 24: Hidden in Plain View

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-43

“‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed…’ ‘The kingdom of heaven is like yeast…’”           (v 31b & v 33b)

A big part of youth ministry is going on retreats and to camps and on mission trips.  And because these activities almost always involve going somewhere, a lot of time is spent in mini and/or 15-passenger vans with at least five, and sometimes up to 14,…

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March 23: Extravagant Sowing

March 23: Extravagant Sowing

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

“‘Listen!  A sower went out to sow.’” (v 3b)

My wife and I purchased a home at the beginning of this past October.  My wife owned a condo before we were married, but this is the first house with a yard that either of us has owned.  While we were house hunting we spent a lot of time online, comparing features of various homes we were interested in, browsing through…

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March 22: Brothers and Sisters

March 22: Brothers and Sisters

Scripture: Matthew 12:38-50

“‘For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’” (v 50)

My campus pastor at the University of Wisconsin is an excellent preacher.  Pastor Brent was the first pastor I ever saw who didn’t preach from behind a pulpit with a manuscript, but out in front of the altar, with nothing in his hands.  His sermons are thought-provoking,…

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