This last month has been a transformative one, and it has also been a difficult one. Several weeks ago, one of my co-apprentices was injured in a bicycle accident and had to be sent home early, and the other has decided to take a temporary break from full-time ministry. Currently, I am now the only full-time EFM apprentice in the program, and we have had to reorganize our ministry activities for the summer to adjust. I have felt lonely and disoriented for several days at a time since.
In more encouraging news, Nick, Garry, and I attended the EFM Future Missionary Conference at Quaker Ridge Camp near the end of May, where we reunited with old friends, active and retired missionaries, and other young adults pursuing international missions as a lifetime calling. In particular, I am especially grateful to Matt Macy, Bob Adhikary, and Edwin and Maria Giron for mentoring and praying for me through the week and helping me to discern where God may be calling me to serve after this year. The location ever returning to our conversations has been central Mexico, so we are exploring potential opportunities for me to make a visit to see about short-term service in that area in order to discern the next steps as I continue to explore long-term service with EFM.
 |
 |
Back in Orange County, two college students from CSUF whom I met during our Bible dialogue workshops in April independently told me that they were seeking a community for whole-life discipleship. This came to me as an answer to prayer, as I had been praying for an opportunity to practice what I have learned during this apprenticeship in facilitating such a group. Joshua and George met with me and Garry for the first time last week, and we plan to read through the Sermon on the Mount this summer and conspire how to specifically apply it to our daily lives, with Jesus’ help. George is also excited to begin leading a Bible dialogue through the Gospel of Mark with his coworkers, so please pray for him as he faithfully follows Jesus in sharing the good news!
Every month, I am encouraged and deeply moved by your prayers, your letters, and your gifts to support me as I follow this calling, even through difficulty and hardship. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Please continue to pray for me, as well as my fellow apprentices Grace and Garry, that God would open new opportunities to complete their training and serve on the mission field. Perhaps God has another seven thousand EFM apprentices stashed away in a cave somewhere. He’s done it before, and he can do it again.
“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Dutifully yours,
Erik
You can support me through prayer and financial giving. I need and appreciate both so that I can reach 100% in both areas as soon as possible so I can continue in my apprenticeship.
I currently have 219 prayer partners with a goal of 250. If you know anyone who would like to pray for my apprenticeship, please forward this form to them.
I am currently 74% fundraised and looking for financial supporters to support me through October 2024. Would you please prayerfully consider supporting me?
There are four ways to partner with me:
|
English (United States) 
Spanish