About the People
The Gogodala people live deep in the sago swamps of the Western Province of Papua New Guinea. Approximately 25,000 men, women and children live in 30 villages stretched out on ridges of land that rise above large lagoons. They build their homes from split palm branches and cover them with thatched roofs made from sago palm leaves.
Missionaries have worked among the Gogodala for more than 60 years, trying to establish an indigenous church among the people. Yet, Gogodala men and women have shared that they never gave up their spirit traditions when they became “Christians.” Instead, they merged the two belief systems, often asking God to bless them before conducting their spirit ceremonies. Please pray that the Gogodala people will come to a true understanding of God’s love and care for them.
“What will you do if your house doesn’t sell?” We have been asked this question more than once. Our house has been on the market since February of this year. We still owe a lot of money on it, therefore it must be sold before we go to the mission field.
By:
Stephen Erickson
November 01 2006, 5:00 am | Comments 0
Illness, exhaustion, ideological conflict, Cambodian hacky-sack, beach volleyball, singing, prayer, inductive Bible study, suturing turkey legs, worldview issues, The Crucible, church planting, bush hydrotherapy, inner healing, language learning, flavorless tapioca.
By:
Stephen Erickson
October 01 2006, 4:00 am | Comments 0
Praise the Lord! Thanks to God working through David and Cindy White, things are being prepared for us at the other end in Papua New Guinea.
By:
Stephen Erickson
September 01 2006, 4:00 am | Comments 0
“On Mother’s Day?! Why do you want to have it then?” That was a question we heard repeatedly as we told people when we planned to have our moving sale.
By:
Laurie Erickson
August 01 2006, 4:00 am | Comments 0
I don’t usually think much of the dreams I’ve had. But, on rare occasions, I have awakened from a dream that has made a profound impression on me.
By:
Stephen Erickson
July 01 2006, 4:00 am | Comments 0
Since calling us to serve Him among the Gogodala, God has graciously removed obstacles from our way. For example, we were recently wondering what to do with our pets before we leave. Neiti, our cat, is 16 years old and ornery.
By:
Stephen Erickson
June 01 2006, 4:00 am | Comments 0
As we have been preparing for the mission field, we have been given tools to help us—books to read, research papers to write, etc. Through these assignments, my eyes have been opened to principles of cross-cultural evangelism and problems that missionaries have to deal with.
By:
Stephen Erickson
May 01 2006, 4:00 am | Comments 0
It all started about five years ago. Our girls were in our back yard playing one afternoon when they heard the train coming down the nearby tracks. As the engine approached, they yelled at the top of their lungs and waved at the engineer.
By:
Laurie Erickson
April 01 2006, 5:00 am | Comments 0
It was Monday evening, and Laurie and I were out for a walk. We have some of our best conversations while walking. Our stroll started out with a pleasant chat about the weather and ended up with a dismal exchange about how low that month’s income towards our goal was probably going to be.
By:
Stephen Erickson
March 01 2006, 5:00 am | Comments 0
Last summer, we had the joy of attending family camp. One of the many classes they offered that week was songwriting. I wrote a song around my personal testimony.
By:
Stephen Erickson
February 01 2006, 5:00 am | Comments 0
