Connie_Erickson

About Me...Connie Erickson

Ryker's Dream
Orphan Ministry and Relief

James 1:27
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and
faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows
in their distress and to keep oneself from being
polluted by the world.

Reaching and equipping people for Christ

Hello, I am Connie Erickson and along with my husband Mark reside in Nebraska.
We are members of the Oakland Evangelical Free Church. We have six children:
Jessica, Bryana, Arman, Aubrey, Asa and Mariah. Five of our children came to us
through both domestic and international adoption in Kazakhstan.

Just the other day I had a conversation with my mother over the “new” Christian
music. Her remark was the new music is more about the beat then the blood of Jesus.
While I agreed there are not many new songs that could bring you to your knees like
“Amazing Grace” there is still “new” music that can change your life.

Shortly after our lengthy 1st domestic adoption we had reapplied for a 2nd child. The
wait was on again and something I knew I could not deal with for 5 years as the first.
We could of easily had our family complete with our 2 girls but something kept nagging
us to move forward. Forward? There comes a point where there is no longer a forward
and I was there. Then I heard a song by FFH. It was after this song in which became
our prayer I just knew God would move the mountains and we would have a baby
arriving on our doorstep any day.

Lord Move, Or Move Me
I can't find the words to pray
I'm a little down today
Can you help me?
Can you hold me?
I feel like a million miles away
And I don't know what to say
Can you hear me anyway?
What I need is for you to reach out your hand
You have taught me
No matter what you'd understand

I've look every where to find
A simple peace of mind
I can't find nothing on my own
So I got to leave myself behind
Take up this cross of mine
Give away everything I hold onto

Lord I know the only way is through this
Lord I know I need you to help me do this

Out of this place of complacency
To a place of fellowship with thee
Cause I am weak but Lord you are so strong
And you know it's been way too long (been way too long)

CHORUS:
Lord move in a way, that I've never seen before
Cause there's a mountain in the way and a lock on the door
I'm drifting away, waves are crashing on the shore
So Lord move (move), or move me.

Though God didn’t move mountains he did answer our prayer. It was within a week
that our heart had changed and we knew God had a plan for us we just needed to be
more open and follow Him. That story is another website but I will tell you is within 9
months we were home with 2 beautiful children from Uralsk Kazakhstan.

In Kazakhstan you must visit ones soon to be child at the orphanages for 14 days
before you can petition the courts to adopt them. You are usually taken to what is
called a music room and the child is brought to you. Four walls, usually first time
parents, and children that have not had one on one attention their whole life for 2 hours
as you can imagine this is a very joyous (crazy) time. One day while heading to our
visitation room we happen across a group of toddlers in the hallway. They all cried out
“mama, papa, papa, mama” and long for a hug. Our visit that day was pretty silent but
in our hearts we knew our family was not finished and one day we would return for
another child perhaps and older child.

Less then 6 month upon our return with our 2 newest members God laid another child
on our hearts or so we thought. As we started this journey there was a mountain in the
way and when we would just get to the top another would appear. We were back to
praying for God to move or move us again thinking he would move the mountain.
Before we could see our way to the end a family come for the boy. (Praise God!) And
though he didn’t lay the baby on our doorstep he left a Christian attorney from Almaty,
Kazakhstan. Did I mention Kazakhstan is 97% Muslim. This again is another website
but I have to tell you God moved.

We had an amazing trip back to Kazakhstan this time to Kyzylorda where we thought
we would meet our older child but instead returned with a toddler and a baby. It was on
this trip where we realized we could not adopt the world but needed to give hearts to
the precious one that are left behind.

We have a very strong desire in our hearts to work with the older children in
Kyzylorda. So much needs and can be done for these children but it is much more then
the materialistic items. These children need love and to know they do have a Father
that they can always count on. We (you and me) are called to share this news with
them. If you have read this far, God has you here for a reason because I am no
writer. Please take some time this week to pray and search your souls as to how you
would be lead to help. If you feel adventurous you might even ask God “Lord Move,
Or Move Me”!

“You’ve seen a lot, but looked at nothing. You’ve heard everything, but listened to
nothing.” (Isaiah 42:20)

Please open your heart and walk with us to help the children. Together we can all
make a difference.

God Bless

Mark and Connie

I shall pass through this world
but once
If, therefore, there be any kindness
I can show,
or any good thing I can do,
let me do it now:
let me not defer it or neglect it.
for I shall not pass this way again.
Greller