March 28, 1995, a day that changed me forever.
I was in the Philippines then, in a remote area of Mindanao called Tagoloan, near the bigger city of Cagayan de Oro. I was in the Philippines on a missions internship, working as an associate pastor with a network of local churches.
A man approached me telling me that he has been instructed to inform me that I needed to be at the airport in Cagayan de Oro at a certain time that afternoon, I was to meet an arriving passenger (I had no idea who, but I was told that they would know me), and there I would receive further instructions.
It all sounded kind of mysterious to me, but I told the stranger that I would be at the airport at the assigned time. The pastors I was working with agreed to accompany me.
I went about my business of the day. We were starting to work on doing Camp Sonshine with the churches there. I had counselor training in the morning, and then we were going to visit with some families for lunch. Eventually we found our way into the city and to the airport. I still remember sitting in the airport cafe with Pastor Dan and Pastor Gallure, drinking Sprite, waiting for the plane to arrive.
The rest is tragic history. It was my grandmother who got off the plane that afternoon, and she informed me that my brother Eric had been killed in a car accident. After a whirlwind of activity, plane rides, etc. I found myself in my Mom's house in Ocala, having made it back just in time for the funeral.
People who knew me before the 28th of March, 1995, say I changed after this event. I was told that I really mellowed out. I used to be what one friend called a "hard nose," a very high strung "type A" personality, and then after I mellowed out and became more even-keeled.
I call this day Eric's Day, the day he made the leap from earth to Heaven. I celebrate his short life. My brother and I did many things together. One of the most amazing things we got to do was minister side by side, sharing God's love on the mission field and also at Camp Sonshine, Maryland. In fact my first ever missions trip was with my brother, we went to Satillo, Mexico. My brother had a fiery passion for Christ and His kingdom, desiring only to be in the center of God's will.
I am blessed to have a son whom we have named in memory of my brother. I pray that my son, Eric Joseph Anasco, shares the same depth of faith and godliness as his namesake.
I miss you, Eric. I know you are interceding on my behalf in the cathedral of Heaven. You are in that great cloud of witnesses, spoken of in Hebrews 12, cheering me on.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Hebrews 12:1
Eric, I miss you.
I was in the Philippines then, in a remote area of Mindanao called Tagoloan, near the bigger city of Cagayan de Oro. I was in the Philippines on a missions internship, working as an associate pastor with a network of local churches.
A man approached me telling me that he has been instructed to inform me that I needed to be at the airport in Cagayan de Oro at a certain time that afternoon, I was to meet an arriving passenger (I had no idea who, but I was told that they would know me), and there I would receive further instructions.
It all sounded kind of mysterious to me, but I told the stranger that I would be at the airport at the assigned time. The pastors I was working with agreed to accompany me.
I went about my business of the day. We were starting to work on doing Camp Sonshine with the churches there. I had counselor training in the morning, and then we were going to visit with some families for lunch. Eventually we found our way into the city and to the airport. I still remember sitting in the airport cafe with Pastor Dan and Pastor Gallure, drinking Sprite, waiting for the plane to arrive.
The rest is tragic history. It was my grandmother who got off the plane that afternoon, and she informed me that my brother Eric had been killed in a car accident. After a whirlwind of activity, plane rides, etc. I found myself in my Mom's house in Ocala, having made it back just in time for the funeral.
People who knew me before the 28th of March, 1995, say I changed after this event. I was told that I really mellowed out. I used to be what one friend called a "hard nose," a very high strung "type A" personality, and then after I mellowed out and became more even-keeled.
I call this day Eric's Day, the day he made the leap from earth to Heaven. I celebrate his short life. My brother and I did many things together. One of the most amazing things we got to do was minister side by side, sharing God's love on the mission field and also at Camp Sonshine, Maryland. In fact my first ever missions trip was with my brother, we went to Satillo, Mexico. My brother had a fiery passion for Christ and His kingdom, desiring only to be in the center of God's will.
I am blessed to have a son whom we have named in memory of my brother. I pray that my son, Eric Joseph Anasco, shares the same depth of faith and godliness as his namesake.
I miss you, Eric. I know you are interceding on my behalf in the cathedral of Heaven. You are in that great cloud of witnesses, spoken of in Hebrews 12, cheering me on.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Hebrews 12:1
Eric, I miss you.
Dave,
ReplyDeleteYou gave me a blue bandana of Eric's that summer at Camp. I have a puppet character who I use every week, a bato from the barrio named Cheto. He wears that blue bandana. Every time I minister to kids, Eric is with me. He made an impact on everyone around him. You are in my prayers today, love you man.
Dave,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed helping out with Eric's Camp Sonshine group that year he worked there. He was a tremendous individual, and it was clear just from knowing him that summer how Godly he was. Take care.
Your brother was a wonderful individual with a heart of gold. I, too, remember the day we got that shocking news. It is wonderful to have the assurance that Eric is walking the streets of gold today. May all of our friends someday embrace the path that will lead them there as well.
ReplyDelete