July 2007
July 2007
Dear Friend,
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
In the Kingdom of God, no one can see so long as he remains merely a spectator. Nathan Soderbloom
As you will see, we were far more than mere spectators in June. In last month’s mailing – which also opened with the above quotes – we sent a copy of my June 13, 2007, letter to President Triet of Vietnam concerning the May 11 prison sentences by the People’s Court of Hanoi of two good friends, Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Cong Nhan. My initial hope was to meet with the Vietnamese Ambassador in Washington, DC, to discuss a possible trip to Hanoi so that I can visit Dai and Nhan in prison. No sooner had we mailed our letter to President Triet than we saw dramatic events unfold.
Two days after sending my letter to Vietnam’s Embassy, I read in The Washington Post and Washington Times that President Triet planned to visit the US for the first time that very week, including a historic first-ever visit at the White House with President Bush. I had been unaware of these plans when I wrote my letter, but the news confirmed the truths of the above quotes and my belief that prayer is talking to God about what we are doing together with Him. If we do our part, God may engage in remarkable ways that are totally outside our control as evidence that we are indeed “living in His-Story.”
The day after reading the news stories, I wrote a follow-up letter to President Triet. A few days later, the Post published a full-page letter/ad from President Triet to “Dear American friends” referring to “the vitality of [Vietnam’s] cultural and spiritual life [that have] developed dramatically in recent years.” In response, I sent a third letter within a week to President Triet (see enclosed). We have been told that a good friend passed on my three letters to someone who is close to President Triet. Prayer time!
There is no question in my mind of the truth of Psalm 139:16 that “all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” I hope to visit
On the back is an encouraging email from a 9-year-old immigrant to
Living in His-Story,
Sam Ericsson
Founder & President
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Email from 9-year-old boy in Michigan
From: Nirel Castelino
Sent: Saturday, June 02, 2007 12:18 AM
Subject: Hello from Nirel
Dear Mr. Ericsson,
Our family first heard about you through Mr. & Mrs. Russel and Patryce Williams from Virginia, who used to work at the Character Inn with my Dad in
It was interesting to know from one of your newsletters that you had a meeting in
We are having a garage sale in a few weeks. I will save some money I get and will send it to you for your work. My parents are servants of God and are presently serving here in MI. My brother (16 yrs) is studying a Constitutional Law class and is almost done with his online class. He loves history and likes things to do with law.
I like that you involve God in whatever you do and are helping others to do the same. Also, that you want others to know the wonderful things God does for you through "His-story".
May God give you strength and help you get better.
Love and God bless you,
Nirel (9 yrs)
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From: Sam Ericsson [samericsson@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2007 9:02 PM
Subject: Hello from 9-year-old Nirel
Dear Nirel,
Thank you for writing to me. You write VERY well for being nine years old.
I apologize for the delay in responding to you. The email address you used is the one at my office which I cannot access from our home. They just sent it to me today. I suggest that you use my gmail address.
The Williams family is one of the finest I have ever known. They love God and neighbor in the way Jesus would want us to love.
I am glad to hear the reports of your parents’ service to Jesus, the King of kings. We all work for the same Client. If you read some of my recent newsletters you will understand what I mean by The Client.
Thanks for sharing the verse from Isaiah 40. Several years ago I memorized that chapter, but I confess I have forgotten most of it. Keep up the good Bible memory work!
If you want to read some interesting "His-Stories" that I used to share with the Williams family, I invite you to take a look at our website www.advocatesinternational.org under the Resources section where they have posted about 120 of my newsletters. I think that you and your 16-year-old brother may find some of them very interesting. Tell him to keep studying Constitutional law. The Church will need the best legal minds in the years ahead who truly understand that remarkable document.
Today I have been working on how to help two Christian lawyer friends get out of prison in
I am linking you with Tehmina Arora of the Christian Lawyer Association of India. They are doing a GREAT work in that tremendous nation that is facing great challenges to religious freedom. Tehmina serves as their excellent director.
Blessings to you, your family and the Williamses, while...
Living in His-Story,
Sam Ericsson
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June 18, 2007
The Honorable Nguyễn Minh Triết
President of the
Dear President Triết,
On June 13, I wrote the attached letter to you on behalf of two friends, Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Cong Nhan, who were sentenced to prison by the People’s Court in
I mentioned in my letter that my Swedish parents were lifelong evangelicals. According to some surveys there may be over 100 million Americans who identify as evangelicals and as many as 400 million people who do so globally. Dai and Nhan are evangelicals.
I am sure that Ambassador Nguyễn Tâm Chiến is aware that President Bush and the First Lady are devout evangelicals, as is Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice. In fact, former President Bill Clinton, Senator Hillary Clinton, as well as former President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, would all identify with the evangelical branch of Christianity. Last week, the national media reported widely the death of Mrs. Ruth Graham, the wife of Dr. Billy Graham, perhaps the world’s most respected evangelical and one of
I have no doubt that a decision to grant amnesty to Dai and Nhan would be viewed by President Bush, the First Lady, Secretary of State Rice, the other leaders I mentioned, as well as evangelicals worldwide, as a very kind and symbolic gesture.
I look forward to meeting Ambassador Chiến in
Respectfully,
Samuel E. Ericsson
Founder & President
cc: His Excellency Nguyễn Tâm Chiến, Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
to the
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June 21, 2007
The Honorable Nguyễn Minh Triết
President of the
Dear President Triết:
Thank you for your letter published in the Washington Post today to your “American friends.” You mentioned that the American and Vietnamese’ Declarations of Independence both open with Thomas Jefferson’s immortal words, “All men are created equal; they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights; among these are Life,
We agree that ”unprecedented opportunities are unfolding now for our two countries to build a more sustainable and fruitful relationship.” We are also encouraged by your comments that the “vitality of [
As I shared with you in my June 13, 2007 and June 18, 2007 letters concerning my two friends, Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Cong Nhan, we believe that a grant of amnesty to them during your visit would send a strong signal to
I look forward to meeting Ambassador Chiến to discuss my visit to
Respectfully,
Samuel E. Ericsson
Founder & President
cc: The Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States
Dr. Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State, United States Department of State
His Excellency Nguyễn Tâm Chiến, Ambassador of the
His Excellency Michael W.
Board of Directors, Global Council & Friends of Advocates International