763-497-2745
Search
Meet the Erismans: Missionary Family Staying With Us This Fall
-
September 23, 2024You may have met them at the Fall Festival, beneath a sign reading The Francis Institute: Robert and Tami Erisman and their eight children are visiting family in Minnesota this fall and staying in a house belonging to a generous parishioner. Most of the year, they live in a small village in Peru, ministering to people in need there and guiding other missionaries to do the same. Learn more about them, their mission, and how you can help below!
Who are the Erismans? Robert and Tami Erisman and family (eight children, ages 17-3) have been missionaries to Peru since 2019. Tami is from Coon Rapids, Minnesota; Robert is from Gillette, Wyoming. The two met as missionaries with NET Ministries; both contemplated religious life before getting married and starting their life and family together.
Why are they here? The Erismans are in the States visiting their family. They were married at St. Michael Catholic Church in 2006—Father Michael Becker had served as Tami’s vocations director prior to that. They know Father Park through NET, and he found them a place to stay while they are here!
What do they do—and why? Robert and Tami discussed serving as foreign missionaries for a decade before deciding to take the plunge. (Robert felt called since grade school; Tami admits that, for most of that time, she thought the idea sounded crazy.) Finally, during one Easter, the Holy Spirit touched Tami in a profound way through scripture and prayer. They sold everything and joined Family Missions Company, a Catholic missionary organization, in 2018; moving to Peru in February 2019. In the years since, they have branched out to establish their own non-profit, the Francis Institute, which not only organizes mission trips to Peru, but also raises up and supports full-time missionaries from Peru and Ecuador to go out to serve their own people.
How can you help? There are lots of opportunities to help the mission of the Francis Institute and the Erismans, but the top four ways are these:- Pray for their mission, their family, and the local missionaries.
- Donate to help fund one of their missionaries or special projects.
- Share about their work in Peru with your friends and family.
- Come on a mission trip.
- Volunteer your time and talents.
(850) 308-5008 on WhatsApp. The Erismans will be with us until mid-October. If you see them, make them feel welcome!
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ERISMANS AND THE FRANCIS INSTITUTE- Check out this 2023 article and podcast from the Catholic Spirit
- Visit the Francis Institute website to see how you can help
- Visit their Family Missions Company webpage and the Erisman Family Mission blog about their early days in Peru
