On January 27, 2011 Eric Merkley was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. An aggressive cancer that we hope and the doctors to this point seem confident that is contained to one spot on his leg. Prognosis is good. Treatments and recovery will be long and painful.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Merry Christmas

 
We would like to wish your families a very Merry Christmas! We hope that you were able to enjoy time with your family. I was going to say a relaxing time with your family, but I know that is close to impossible. 

We had a great time talking to Eric through Skype on Christmas.  He looks so good and sounds so good.  Here are a few of the pictures of our time with him.
As we were opening presents Tuesday morning, Macklynn went over to Eric's picture and climbed up on a chair and just looked at him.  She would point at his picture then just stare.  It was so cute.  I think she recognizes that he is not here.

As you can see we are all excited to see his face!

He came in close so that we could see his whiskers.  ....  Sorry not seeing them.  I thought if I came closer to the I Pad I could see them.... Still not seeing them. :)




This is all of us, well McKell is taking the picture, all hovered around the little screen to see and talk to Eric.

Eric has his companion back, so they are now working in a tri companionship.  They have also been asked to cover the English speaking part of his district, until a new set of English missionaries are brought in.  They had the opportunity to go to the temple with some Lao members to do some temple work and they were able to do the ordinations in Laotian.  He was beaming as he spoke of this experience. 
We asked him how he pronounces his "adult" Lao name and it is pronounce Some-bot. 
All in all he is doing well.  Daryl recorded a message from him and I will try to get a copy of it and download on the blog. 

Thank you for all your love and support for Eric, he has loved the cards and letters from everyone.  and we hope that you enjoy the rest of your Christmas Holiday.
 

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Missionary update

 
 
In a previous blog, Eric spoke about his experience of eating a baby chicken, partial developed in a egg.  Here is the video of him eating it....
 
 
 
This is what it looks like up close

 
When I receive his SD card, I wished that it came with descriptions of who and where etc.  But the pictures are still fun to look at.

This must be where he translates Sacrament meeting into Lao, Live. 
 
In Eric's email this week he was so happy that he was not transferred.  He said that he has been able to accomplish so much and that he was not ready to hand over the  work to someone else until he accomplishes more.  This Saturday they are taking a family to the temple to do some family work, and he is so excited for this opportunity.
He did say that Christmas as a missionary is the best.  I guess he is still getting pretty spoiled.  :)
 

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

So Happy


I am asked all the time how Eric is doing… All I can say is that he is HAPPY!  All his letters and emails are filled with excitment and love for the people: which makes me so happy for him. 

His companion is out recovering from surgery on his shoulder, which means Eric needed to gain another companion until he comes back.  It sounds like within 1 week, he was partnered with one of the missionaries who entered the MTC with Eric and Eric was also put into a leadership position.  I think he is feeling a little overwhelmed.   I had to chuckle at his response…

“I am now responsible for all of south Sac and in leading the area since Elder Haws is new, holding up the Lao program and being the mediator for the Lao people in the church adds a lot of stress into the work. I have to say though that the lord has really blessed me with a lot of help and success this week, this past week was the most successful week that we have had so far in the transfer :) high five to me and the lord!”

Needless to say he was so busy he did not have time to write much more. 

Eric received word that Quinn received his mission call to Peru.  There is a missionary from Peru that Eric has gotten to know, so he had this Elder write Quinn and tell him about his country.  Eric said that Quinn will get to play lots of Soccer and baptize lots of people.  What more could Quinn ask for right?

Eric wrote Todd a letter which made me laugh  and it also touched my heart.  When Todd and I were married, Eric was 12 years at the time… Eric put this poster on his door

 
 
 This was a statement!  One of the things he told Todd in his letter was that he has learned a lot from him, being that he (Todd) was “The man of the house”.  Then went on to say “I will never say that again, Enjoy it!”
As he changes, grows up and learn so much from his mission, I find myself asking “Who is this child?”  I remember asking that when Daryl was on his mission, they grow up so much that it makes a mom proud.