The Return Home
The Area Medical Adviser, Elder Koegler, determined that I should go home and receive the necessary treatment. If I recover, there is a very good chance that we will be able to return and complete our mission.
Bishop Ribeiro and his family.
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| Bishop Ribeiro from the fifth ward came to our house and gave me a Priesthood blessing for my return trip. Tears came to my eyes as he placed his hands upon my head and stated that "by the authority of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood which I hold, I pronounce this blessing upon your head". The blessing was fulfilled and we arrived safely home. |
On Wednesday evening at 8:30 pm the long, arduous and grueling trip began.
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| The first leg was from Mindelo to Praia. In Praia we met with Elder and Sister Neff and Elder and Sister Moraes. |
At one of the airports.
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| From Praia we flew to Lisbon, Portugal on a four hour flight leaving at 1:20 am and arriving in Lisbon just at sunrise. By this time we had been up for 24 hours and I was having intermittent spasms of pain in my back and stomach. |
From Lisbon we flew to Newark, New Jersey and then on to Salt Lake City. We had been on planes and in airports for over 32 hours and had been awake for 48 hours. At every airport I had wheel chair assistance upon arrival and departure.
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| Our daughter, Lisa, and son, John, met us in the Salt Lake Airport. What a special treat to once again be united with family. |
| Upon arrival in Salt Lake, I was in such pain that we went directly to the emergency room at the hospital. |
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| Sunday after church in front of our home. |
Our goal is to recover and then return to Cape Verde and complete our mission. The area medical adviser feels that there is a very good chance that that will happen. In the mean time I will be on the mend and try to recover my strength and weight. I cannot thank my wife enough for her courage, strength and love in helping me at each step of the way. One of our mission goals was to develop a stronger relationship with one another. This ordeal has brought us closer than we have ever been before.
We are not sure what will happen to our blog but we will attempt to keep everyone informed of our progress. Take care and feel free to comment.
Love, Elder and Sister Erickson
You have been in our thoughts and prayers the last few weeks. We are so glad you've arrived back home to get on top of things. The big bonus will be seeing that sweet new grandson! He's a keeper :) !
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your health issues. I hope you will recover quickly and be able to go back. I read all your blogs and enjoyed your mission experiences vicariously. Keep us informed. We will be praying for you
ReplyDeleteYou are both in my prayers! Thank you for your service and your faith! You are inspirational! Eu amo voces!!!
ReplyDeleteWe are so sorry for your medical issues but hope and pray with all the others that you will be made well. I just love reading your blogs each week and see the amazing people and work that your involved in. Take care and remember you have so many people praying for you and now in Africa too!
ReplyDeleteWelcome home you served well and accomplished a good work get feeling better
ReplyDeleteDan, I am inspired by your courage and attitude. The Lord may be saying, you are doing so well... let's see how you handle this...?
ReplyDeleteAll our love and hopes for a speedy recovery.
Glad you made it home safely. I pray that all your health problems will be resolved quickly so you can return. All my love
ReplyDeleteLove you both and God bless you. Let me know when a visit would work.
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