Eliezer Mercado-Carrasquillo

I am the resurrection and the Life, Saith the Lord: He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die. Eliezer Mercado was born on October 16, 1947 to Maria Carrasquillo and Isaiah Mercado in the beautiful island of Puerto Rico. He was the youngest of 17 children. As an adult Eli came to the states, met his wife and had 5 daughters. Eli was a minister, evangelist & missionary. His passion was working with those that had addictions. His ministry work includes: * Christian Fellowship Home " Chicago, Illinois & Wilton, Wisconsin Mens Drug Rehabilitation Residential Home and Discipleship Camp * Missionary to Honduras * Oasis Life Fellowship - Dallas (Pleasant Grove), Texas (A church in Dallas) * Camden Christian Girls Home " Camden, Tennessee * Missionary in Durango, Mexico . * Oasis Drug Rehabilitation Mens Home " Camden, Tennessee Eli devoted his life to help restore the addicted. He had a special love and devotion for this type of ministry. And until the day he passed he still had dreams of opening another Rehabilitation Center or going to back to the Mission field with his brother. Eli planted in his children a seed of love for the ministry. His legacy continues through them. Eli is survived by his wife Lydia of 23 years, his children Aloma and John Rodriguez, Evie and Cody Foote, Alanie & Robert Eguia, Priscilla Gonzales, Eliana & James Terrell, Five Grandchildren; Evelea, Shiloh, Macaiah, Elijah & Jaila. He is also survived by his brothers; Angel Luis, Jesse, Roberto, Raphael and Santiago. His Sisters; Yelin, Alicia, Olga, Lucy, Gloria, and Lidia. And numerous Nieces and Nephews. He joins his parents, Isaiah and Maria Mercado, brothers, nephews, a child and grandchild in heaven. I'm Free: Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free I'm following the path God laid for me. I took his hand when I heard him call I turned my back and left it all. I could not stay another day. To laugh, to love, to work or play. Tasks left undone must stay that way, I found that peace at close of day. If my parting has left a void, Then fill it with remembered joy. A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss, Ah yes, these things I too will miss. Be not burdened with times of sorrow, I wish you sunshine of tomorrow. My life's been full, I've savored much, Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch. Perhaps my time seemed all too brief; Don't lengthen it now with undue grief. Lift up your hearts and share with me, God wanted me now; He set me free. IN MY DAUGHTERS EYES In my daughter's eyes I am a hero, I am strong and wise and I know no fear But the truth is plain to see, She was sent to rescue me, I see who I want to be, In my daughter's eyes In my daughter's eyes, Everyone is equal, Darkness turns to light, And the world is at peace This miracle God gave to me, Gives me strength when I'm weak I find reason to believe, In my daughter's eyes And when she wraps her hand around my finger, Oh it puts a smile in my heart, Everything becomes a little clearer, I realize what life is all about It's hangin' on when your heart, Is had enough, It's givin' more when you feel like givin' up I've seen the light, It's in my daughter's eyes In my daughter's eyes, I can see the future, A reflection of who I am, And what we'll be And though she'll grow and someday leave, maybe raise a family, When I'm gone I hope you'll see, How happy she made me, For I'll be there, In my daughter's eyes A Note From Aloma I just wanted everyone to remember my dad through my eyes. I am so blessed that God chose Eli to be my dad. I learned so much from him and I was honored to be his daughter. They say hindsight is 20/20, well, I know that I am the women I am today because of him. Yes, there was a lot of hard times but I realized early in life, I only had one dad. God made me his daughter for a reason. My dad gave me the greatest gift of all. My dad taught me to love the Lord with all my heart. He taught me to forgive. He taught me what it was to have unwavering faith. No matter what situation he was in He always turned to the Lord and he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that his Redeemer lives. Ill never forget in 1998, when he had his accident, he was in ICU for several weeks; he had just had three strokes, emergency brain surgery and was in a coma for about 3 or 4 days. As I walked in they told me my dad was at the very end of the room and I could hear my dad singing from across the room, How Great Thou Art . Someone else would probably blame God or ask God why me but not my dad. The last few months I would ask him, Daddy, how do you feel. And he would tell me, Gordita, I feel fine, but anyways, Im ready to be with my Lord, I have peace . If you remember anything or take anything from my dads life, just love the Lord like he did. That no matter what comes your way or what addictions you battle, know and remember How great thou art and Our Redeemer is bigger than any circumstance you face. If my dad didnt loose sight of that, with everything he battled, neither should we. I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though his body be destroyed, yet shall I see GOD: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not as a stranger.