We as a church first got to know Grezia in 2020 during the pandemic. She was from Ilo, a city about 4 hours south of Arequipa. She came here searching for treatment for her cancer because treatment was not available in her home city. Eliana, one of the youth girls from Jose Olaya, met her while standing in line to enter the hospital. The two developed a close friendship that resulted in Grezia eventually coming to know Jesus.

Her family are not believers, they are Catholic. Because of difficulties between her separated parents, she came alone most of the time. The people from Jose Olaya rallied around her providing love, friendship, and at times lodging and transportation to the hospital here in Arequipa for treatment. The youth of Jose Olaya especially became involved with her, including her in their group, going to visit her, and being especially close to her the last weeks of her life.

You could see the difference Jesus made in her life. She was especially sensitive to the needs and hurts of others, though she herself was suffering from much pain. Her face radiated with a smile and love for everyone. I will always remember her smile.

She passed away one week ago today on Sunday, November 6 at the age of 21. She is now healed, free from the conflicts that she lived with and safe in the arms of the Savior.

It was a privilege for me to be with the family and also to support the brothers of Jose Olaya in mediation and organization of the final arrangements. There was a viewing on Monday, the 7th. It was supposed to start at 12 pm so a meal was put together by the ladies of Jose Olaya. We waited all afternoon for the body to arrive. But because the hospital had lost her medical records, they didn’t release the body until 4 pm and it arrived at the church around 5:45 pm. Unfortunately I had to leave and could not be at the viewing because of other engagements.  

Her wish was to be cremated so some of us sat with the family through the 2 hour process, 10 am – 12 pm on Tuesday, the 8th. 

Through all of this God was at work. We saw God soften the heart of the mother. The father, who is also Catholic, invited us to go to his house in Ilo and have a service like the Christian viewing service we had in Jose Olaya. Some of his children living in other cities were coming and he had also invited his neighbors. Though we did not want to get caught between family conflicts, Brother Juan Sanz and I felt this was a clear call to present the gospel in Ilo. So Juan, his wife Glendy and I traveled to Ilo with the family on Wednesday, the 9^th and presented the gospel in this house.

Again, I saw tenderness in the mother’s heart that wasn’t visible, at least while Grezia was living. Her father also was moved by the 20 minute service that we presented to the point that he acknowledged to Juan that he knew Jesus was knocking on his heart’s door. A neighbor who was present, asked many questions and took Juan’s number so he could contact him later. We also met a Christian couple who are neighbors to Grezia’s father.

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.  -John 12:24

We don’t know where this will lead but we are praying that God would use Grezia’s life and death as a means of reaching her family and community in Ilo for Christ.