One proof that missionary life isn't without benefits is that mothers of small children can almost always afford a maid to help with household tasks. From 2011 until 2016, Adriana Choque was our house helper. She always had a gentle, humble spirit and was the person that really encouraged us to start helping out and attending her church, Vida Abundante. She also made it possible for me to do more ministries outside of the home because she could accompany Amy who had seizures several times a month after her brain tumor in 2004.
Last Friday afternoon, she was hanging laundry when she was stung by a wasp. Shortly after, she started having difficulty breathing in within minutes she had died from a blocked airway from an allergic reaction.
Saturday was the burial, so we went to Arequipa to give some words of comfort at the cemetery. I often preach that everyone needs to urgently make Jesus their Savior and Lord, as one doesn't know when their number will be called. I think it was easier to make my plea real as everyone considered what happened to Adriana. I know she is in paradise now as she had been trusting in Jesus since before we first met 14 years ago.
In Peru, there isn't refrigeration or embalming, so burials are done quickly. In this case, Adriana's body was in her niche less than 24 hours after she died. Pray for Julio and their three sons and families during this hard time. Adriana had just turned 62 years old. She was a pillar in the church and VBS was cancelled because she was going to be teaching one of the classes and the training/prep day had been scheduled to be on Saturday.