I’m not quite sure how to word what I am feeling in regard to last year’s trip to Peru. That is why this blog has taken me so long to write. But, as time passes I am getting a grasp on my thoughts. For anyone who hasn’t read my blog in a while, let me catch you up. I returned from my two and a half month trip on December 20, 2012. Patty and Tito were the family that took me in while living in Peru. They were my adopted parents, or as Patty would say, ‘Tacna mama and papa’. Patty helped teach me Spanish and she reinforced the importance of compassion and love. Tito was my Pastor. He taught me about sacrifice and hospitality. Their door was always open to anyone.
Several years ago Patty was diagnosed with cancer and she had been fighting the disease ever since. During my stay with Tito and Patty the doctors were treating her cancer with an all-natural treatment of healthy foods and vitamins. The decision was made not to have chemo and to limit Patty’s medicines. This way of fighting the cancer was meant to strengthen what good cells she had and to fight off the bad cells. It seemed to be working. Patty’s last visit to her doctor in Chili, just prior to my stay, showed that the cancer had gotten smaller. The family was hopeful.
I enjoyed two months when Patty’s strength held up fairly well. Two weeks before Christmas I said goodbye to my ‘Tacna mama’ as she flew to Chili for yet another round of x-rays and tests to evaluate how the cancer was doing. The entire process would take place over the course of two months. Patty was scheduled to return home in late February. While in Chili Patty lived with her son and got to spend time with her grandson.
Although Patty she showed signs of improvement in Peru, once she got to Chili her health quickly declined. Meanwhile, when I was back in the United States, Tito flew to Chili to bring Patty back home but before they could leave, on February 20, 2013 Patty died in her native home of Chili. This news got to me the next day. The woman I had just spent the last three months with had passed away.
In the last months of Patty’s life I got to experience one of the single greatest gifts - hidden moments of a couple who knew their time together was limited. They were a family who had complete faith in God. Patty had so much joy, I never saw her without a smile.
I had never lost someone on the mission field before. I have worked in a lot of areas and I understand that death happens but I left Peru with a plan of a future visit. Then, I thought about you, the reader who I have shared many of stories with. I realized that you too might have felt a connection to Patty and her family. I am sorry this news has come to you so late but I want you to know that Patty was a shining star to everyone she met and she is now with her Lord. 
