They survived terrorist brutality and found peace in the gospel and each other.
In 1982, terrorists swept through a small village in the Andes Mountains of Peru and killed 21 people, including the parents of six young children.
Terrorists murdered their parents in the middle of the night, but the gospel changed their life. In 1982, militants swept through a small village in the Andes mountains of Peru and executed 21 people, including the oldest Deepas son. A week later, they came back and killed Moisees and Graciella Deepas in front of their six remaining children. The children were left alone. Lucio, 15, made his way to Lima to find work.
His five younger siblings followed. They built a small shelter on a plot of land a relative gave them. For years, their main food was raw sweet potatoes because they had no matches and no way to cook. They collected fallen food from outdoor markets after closing time. One day, Clara stood in front of a fruit stand just staring. The owner asked what she was doing. She said she was looking.
He asked why and she said, "Because I'm hungry." He filled a bag with fruit and she carried it home to share with her brothers and sisters. Later, Lucio spotted two missionaries on the street. He remembered he and his brother had been baptized before their parents were killed. He ran after them. A senior missionary couple took the children under their care. The gospel became the thread that held the Deep family together.
Lucille longed to serve a mission, but couldn't bear the thought of leaving his siblings. Then he had a dream. God would take care of them if he went. He trusted that dream, left Alejandro in charge, and Alejandro found work. Today, the siblings have been sealed to their parents in the temple. They have stable lives. They serve each other. They visit one another often. Clara said that they found refuge in each other, not in drugs or alcohol.
It is the gospel that has kept us united. People can turn their back on you, but God never will.
