On September 21, 2009, Gloria’s husband, Pastor Manuel Camacho of the World Missionary Movement Church of Choapal, was murdered. No one has been brought to justice for this murder yet. On Christmas Eve, Gloria returned with her two children to the church he used to pastor. Gloria shared with the congregation her memories of Manuel and what God has been doing in her life for the past three months.
When Gloria finished sharing, two young men wept with the joy for the forgiveness the Lord provides. On that Christmas Eve, two more were added to the family of God. "This is how it should be, as Manuel would have liked, more people coming to the Lord's feet ... this is part of the harvest that the Lord has promised for this place,” said Gloria.
She added, "Although it is the first Christmas without my husband, God has let me know that I am not alone. I have cried so much but He has wiped my tears ... you brothers from OD are part of that handkerchief that He has sent. The Bible verses strengthen me as do your visits. You have given me food and paid for rent ...I feel that you too have felt the absence of Manuel and for that reason you accompany me with that love.”
Gloria now realizes that God has new plans for her. She knows she can trust that God will raise up new leadership in Choapal in her and her husband’s place to carry on the ministry they had begun.
Gloria and her children will go to live in a village in the department of Meta, where her mother-in-law and part of her husband´s family live. The regional coordinators from the World Missionary Movement Church in the department of Guaviare where she and Manuel worked suggested to her not to get involved with any ministry activity until she and her children feel strong enough. Her plans are to get located in a small house and find a job to start a new life. "I thought it hurt more at the beginning of the death of Manuel, but now I feel a great emptiness that grows over time. I have to recover so that my children will believe in God’s restoration, as will other believers who have experienced the loss of a loved one ... I will not stop preaching, but I just need to get organised, as until now I have not had the ability to think clearly,” said Gloria.