Although the past year has been filled with many sad news stories of COVID-19 and the death that it has caused, one Ecuadorian couple in Quito has an uplifting story of long life and enduring marriage.

Julio Tapia and Waldramina Reyes have just been officially declared the world’s oldest married couple. They have been married for 79 years and are still together! Julio is 110 years old, and his wife is 104 years old. They have 4 surviving children, 11 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild. Both are lucid and in good health, though relatives say they’re a little depressed because they miss their big family get-togethers due to the pandemic.

It is encouraging to see long marriages and long lives! We should remember, however, that no matter how long someone lives here on earth, there is an eternity after death. We should be doing everything we can to reach the people of Ecuador and the world with the good news of the Gospel.