How We Met

It’s funny to look back on what brought us to this moment in our lives. We’ve known each other for so long. We were involved in the same ministry for a number of years, we had so many mutual friends, had taken trips in groups together, gone to weddings, parties, restaurants…all while continuing to pray that the Lord would bring along the right one.

It’s funny to think about how close life brought us for so long—and how far apart it brought us for so long. Joe moved to China, Nica moved to Canada. We continued in our avenues of ministry and work, not even realizing that our work was giving us a similar heart, a similar calling, and a similar lifestyle.

It’s funny to realize that when you honestly want to live life for the Lord, you give your life to Him, and He blesses you with more than your heart ever desired. It’s better than you ever dreamed!

How was it possible—to have two acquaintances from opposite sides of the world, become reacquainted, grow in friendship, and even fall in love? It’s called: g-mail chat.

Friendship maybe more?

It’s true! Communication is SO easy! The beginning of 2008, after Nica returned home from a business trip to Korea during which time she was able to take a quick vacation to Shanghai to get stamp on her passport and visit the Oriental Pearl TV Tower (with Joe), Joe took it upon himself to pop up on a regular basis (okay, DAILY—sometimes more…) on g-mail chat whenever he saw Nica online (which was about 18 hours a day). To Nica, this was a welcome interruption! He was funny, easy to talk to, and had good opinions about her work. She wasn’t used to someone popping up without an urgent need, question, or request. Joe just wanted to find out how she was doing and what she was working on. What a welcomed change! We were becoming good friends.

We were surprised how many similarities we had, how much we agreed on various topics, and how easy it was to talk. We always felt so comfortable with each other.

After four months of g-mail chat, when Nica had the chance to go down to Joe’s hometown over the same time he was visiting family, she took it. Some things cannot be said over g-mail chat. Nica had to wonder if she was just a friend, or…could Joe possibly be thinking more? Some things, we found, are even hard to say over coffee. We knew how hard a long distance relationship could be. We knew it would take an effort. We knew there would be long stretches of time without seeing each other. We knew that relationships are risky! But, we also knew that the other was worth the risk. We appreciated our friendship too much to let something as small as distance come in the way of us getting together!

The rest of the spring was spent on Skype (we graduated from g-mail chat!) and counting down the days till Joe would come home for the summer. When Joe went back to China in August, it was a count down to when Nica would visit him in Shanghai the end of September!

Engagement Story

September 27th, 2008, on a beach in Qingdao (pronounced Ching-dow), Joe proposed…and Nica was the happiest in her life.

Although months have been spent apart, calls each day and texts day and night, we have continued to grow closer. Since Christmas was too short, and the wedding in July too far, we decided we were tired of Skype. Nica would spend a couple of months in Shanghai to prepare their home for after the wedding, make plans together, become accustomed to life in a new city, and transition with her work.

And this is where we are today! We count down the DAYS to when we can see each of you on our WEDDING DAY!!!! Still soo far away. . .

Thank you for joining us in celebrating what GOD has done in our lives! There is much to celebrate! July 11th! Mark your calendars!!!!