There are some missionaries in my church who are retired, and worked in this area of Brasil for quite some time. My church had gone to Teresina a couple of years prior to this trip, so I was on the second team to go. We were in Teresina for about two weeks, and our main purpose was to help as English coaches at a weekend camp.
At the end of the first weekend, it became clear that one girl really liked being around me, and, having the desire to stay true to my commitment, I decided to leave it in the hands of God. I only had her email address as contact information, and really did not know much about her. So, I prayed as often as I could over the next 24 hours (Sunday night to Monday night), asking God to make it clear what I was to do. My conclusion about what God was telling me was that I was to walk through open doors. I was somewhat afraid of the implications of this, but I decided that if God did not want me to go a particular direction He would be responsible for closing the doors.
Through an interesting series of events we ended up going on a date, after which I asked her father for permission to make it an official dating relationship. I had no idea how to this was all going to work, as she did not have a computer at home, and I had never made an international phone call before. But I decided that it would all get figured out as we went along.
For three months I planned and prepared to return to Teresina, and in October I did so. I came with my dad´s mother´s engagement ring because I was so sure of what was going to happen. I ended up waiting until December to ask her to marry me.
As you may have seen in our photos, she is wearing two rings on her right hand, and I one on my right hand. This is because the traditions are a little different in Brasil: Until the couple is married they both wear the wedding ring on the right hand. In our case, since I had the ring from my family, she is wearing them both. But normally, there is just one ring per person.
In mid January I had to leave to go make some money, I think that was the hardest day for both of us ever.
For 5 months we used the instant messenger, and email as much as we could, and talked on the phone a little too. I worked as a carpenter in a cabinet shop, and saved every penny I could. It was very difficult for both of us. But we knew that God was working in our lives through this time of separation.
As I write this I have been back in Teresina for less than a week. We will be making preparations for the wedding, and getting ready to apply for her visa for entry to the USA.
The wedding date is July 23.
...so, that is the short version of events up to now. I am sure I left something very important out, but the main point is that we have seen God´s provision at every step along the way. It has been good to see that He is providing for us, and we have even gotten to the point of expecting that as the norm. (Not that we don´t still get surprised, or excited to see it happen!)
1:31 PM
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