Save the Date: 04/25/2015

Our Story...

As many of you know, Jonah and I met two summers ago while on a mission trip to Mexico. It was my third summer and his first, but let me back up a little....

A few months before Jonah and I met, I was at my last straw with relationships. After being disrespected, cheated on, pressured, lied to... and not the mention, I CHOSE to be with these people. I let these boys hurt me. I liked them, loved them even. I cheated myself, lied to myself, disrespected myself, but more importantly I was disrespecting my Lord and Savior. I was looking for love and fulfillment from everyone BUT God. One half of me wanted to be a missionary and serve the Lord, and the other half was obsessed with finding the "perfect guy." I was done. done. and done. with that lifestyle. I knew that if I was going to be obedient that I had to stop focusing on relationships that were hurting me and holding me back, and start focusing on how I could better seek a relationship with God. I promised him that I wouldn't date anyone unless he was put in front of my face and said that he wanted to move to Mexico with me and be a missionary. (fat chance right? wrong.) Fast forward to July 2012... 

I went to Mexico for the third summer with Christ Central, Lifepoint, and Bayview. The project I worked on for the week was digging in some super hard rocky caliche to level the land and prepare for a house to be built in the coming weeks. This is where Jonah and I met: I was doing hard, dirty work, no make up, sweaty, bossy, and many other unattractive things so I thought. I didn't have gloves and Jonah lent me his, making that the first time he did something to take care of me. Now, there are too many to count! We spent the week talking, serving, sharing, etc. I was glad to have made such a good friend. I admired his love for the children and sensitivity to poverty. We worked alongside each other all week and I had no idea he would be my future husband. 

Jonah meeting William for the first time!

Obviously before the lending of the gloves ;)

When we got home, we both had a rough patch and turned to each other for guidance. I always trusted him and felt safe sharing but didn't know why. Not focusing too much on relationships, I didn't think much of it. He invited me to a few things at his church and to a small group with a lot of the people I met in Mexico who I now consider family! After a while of having a great friendship, Jonah asked me out to dinner to get to know me better: Mexican food and a walk in the park :) A boy had never asked me out on a date before. I had been on dates, yes, but someone saying, "I would like to take you to dinner and get to know you better," never. He pursued me in the most respectful way possible, something I had never felt before. I was still a little weary because of my vow to not date anymore, but this was different. I knew it. That night, Jonah told me he wanted to move to Mexico when he graduated. (Ok God, here is a boy, you put right in front of me, saying he wants to move to Mexico, I'm listening.) 

We continued to see each other at small group and go on dates. He was so patient with me wanting to take things slow. He never pushed, pressured, made me feel bad or anything for not wanting to be his girlfriend quite yet. Then he went to Mexico in November for his second trip and came back with some surprises! A few things from the kids, and this beautiful ring on the right with two simple words. I promise. That day we made a promise to each other that we wouldn't give up, we would seek the Lord's plan for our lives and follow him where he lead us. After that, we finally made it officially official with a beautiful formal with my AOII sisters. We really believed this was the real deal, but we kept that to ourselves for a while. 

Left: engagement ring. Right: Promise ring.

First formal with AOII.

The next two years were spent laughing, crying, adventuring, finishing school, dating, falling in love, making more trips to Mexico, and we slowly began to share future plans with friends and family!

Trip to the Zoo 2012

Stone Mountain 2013

Destin 2013

Mexico 2013

Mexico 2013 

 Last August, we got to send dear friends and fellow missionaries off to Texas. Watching them follow their calling was so encouraging for us to do the same the next year. We kept saying, this will be us next summer, ready? And we were, we were SO ready. In fact, Kerrie just wrote a blog post that would go perfectly right here. >"Who is called to be a Missionary?"  In short, if you're a believer, the answer is you."< While we are missionaries in the RGV/Mexico Border, YOU, my brothers and sisters in Christ, are also called to be a missionary right where you are! Or, maybe God is pushing you do relocate, either way, we are all called to be missionaries. Great timing, Kerrie ;)

Kerrie and Wades, send off party! 

The next year we made plans, actual plans to move! So surreal. We graduated, spoke at churches, raised money, apartment hunted, and here we are now!

After four months of living in Texas, Jonah Proposed! We're getting married! Last Saturday, he planned a birthday party for himself in Mexico and we made spaghetti for the colonia. With everyone there, we sang happy birthday. Jonah had disappeared behind me when I noticed the kids telling me to look! He was down on one knee. I couldn't help but tear up, and of course I said yes! It was perfect! A huge thank you to everyone who made it special, and to Kerrie for taking these wonderful pictures! 

It has been and continues to be an amazing journey. I can't wait to see where God takes us, whether we are forever here on the border, or relocated somewhere else. I am so thankful that God saved me from myself to show me there there was something better, and I'm not talking about Jonah. God. God was the something better. Jonah and I are a young, engaged couple and God has provided EVERYthing we need including amazing relationships. I know he will continue to provide for the rest of our lives together. Most importantly, God gave me a great partner. We both have a lot to learn, but I couldn't ask for a better person to learn with or a better place to do it! I love you, Jonah! 4/25/2015.