Our Love Story - The Engagement

This is part 6 of our Love Story. 
If you have not read part 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 you can go here:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

December 12 was our 7 months courtship anniversary. I was secretly hoping that we would get engaged since number seven is important for both of us, but the way most of the day went took away all my hopes. We started the morning with people yelling at us for things we have done or not have done. Just a few days prior to that our good friend Martin Kim sent us a presentation about humility... So, as you can see, we had our opportunities to apply that message. The next day the person apologized (and we really appreciated that), but it was enough to take away some of our joy that day. We spent the day shopping for food for an event where we had to organize a meal. And while I was able to get over the incident in a couple of hours, Roman was still affected (actually, there were some other things that were bothering him). He promised me that we will do something special on our anniversary, but when I saw how affected he was I thought that the whole day will be spoiled and I hoped we can do something special the following week. 

We got home around 4 PM. I went to the kitchen to do something and he went to his room "to work on some stuff". Later on I went to his room and knocked on the door. It was strange that he was talking to someone in English and he did seem happy to let me come in. Actually, he kept me at the door. I was a little suspicious, but I put aside all my suspicions. (Later on my suspicions were confirmed... he was talking to my dad asking his permission to marry me). We did not have any lunch and even though we said that we will be eating at 4:30 PM he kept pushing the time... 6:30 PM was the last time he decided on. Later on, when he had to leave the room, he told me not to go to his room because he had a present for me there... Initially I thought that he would take me out to eat, but when we started to warm up the food, I realized that it is not going to happen. It was getting late and I was wondering when will we have time to go somewhere and do something special. It was already 6:30 PM, we had to eat and there seem to be no time for something else. 

When he was ready, he asked me to go with him to his room before we eat. And this is what I found there (btw, the picture do not do it justice - the room was stunning!!!):  

His room was totally changed. There were candles everywhere, a pathway of roses, a table set for two with our picture and some stuff we got in South Africa, with a stone in shape of a heart, and rose petals. I was more than surprised!!! I never expected something like that. We had never had a romantic dinner... And I never really got to see too much of his romantic side... I remember telling him some time ago that he is not very romantic and he told me that this is one of his ways to guard his heart and not lead me on until He clearly understands that he has to move on and take the relationship to the next level... So seeing all these made me speechless... It was more that I could ask for! 

We ate together. Who cared that we were eating the food I had cooked 2 days before (that was tasty, btw), or that someone called me on skype (I did not pick up the call!!!), that someone knocked on the door when he was about to propose (he told them he will call later the person who had call him on the phone), that he could not get me flowers cause I insisted that I go shopping with him or that the present he ordered for me did not make it... We had a very romantic dinner... talked about our journey and how God led us. We reminisced all the wonderful memories we had together. Than he read to me 1 Corinthiens 13. Up to this point I was still not sure what to believe. There were some hints that got me thinking a little - like him holding my hand which we did not really do up to this point (we held hands very, very rarely an when we did it it was more of a hand squeeze for a few seconds). But when he started reading 1 Corinthiens, I knew he is up to something. We have never told each other 'I love you' because we decided to do that only when we got engaged. So I knew that he would not read something about love to me, if he was not ready to take the next step. And it was true. Next thing... he was on one knee asking me to marry him! 

We praise God for how He led us. Two weeks prior to that we fasted for a few days for our future together. I did not know at that time, but Roman told me later on that around that time 3-4 people approached him unbeknownst of each other and asked him why is he not moving forward in our relationship and that they believe it is time he moved on.  

I am so happy to have such a wonderful, humble and God-fearing man in my life. He has shown me Christ more than anyone else. His love for God, his positive attitude and his steadfastness are so contagious.  

  

We are looking forward to a double celebration on the 8th of June 2014: the celebration of our marriage and the 34 year wedding anniversary of my parents! We pray that God and only God will be glorified through our wedding and our lives. And we are excited to see where God will take us next and what He will do in and through our lives.  

Our Love Story - The Courtship

This is part 5 of our Love Story. 

If you have not read part 1, 2, 3 and 4 you can go here:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3
Part 4

When the IMPACT Conference was over, I was relieved. Roman had one and a half more days in Romania, so I was looking forward to spending some time with him. I was also a little disappointed that he did not have an answer from God, but I chose to leave it in God's hands. After the conference was over I heard that he is going to visit Bucharest with some of the speakers. I wished I could go with them, but there was no more room in the car for me. I wished them a nice time together right when they were about to leave. Roman's puzzled expression told me that something was wrong and he was not so excited to go with them anymore. He thought that I would be going, too. So, when he found out that I am not going, he told me that he would rather stay back and spend some time with me. Needless to say, I was more than happy to hear this. The fact that I am important to him and that he would rather spend time with me than go visit new places thrilled my heart and made me feel special. We went out to eat but we ended up buying pizzas and coming back to eat them.

Than we had "the talk". One of those talks that changed my life forever and that showed me that God can do the impossible possible. One and a half days before that, he was not sure if it was God who wanted him to pursue a relationship with me or if it was only his own desire. Now, he told me that he got his answer. He was sure that God has given him green light. 

What happened? How did he get the green light? He talked to one of the speakers of IMPACT and asked him how can he be sure that it is God leading him and not his own desires. The speaker told him two things. First, that God sometimes opens doors and opportunities and we need to use them. Otherwise it might be a long time before another opportunity arrives. Secondly, since he knew both of us a little bit, he could not see why the two of us might not make a good couple. This is exactly what Roman had prayed for - that God will make it very, very clear to him. So he understood that this God's answer to his prayer. 

Courtship was a wonderful time, a time for growing, a time for learning more about each other. We had always said that if we cannot serve God better together, than we have no business to be in this relationship. So we prayed for opportunities to work together. God had opened the opportunity even before we met each other. At the beginning of the year I was asked to go and lead the prayer room for a youth congress in Pretoria, in South Africa. I was also told that I need to find another person to come along with me. So God prepared the first opportunity for us to serve together even before He brought us together. Isn't God awesome?

Our first trip together was not without adventures. We almost missed our first flight. We got stuck in Dubai for a few hours and could not make it for the opening meeting of the congress. But we finally got there and had a blast working together, praying with people from all over the world.We did not know where we were going to stay for the three extra days we spent visiting South Africa, but God provided accommodation in a wonderful way. We met a nice family that opened the door of their house for us and did not want a penny in return. It is wonderful to have brothers and sisters in Christ all over the world and a wonderful God who takes care of everything.

The more I got to know Roman, the more I realized something: I am glad that God chose for me! Cause He knew exactly what I need. If I were to choose myself, I do not think that I would have made the right choice. I always imagined that I would marry a very strong leader, someone who likes to be upfront, someone who is very energetic, a sanguine who loves people. Well, Roman is not like that. But he has many other qualities that I prayed for which are more valuable. He might not be a people's person, but he deeply cares for people, loves to counsel them and help them through their challenges. They know that they can trust him and they can always come to him with their burdens. He might not like to be upfront and he is not a charismatic leader, but he loves to be work behind the stage, there where nobody sees him. He is such a humble and wise guy! And he has a lot of influence on people from his place under the stage. 

So, I have to admit, I would not have chose him in the first place, if I had to make the choice cause I did not know him too well and there was nothing glamorous about him to attract my eye. He did not flirt with me, he did not try to impress me, he did not try to show off his qualities. I am glad that God made the choice for me. Cause Roman is exactly what I need and has all the qualities I have ever prayed for. Now, I am actually happy that he is not the sanguine I envisioned myself married to. And I am happy that he is the humble guy that he is and that God is using him to touch lives from under the stage. I am glad that he does not try to attract people's attention to him. Instead through everything he does he tries to turn their eyes to Jesus.

So, for us it was not love at first sight. There were no sparks in the beginning. In our case love came softly... And I am glad that it was like that. The more I got to know him, the more I fell in love with him... the more I respected him... the closer I was drawn to Jesus. Could I have asked for more? 

To read the rest of our Love Story go here:
Part 6

Happy Birthday, My Dear Roman!

It was only a year ago that I was writing to Him:

Hi Roman, I saw on FB that today is your birthday, so I just wanted to stop by and wish you God's blessings and power for the work He has called you to do. Praying that you will draw closer and closer to Him and that He will use you in a mighty way to point people to Him! Keep inspiring people to love Him more! 

I had known Him for a little more than a week. I did not know him. But he was very friendly to me and kept writing to me on FB.

Today, a year later, not only did I get to tell him happy birthday in person and make him a birthday cake, but I could tell him how much I love him, how much he means to me and thank him for the things that God has been teaching me through him. 

So, Happy Birthday, my favorite guy in the world! I thank God for bringing you in my life at the right time, in the right way. I have no doubt that God was in all this and that He led us together.

Thank you so much for loving God more than you love me.

Thank you for showing me God's love like nobody else did before. And thank you for loving me unconditionally.

Thank you for being the leader in our relationship. Thank you for leading me to Christ and pointing me to Him when I am too absorbed of my own problems and difficulties.

Thank you for your determination to honor God in every aspect of our relationship. Thank you for guarding my purity and for being determined to save our first kiss for our wedding day. You keep telling me that you want God's full blessing on our relationship, not only part of it. And I respect you very much for this.

Thank you for teaching me what humility is. When people are unreasonable, when they are demanding, when they accuse you, when they criticize you and never appreciate you, when they treat you badly, you do not answer back, you are not defensive. You admit your mistakes (if you have done any) and you ask for their forgiveness. I know that this is only His power in you and I can only praise God for the strength that He is giving you.

Thank you for not being afraid to admit your mistakes. And thank you for not trying to find excuses.

Thank you for teaching me forgiveness. You forgive not only those who ask for forgiveness, but also who never admit they have done something wrong, those who always find an excuse for their mistakes, those who point fingers at you even though it is their fault. Thank you again for allowing God to work in you!

Thank you for teaching me unconditional love. First of all, you love me with all my mistakes. And you love those who are not easy to love. Thank you for loving those who hurt you, those who are difficult, those who are only demanding, but never offering, those who criticize you, those seem impossible to love. I once found it impossible to love these kind of people, but God has been changing that and I trust that "He who has begun a good work in me will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ".

Thank you for teaching me temperance in all areas of life. Somehow when I am with you it is so easy to be temperate and I praise God for this.

Thank you for not being complicated, for living a simple and healthy life.

I know that you do not do any of these through your power. It is God's power in your weakness that is made perfect!

So, I thank God with all my heart for you, my dearest Roman. And I thank God that I can see Jesus in You. He truly knew what I need. And He made the best choice for me. There is no one else I'd rather spend the rest of my life with. So I am looking forward to being married to you and to serving God with you. I know that we will continue to grow and draw closer to Jesus. And I am excited!