We got married!

Two years ago, we committed to love one another for the rest of our lives. While we were grateful for the technology that made it possible for people to join our ceremony online, we grieved the opportunity to celebrate our marriage in person with you all. So this summer, we would like all of you to join us in the San Diego area for our Wedding Reception (Two Years Late/r) to restore what was lost during our wedding: the union of our families and friends in one place in support of our marriage. Check out the links below to relive the weekend of our wedding. View the recording of the livestream here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYNxA_cP9dw Check out our Wedding Scrapbook here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/580102286067769 And because we're extra, we created a little video of our story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mC-vz8pJX-Q

On the outside, anyone could tell you that we’re a bit different. Andie is very put together, sociable and efficient; Ben is messy, spontaneous, and cerebral. Andie was a class president raised amidst the high-rises of modern Manila, Ben a mathlete from a small town nestled in the Appalachian foothills. Andie is the first to ask questions in a group conservation, Ben the last to answer. But inside, we share the same young yet loyal heart – one that beats for the simple life of loving God and loving people amidst a complicated world so much else. Truth be told, our college lives ran in parallel – though we rarely crossed paths, we had so much in common. Both of us began Princeton by going on the 9-month long Bridge Year Program to do community service immersed in a foreign culture; while Ben went to Varanasi, India, Andie spent her year in Urubamba, Peru. In freshmen year, Ben started out studying Physics and Hindi, while Andie decided to pursue Anthropology and Spanish. That summer, we also both did the International Internship Program that Princeton offered, but while Ben worked for an education nonprofit in Mumbai, Andie interned with a social entrepreneurship network in Buenos Aires. What began to bring us together, though, is the Worship House community, where mutual friends had shown us God’s heart and taught us how to seek Him. Ben decided to go on Andie’s service trip to Queens, New York over spring break, to hear diverse narratives about immigrant identities. In processing this week together, we were caught by each other’s caring hearts and the joy of discovering our similarities. Coming back to campus, our friendship blossomed and on April 23, 2017, we decided to be in a relationship. When we decided to be together, we agreed that we would only be in this relationship so long as marriage was a serious and promising option. And almost three years later, here we are - where we hope by God’s grace to be for the rest of our lives.

I have a question. One that I’ve been meaning to ask for a while: What did you mean when you said that loving me was like learning to keep warm in the winter? When I said that loving you was like learning to keep warm in the winter, I meant that my body was not made for the cold. But we found one another amidst the shadows, you recognized the light in my eyes underneath the darkness of the winter night And while having you beside me didn’t prevent the frost bites, your tender kisses brought feeling to my numb cheeks once again. But do you remember when you said ‘loving you was like not having a bike’? I meant it was less efficient, I had to plan my journey before the time arrived, “No more my way or the highway” because I had to stay in step, stop and say, “Maybe we disagree, but it’s okay, I love you anyway.” My pride held in thoughts I kept inside gave way to shy delight In being broken, known and still alright. Love, how can I thank you enough? Loving you is like writing letters by hand, Each interaction in a state of revision, throughout my painstaking intention to express all of my affection. My soul is a pile of crumpled up papers, run-on sentences and convoluted metaphors We are imperfect, but I think it's true that beauty comes from weakness And if there’s any confidence in my words, it’s only through the strength of Jesus He’s put me like a seal over your heart So that I could post this letter across the sea, No chance to backspace now so I might as well say what I mean Will you marry me?