Closing the distance, once & for all!

We met through Chi Alpha, a campus ministry at Bemidji State University. Jorge was in Bemidji on exchange for his Bachelor’s degree in Oceanography(weird, I know). We didn’t speak until November 28th, 2019 when Jorge messaged Sophia on Facebook. We got together for the first time the next night when Sophia asked Jorge jokingly if he wanted to tag along with a friend to get cookies from Walmart. Of course, he said yes. So Sophia went to pick him up from the dorms at BSU and Jorge was dressed all fancy and Sophia was wearing PJ pants and an oversized hoodie(great first impression). After Walmart, Sophia went to drop Jorge back off at the dorms, but instead of dropping him off we ended up talking for a few hours. We ended up hanging out the next two days, Sophia showed Jorge around Bemidji and they stopped at Paul and Babe park to look at the Christmas tree. We never ran out of things to talk about, and we enjoyed being with each other. Jorge then came over for pizza and movie night with Sophia’s family. Jorge fit right in with the family and seemed like he had been a part of it for a long time. Jorge started going to church with Sophia and was able to meet her grandparents. On January 28th, 2020 Jorge asked Sophia to be his girlfriend. We both felt God moving in our story and especially looking back now, we see how fast we learned about each other and how it was meant to happen that way. Jorge’s exchange program announced they were sending all the exchange students home due to COVID-19. Jorge left the U.S. April 8th, 2020, two months earlier than he was supposed to. We both were heartbroken, but we would persevere because we loved each other. We didn’t know when we would see each other again. Right before Jorge left, we made a promise to each other- “I was, I am, and I will always be”. We intended on keeping that promise with us every day in the distance that separated us. When Jorge got to Mozambique, we stayed committed to communicating with each other and didn’t allow the distance to tear us apart. Sophia booked a trip to see Jorge in December 2020. When Sophia arrived in Mozambique, Jorge had roses and a big hug waiting for her. It was the best feeling to be able to actually see and hold each other again. It had been a rough few months, but we clung to each other in the struggles. Those few weeks flew by, we traveled up the coast of Mozambique and went to a town called Ponta do Ouro for New Years. We even saw a giraffe, and got a nice sting from some jellyfish(what a nice gift)! Sophia got to meet Jorge’s family and learn a lot more about Jorge’s culture and country. Sadly, we had to say goodbye again, not knowing when we would see each other again. As soon as Sophia got back home, we planned another trip to Mozambique in December 2021 during her Christmas break. Sophia arrived in Mozambique for the second time. We also applied for the K-1 fiancé visa before Sophia left the U.S. This visa requires us to marry each other within 90 days of when Jorge lands in the U.S, hence how soon our wedding is! On December 23, 2021 Jorge proposed to Sophia! The three weeks flew by and then Sophia had to go back to the U.S. We waited and waited for our approval from USCIS. When we applied it was 6-9 months, and as we waited it increased to 16-18 months. We trusted in the Lord and His timing. We continued leaning on him in the waiting. On February 28th, 2023 we received our case approval! It got shipped to the National Visa Center and then was sent to the U.S. Embassy in Johannesburg, South Africa! We were able to schedule his medical exam and visa interview. It has flown by so fast. We are so excited and blessed to have all the support we have been given in the past three years! We want to thank everyone for the love and prayers in our distance! We can’t wait to be able to celebrate this long awaited day! Much Love ~ Muito Amor, J&S