Katie and I always knew of each other, but we never really got to know each other. It wasn't until I commenced my Grad. program at Corban that allowed me to have more classes and interactions with her that started a spark of interest. Katie volunteers at a Refugee Church here in Salem which is called the Arina House, and last Fall they needed more male volunteers. Due to that fact, she and the other female volunteers went on a quest to find males who would be interested in serving there. (God clearly had a bigger plan for Katie to find this man haha). I can vividly remember Katie and her friend Kinley asking if I would be interested in serving. My first response was, "That sounds amazing, I would love to help but I don't think I can commit to that right now." They didn't give up on one try. Katie was persistent in a gentle way but I wasn't convinced I was needed to serve until I went to Chapel the following week at Corban where the Head of the Refugee Church spoke and God used him to convict me to check it out the following Sunday. I carpooled with Katie, Kinley and Shannon that Sunday, and it was a blast. It reminded me of home. The kids, young adults, parents and leaders are awesome to serve and serve with. It is a wonderful place we love. Lastly, seeing her heart for God and how genuinely she serves and loves the kids who were afraid, still traumatized and adapting to this new country and way of life; it made me think that she would be a great wife one day. After more carpooling, hanging out to do homework, and getting to know each other better, my heart began to have a romantic attraction for her. I did not want to give in at all because I didn't want to be distracted. Obviously, God had a different plan. After talking with mentors, praying and getting to know her family, God confirmed to me in many ways that she is worth the risk. With His wisdom, guidance and help, Katie and I, now as a team, can continue to make a difference in the world for Jesus Christ.

I vividly remember the first interaction I had with Travez Whyte (sort of). I was a freshman at Corban and one of my friends was ranting to me about this Jamaican guy who made fun of her for moving into the all girl dorm on campus. From that moment, I dismissed him in my mind as a stuck up athlete who I wasn't ever going to be friends with. For the next two years we had many random interactions: a group lunch at a family's house after church, asking my friend and I if we are sisters (even though we look nothing alike), classes where he always managed to come in five minutes after the professor had already started talking, and even a group project together. Little did I know that God was working in Travez's life during this time. Fast forward: it was my senior year of college and I was looking for people to volunteer at a refugee prayer meeting where I had recently started to volunteer. Travez came to mind, among others, and I decided to ask him. After serving together and spending time together, I learned enough about Travez to know that he was a man who intentionally sought after God, and was kind and caring towards others. I also realized that he was cute. But, it still hadn't entered my mind that we would even be anything more than friends. Then one day in November, he randomly knocked on my door, sat on my couch, and asked if we were going to watch the movie that I had just turned on. I was shocked since the night before I had just blushingly told all my roommates, one of whom was the friend mentioned above, that I thought I was starting to have feelings for him. Not long after, he came up to visit my family during winter break, and we started dating January 1st. On July 19th, Travez gave me the biggest surprise of my life in a photo booth. I am so thankful and feel so blessed to be marrying this man. He is a kind, patient, and steadfast man of God. I am truly excited to see how God works through and continues to grow us as we serve Him.