Knowing each other since the summer of 2019 when Khadija ran a life group that Angel joined. Angel had an eye for Khadija yet was not certain if she felt the same. In 2020 he wanted to date her yet ultimately felt as though it was not the right time and he was not ready. They’ve continued to have a good connection though they were no longer in each others lives. On October 30, 2022 Angel saw Khadija on stage at church doing baptism readings. There was a confident knowing and something different that came upon him and he said “that’s my wife.” He knew he would have to do something different this time if he wanted to pursue her and so he sought Godly counsel and covering. He then began to pursue to Khadija. First just being where she was, asking questions, then texting which eventual turned into phone calls that led to the ask out. Angel then got sick and Khadija questioned whether or not the Lord was asking her to make room for this. They went on their date and from there began to connect more on a deeper level. On November 29th Angel wrote Khadija a letter in which she knew the Lord had given Angel the words to speak to her heart in a way that would let her know God was in this. What we learned is that the pursuit matters and it must come from the man and he has to do it with God. And even then there is still work to be done individually and then together to build and grow. This is our story and the Lord is our author. Angel knows that this pursuit of Khadija never ends and truly only just begins on November 22,2024. Khadija knows that the pursuit is not just in the beginning and she has to continue to allow him to pursue and make room for them to continue to learn each other. Proverbs 18:22 - “He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.”

Just shy of one year together, on November 25th, 2023 Angel proposed to Khadija which moved us from just living in the pursuit and now going through the process of merging. All we can say is relationship is FUN and it is WORK! Especially when you are learning to do it with God in the middle and know you are headed towards marriage. At least this is what is true for us. Thank God for leaders who allowed us to ask questions and brought us into pre pre-marital sessions. There has been much pruning on this journey to the altar. Learning, growing, preparing, dying to ourselves daily. Adjusting to the dynamics of knowing when to step up, when to step back, when to ask for the support and counsel of others instead of going it alone. Through the pre-marriage process we’ve been able to discuss and find out even more about each other as individuals so that we can fully merge together. We are learning what it means to truly leave and cleave. We are learning that in merging you cannot just force everything to come together, instead you must take the time to intentionally figure out what can come and what has to go. Throughout all the busyness of life and the process of pre-marriage our love and commitment remains the same. We have helped each other grow. We have approached relationship with full humility, openness, transparency, and vision for where we are going. We believe we are not just establishing a kingdom marriage for ourselves yet it is one that will change things for Jacob's future, both our families and will be a light and an example to other kingdom couples. Genesis 2:24 - "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh."

God has spoken over and over through our covering, through other people and to both of us that he is in this union and that once we are married we will hit the ground running in our joint purpose. We believe we are built for this and time and time again we will choose each other and move as one. We have been tested, challenged, exposed and have gone through many battles. We've had both tough moments and great moments through dating and engagement. This is how we both are resolute in knowing that no matter what comes through we will overcome. We have a great love story and know that with God everything we were created and purposed to do individually and as one - It can be done. Isaiah 8:18 - "Behold, I and the children whom the Lord has given me are signs and portents in Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion."