This year I’ve had two big proposals, both prompting a mighty big yes, and a lot of unknowns. Just one month after I agreed to serving a summer mission in Haiti, Ian asked me to be his bride, which of course I happily said yes to as well. My yes to him, stirred a yes from him to join me in Haiti…so here we are. Engaged and sent… on mission!
Many have called us crazy for agreeing to a summer of hot and humid weather, cold showers, questionable water, bug nets over our beds, unknown adventures/challenges, and a slew of other things. But most of all, we have been asked a million times, “What are you going to do about the wedding in November!?” This has been my favorite question, because it allows me the opportunity to share mine and Ian’s heart on what we’re preparing for: a marriage, not a wedding!
A wedding lasts one day, and a marriage lasts a life time. Sure the cake needs to be ordered, a DJ hired, dresses found, and invitations sent out…but the most important thing is to work on our relationship so that we enter a lasting marriage. What better way to prepare for marriage—a lifetime of being selfless, serving one another and being challenge and uncomfortable—than to spend 3 months in a foreign country, leaving all comfort and predictability behind?
Since the moment we said yes to this mission, we have gone through many ups and downs. From trying to fundraise the money to be sent, to airline tickets, packing, getting finances and bills in order to leave for a long duration, joining bank accounts, sending out save the dates for our wedding, finding my wedding dress, spending time with family and friends before leaving, and a ton of other things that inflicted stress and anxiety, we have learned that we can get through anything together as long as we keep Christ as the center. This truth has only been more evident upon our arrival here in Haiti.
We have been tested in our relationship by the hot weather (that makes anyone cranky), the long days and nights, the bumpy and long drives around the country, the lack of sleep, the same food every day, the cold showers, the giant tarantulas and packs of mosquitos. We have been challenged to make time for one another in the midst of community living, on a base, where there is no place you are truly alone. We have been challenged to find ways to communicate in private without privacy, and even more in being kind to one another when we are hot, humid, and frustrated with a task. But the answer has been the same through each test. God wins. Not just his love of each of us individually wins out, but his love of us and his blessing of us as a couple preparing to enter the Sacrament of marriage wins. Beyond the challenges, I am in awe of the incredible blessings.
Seeing Ian give a talk to the Haitian teen boys about being men of God, or the way he lights up when he is serving others, or working on building a roof/a wall—whatever—has blessed my heart and made me fall more in love with him. Watching him be selfless when I was sick and uncomfortable in another country, bringing me food because I was too weak to get it myself reminded me of the vows we will make to one another in November. Yes, we are here serving the people of Haiti, sharing Christ with them, but I can see that God needed us here to help us prepare for marriage.
We have had Haitians, and visiting Americans, share their joy with us that an engaged couple is serving on mission together, and while we are flattered, we are also truly humbled. As an engaged couple, who is sent on mission, we have been entrusted with a lot and so much is expected of us here. Please keep praying for us as we strive daily to grow in holiness and set an example for those we encounter. Pray that our relationship continues to withstand the challenges we come across and that we can inspire others in Haiti (where there is a VERY low rate of marriage) to commit not just to Christ, but to one another, keeping Christ at the center in family life.
Be assured of our prayers for you too! And, keep your eyes open for weekly updates and glory stories from the mission.
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