The following post is the second installment in a series of articles we are publishing about how God brought us together as a couple. If you haven’t already done so, be sure to read Part 1 first.

On March 18, 2001, I left the United States bound for L’viv, Ukraine, and the beginning of my work as a full-time missionary overseas. I was 21. At the time, marriage was not even on the radar for me. I had already purposed that I would first establish my work on the field – especially mastery of the language – before I even considered taking a wife. Within a year of my arrival on the field, I was preaching in Ukrainian, and ministering regularly with a local church in L’viv. While I was content to serve the Lord in singleness during that time, my days often seemed quite lonely. Having grown up in a large family, I was unaccustomed to being alone in a quiet apartment with no one to talk to. I did have a roommate, but it wasn’t the same. I was beginning to feel a bit like Adam in the garden of Eden: my job was established, my needs were provided, but only half of me was there to enjoy it.

Children's ministry in Ukraine

From time to time, I would correspond with my mom, who has always been my number one liaison in the States. “Well, Mom,” I would write, “seen any possibilities lately? Any girls that are looking to marry a missionary?” Not really. Or at least, not that we knew of. Besides, even if I did know of someone who fit the criteria, how was I supposed to meet her? I couldn’t very well just come off the field for a year to go “girl-hunting.”

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