Our UNLIKELY marriage proposal story!

Rehearsal Dinner

Our missionary friends - uncle Mark and Hyangsuk got married last Saturday.

Prior to that, they have arranged a special dinner with us friends & families who have helped in preparing for their big day. We love them both, so it's just automatic for us to help them out as much as we could. During their planning, I have helped them connect with wedding suppliers and caterings. Vandy on the other hand was task to do the prayer in the ceremony. And David, well just an added rowdiness and cuteness on the side haha! he helped in entertaining guests (especially children his age!) - in here, he has created a good bond with Hyangsuk's korean niece and nephew. Now I don't have any idea how our son was able to communicate with them since David doesn't speak in Korean language.

So last Thursday night after the rehearsals, we flocked together and enjoyed traditional Korean feast.

The food was amazing, and the fellowship bond was wonderful too. The crowd was intimate and glad we were able to meet new friends (two missionary men from India and a Korean missionary) sat with us on the table.

Love story in the Mission Field

Funny story, while indulging with food and stories. Paulo (filipino friend-Mark's bestman) asked me and Vandy how did we meet and how did Vandy propose marriage to me. Now that's interesting haha! we have not actually told our love story yet. I blushed and even said, "hey, this isn't our own wedding dinner"! haha.. as I felt being grilled! Vandy and I took turned to tell our own story. 

It's so unusually embarrassing to even begin haha..

Back in the day, I believe there wasn't even any associated term for us to even named as a couple.

We did start only as friends and coworker in the organization and church nothing more. In fact, we were not on each others' radar. I actually have my own "prayer quality list" of a husband to marry (and not in a hurry), and Vandy has already considering a person in mind to pray for marriage plus his parents was also starting to arrange marriage with a distant family friend (arrange marriage is part of Khmer culture). 

Never in my wildest dream to marry a Khmer pastor! 

Back then, there was also a contract at World Hope (mission organization we both working) pertaining to never entertain any forms of romantic relationship with locals while on mission contract. 

I definitely more than happy to oblige because it was clear to me that I will go back home to the Philippines after my mission journey (I already have other plans to pursue - other mission field in China or so). 

The Lord called Vandy to church plant in that southern part of Cambodia, he opened an English training center under the stilt house he was staying. Young people started to flock with him and expressed the desire to learn English. At that time, Vandy is the only local that would speak fluent English in that community. Soon, the number grew and became overwhelming to handle since he already started sharing the gospel, conducting bible studies and started a house church. He sought for help at the church mission team in Phnom Penh. He specifically requested for native speakers to come teach English. 

There were several mission teams from the USA who would come but only for short few days visit not really fulltime. That announcement lasted for more than a year and nobody has responded. 

So the mission was opened to Asia which is the Philippines! 

Pastor Joel our mission director and the Rafaels (Cambodia missionaries) shared the burden to me and consider coming to Cambodia and the rest is history.

August of 2007 was my first missionary journey in Cambodia. Vandy and I were introduced that we will be closely working together in Kratie. On that first meeting, Vandy wasn't that too welcoming and I already felt he is too reserve and strict. In fact, he didn't even talk much - we shook hands and he just left! (well only to find out years later that he was not expecting a Filipina would come since he didn't consider me as native English speaker ha! so bias..) 

whenever I get the opportunity to preach/share sermon in our church,
Vandy would translate for me

we were always opposite in many ways and Vandy likes to annoy me all the time!

Focus on God's work in Kratie 

In fairness with Vandy, the moment the team sent me to Kratie - we had a briefing and then when I observed that Vandy is really a serious type of person. He is quite but really a man of action. I was blown away on how God is using the English center to help the church. I was also introduced to another local Pastor Titus - who's the opposite. He is friendlier and more accommodating (we area alike in many ways). Obviously, we report to Vandy (he was our boss). Both of them were living in the parsonage while my rented stilt house was a block away.

The three of us eventually warmed up and developed a special bond - a dream team!

We worked for about for almost two years. And we had lots of stories to share in the mission field - funny, stinky, memorable youth fellowships, joined weddings together, church member challenges, malarias, life to death experiences, miracles name it we have it!

I have experienced lots of first, planted corns in the field (we helped out a poor family plough their land so they would have food to harvest), went to share the gospel on a deep forest on foot with us trio, sailed on a nearby island to pray & visit a family who were sick/dying. Rode on a big motto on a rainy-dark and dangerous Saturday nights for bible study!  

We treated each other as brothers and sister. Until Titus decided to move to Phnom Penh and pursue another task on translation. And soon, Vandy will also need to obey another calling to head back to the city and lead/teach in a Bible school. I was left alone in Kratie while waiting for my 2nd year mission contract ended.

"Will you stay in Cambodia and marry me?"

Yup - the cheezy part!?! I don't know but I didn't see it cheezy haha! 

Okay, hear me out. A few weeks before Vandy moved to lead a bible school in the city. We had a meeting perhaps endorsement for the new pastor (obviously, I will be the one to do endorse it since the new pastor hasn't arrive yet- for a time, I was the pastor for few weeks!).

I have no idea that Vandy would pop up that question:

Oh wait? what did just happen? did I just get a marriage proposal?? 

Pastor Vandy is always serious and would always mean what he says. 

Surprisingly! I did say yes...!?! what?? come again??

You know what I was thinking? It was clear to me that I said yes to God's calling - all for a partnership to do His work in the field. And I would not want to miss to be part of God's work. 

- I said yes for obedience and commitment 

- I said yes for partnership with Vandy in the mission field

- I said yes because I know God's mission is bigger than my own life mission

- I said yes when Vandy told me he was looking for a wife not a girlfriend (a clear favor from God). Proverbs 18:22 "He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD."

- I said yes when Vandy said he will arrange a call to my mom and the church board members back home and with the mission director. That peace really helped us a lot to proceed next. 

**surprisingly, all of these calls happened so quickly, and we got a blessing from all of them.

We were engaged for few months and flew together and did an intimate wedding ceremony at my home church. 

We praise God for that short engagement period. I was left in Kratie to finish my work while Vandy has to start leadership and teaching in the Bible school and the rest was history! 

our Mission team/family prepared a simple engagement program for us before we flew to the Philippines since all of them won't be able to join our wedding.

we do appreciate this simple gesture with the mission team and Khmer pastors to celebrate our engagement.. that even to this date - they were surprised we ended up together haha!

Rehearsal dinner for uncle Mark and Hyangsuk

** We are truly excited for uncle Mark and dear sister Hyangsuk! It's our prayer that your marriage will bring honor and pleasure to God. Your love story is unique and again a testimony of God's faithfulness and promise in your lives. May your marriage receive favor from the Lord and continue to be a blessing to all!