God Wrote Our Love Story

DIVINE LOVE

“Vine, what is holding you back?”

“Fear…” she replied.

“Despite of that fear, are you willing to step out in faith and trust God for an exclusive relationship with me starting today?”

Silence broke in their midst. Nalds was patiently waiting for Divine’s response. His heart was pounding. Praying. Waiting. Divine was thinking deeply, wrestling with her thoughts, remembering what God has been revealing.

How did it all start?

N.G.S.B. No Girlfriend Since Birth. That’s me, Nalds. When I joined the volunteer staff program of CCC last 2001, things began to change. My heart longed for someone who will be my future mate. It was clear between God and I that I’ll marry a fellow staff. So, I began hoping…praying…and waiting. Then I heard a new staff will be assigned in Iloilo City. My curiosity grew especially when I heard her name: Divine. I wanted to discover more about her. And I continued hoping…praying…and waiting.

 Uncertainties and excitement filled my heart when I was assigned in Western Visayas, my first ministry assignment. My mind was focused on discovering the region and how I can start my personal ministry. Getting into an exclusive relationship was never a priority then.

                                                                                                             

August 10, 2002. I was busy in helping prepare for our church anniversary. That day, Divine arrived in Iloilo City. I was excited to meet her but I can’t leave because I had to finish my task in the church. The following day, Divine, together with my teammates, was one of our guests at the church. That was my first meeting and interaction with her. I found her simple, humble, beautiful and challenging to get to know.

Meeting with Nalds was just the same as meeting other new guy friends. During the first week, I and my roommates kept receiving text messages from him. But as the days passed, I found out that he was no longer sending messages to my roommates yet I still received daily messages from him. Hmmm, something is “fishy”!

Several days passed by and my interest to get to know her more grew deeper. There was a time wherein I set an appointment with her to discuss matters about our Leadership Training Conference (LTC) with the motive in my heart to really spend time getting to know her. We met and discussed things for about 4 hours. I felt fulfilled!

I said yes when he asked for an appointment to talk about our LTC with the thought that it was just a business meeting.  My roommates were aware of it. I was a little bit impressed with his ideas of how we can work well to help the training. Along with our discussion, he started to ask questions about my family, why I joined staff, etc. He also started sharing about his life. Our conversation turned out to be a personal one. 

That meeting gave me some glimpses of who Divine was. I kept on replaying in my mind what took place in our meeting. Every week, I was excited to see her on our staff meetings. I also took time keeping in touch through text messages. My desire to know her more even grew stronger. Were these feelings mere admiration? True love? Whatever it was, I didn’t give it much thought.

After a few weeks, I was shocked when he said that he loves me. “Who are you to say that? You don’t know me. I don’t think it is love because it is not grounded in knowledge and careful evaluation.” My ideals of love were shattered! I was mad because I doubted his feelings and I felt he was not careful.

Divine was backed off from me. I felt guilty about what I did and I apologized the following day. When she released forgiveness, I was relieved and so blessed. That event drove me to admire her more. I was then looking for ways to befriend her. There were so many times too that I was so down and paranoid in relating with her. Some CCC staff, family members and churchmates were instrumental to pray for and comfort me. On May 16, 2004, I went to Manila for the nine-month training with CCC’s Great Commission Training Center (GCTC) as full-time staff. It was difficult for me because that meant I couldn’t see Divine regularly. But when I went back to God, poured out my heart and sought for direction, His word encouraged me to take heart, persevere and delight in Him. So I persevered. Despite distance, I regularly called her by phone at least once a week. Our conversation became meaningful as months and days went by. On September 20, 2005, I proposed for an exclusive relationship and marriage within two years. Despite negative thoughts from others, I resolved with myself that I’ll keep on pursuing her no matter what it took. I was tested, indeed.

I was not comfortable to interact with him but I resolved to treat him as my brother in the Lord. Sometimes, I didn’t know how to deal with him. At times, I was intimidated at him. But the moment he would ask to talk with me over the phone, I had no reason to turn down his offer. The more I knew him, the more that I appreciated and enjoyed him as a unique person. I admired his consistency and his passion for God. When he proposed his intention for an exclusive relationship with me and for marriage within two years, I asked him for a month of silence in our communication.

While waiting upon God and being silent in our communication, in my quiet times in John 15, God so impressed in my heart to keep on pursuing her and to abide in Him. And surely He will grant whatever I asked from Him. So after that one month, I immediately called her.

I told Nalds that I needed a year to seriously seek God and pray about it because I didn’t want to miss God’s best for me. I started seeking counsel from my parents and some CCC friends and church mates who committed to pray for us. Sometime in January 2005 my heart began to soften towards Nalds because, as I recaledl what I prayed in the past regarding the man I liked, almost all the qualities were in him. But I did not entertain the thought.

After my graduation in the GCTC, I went to Iloilo City. On April 25, 2005, I asked Divine for a date.

I agreed to meet with him on the 26^th of April, having in mind that I’ll give him my answer next yea r - be it yes or no. 

That’s how it all started.

After almost 30 minutes of waiting for her response to his proposal, Nalds again asked, “Vine, Despite of that fear, are you willing to step out in faith and trust God for an exclusive relationship with me starting today?”

But still, Divine was engaging with her thoughts so deeply. Then they moved out of the restaurant since it only operated from 9am -3 pm. Nalds was so determined in pursuing her and he didn’t want to let this opportunity pass without winning her heart. Even along the road, he continued asking for her response. Then out of the blue, Divine uttered a condition that he’ll know the response if a green jeep would pass by.

“Vine, that’s impossible! There’s no green jeep that passes by this road. But because you say so, I’ll trust God for this.”

Then he prayed, “Lord, green jeep please…”

After a few minutes, a green-head-colored jeep passed by, but it was not the one she is expecting. He waited again and hoped. There was a green truck that passed by, but, it was not the one she was expecting! Nalds kept praying, expecting from the Lord. After about 5 more minutes, right before their very eyes…a full-green -colored jeep passed by! Nalds’ heart was beating so fast, excited to hear from Divine! It was truly a Divine Providence!

Thinking that she had no other reason to say no to Nalds, by faith she uttered, “Yes, I trust God for an exclusive relationship with you, Nalds, starting today.”

And he replied, “Yes! Amen!”

Such a love story authored by God will be blessed on the 31^st of March, 2007.