Last year around this time, I was really discouraged about men. I had for so long desired to meet someone special that I could develop a friendship with that would develop into a lifelong romance. I had so many instances where I thought I met someone special who was genuinely interested in me and truly cared, but for one reason or another nothing would ever come of it. I look back at those situations and PRAISE the LORD, they didn't work out! God had someone much better for me, but someone I didn't even think would be right for me. I wanted nothing to do with guys in the military. I came to Okinawa thinking I would meet and marry a missionary, as I came out here to be a missionary teacher.
My Dad was in the Navy for 20 years and served the USA and took care of our family, but he was gone for 6-9 months at a time and it was really hard on me emotionally. I realized later in my years that I suffered from separation anxiety as a result, and would become extremely needy. This of course is not my dad's fault, it was how he supported our family and what he knew. However, I wasn't going to be like my mom, I wasn't going to be raising kids with Dad gone, I wasn't going to be longing and missing my husband, and praise the Lord at this stage I am not, as my husband is here with me, but low and behold my husband is a Marine I met at the Hansen Christian Center last year around this time and our introduction was a rather unique one. Allow me to explain.
My girlfriend and co-worker Colleen invited me to Hansen Christian Center Bible Study and I asked her what the crowd was like. She said, "Well, there are a lot of single marines". I thought, great, I want nothing to do with guys, not that they would want anything to do with me, but I was really hesitant to go.
My girlfriend Crystal said, "Johanna, you should go, what if you meet someone?" I told her I wouldn't. I was wrong.
The first night I went to HCC, I came in and everyone was so kind and welcoming. I was a bit shy and nervous around all these single guys, but they were gentleman and didn't make me feel uncomfortable. They treated me like a lady and a sister in the Lord, which put my mind and nerves at ease. Colleen and I went and grabbed dinner, as the custom for Friday nights is to have dinner and fellowship, before Worship and Bible Study. So we grabbed a plate of food and went to sit down at a table where there were a few gentleman there. Across from me to the left was Justin, Colleen's brother, then directly across was Brian Cross, hehe, and at the end of the table was Andrew. He was this very tall, red head, buff wearing a tight black shirt and jeans who was extremely talkative. He wouldn't be quiet... he just went on and on about music, Jars of Clay I recall specifically, and running and so many different interests he had within a couple minutes that I thought, wow this guy has a lot of energy. I sat there quietly eating my dinner and just listened.
Then Lisa Thompson, who graciously hosts HCC with her Hubby Mike who teaches and ministers to the guys at the Bible study, came over to our table and served Andrew a piece of Peanut Butter Chocolate Pie. Andrew took a bite of his pie, and was so excited about it, he turned to me and looked at me and said, "You HAVE to TRY THIS!"... I thought, "Uh... what?" Then he said, "Seriously, you need to have some of this, do you want me to get you a piece?" I said, "No, that's okay". He said, "Come on, just a little piece?" I said, "Okay, a little piece". So he got up and grabbed a piece for me. Then he came back to the table and served me and sat there staring at me waiting for my reaction.
I took a bite and he said, " Isn't it the best?" He said, "I can get you more, do you want more?!" I said, "No, that's okay, thank you". He said, "Okay well if you change your mind, let me know".
After that little exchange, he got up and started wandering around the place, helping to clean and what not and eventually was going to work on the slides for worship time. I went to find a place to sit, and all the seats were taken, so I went to sit on the floor. He came up to me and said, "What are you doing?" I said, "I'm sitting down, then he told me I wasn't going to sit on the floor. He helped me up and asked one of the guys to move from the couch. Then he said sit here, I he put his Bible down to save the seat next to me.
Throughout the night, he asked me lots of questions, like why was I on Okinawa, he asked where my husband was stationed, and I laughed. I said I wasn't married, he said but you have a ring on, I said I just wore it, and he said that was smart. LOL.... Anyway, we talked about how the Lord leads us to do things and to situations we never thought we would find ourselves in among other things and then at the end of the night, he got up and walked out the door.
I was bummed, thinking, "Great this guy talks to me all night and doesn't even say bye". Then a few minutes later he came back in and asked if I was on facebook, I said I was. So he said, let's be friends on there then. So I agreed. I wrote my name down for him and the next day I recieved an email and friend request. This was the beginning of a life changing journey for me.
This Sat, October 9th, is 1 year since Andrew and I met. It's a special time for me as I reflect on all the Lord has done. It's CRAZY to think we haven't even known each other a year and are married and next month will have our son Aidan.
I guess you can say we were drawn to each other like magnets and once we met, we didn't want to be separated. What's even crazier is we are both from California, yet we met here on Okinawa. Obviously, the Lord had a plan.
Andrew is my husband, best friend and father of our soon to be born son. As we continue learning about each other, we discover new reasons to be in love and are reminded why we wanted to be together. It hasn't all been rosy, we've had some really difficult situations, but God in His faithfulness and grace has seen us through.
I love you Andrew and I am so grateful that you offered me that piece of pie a year ago, you are a gift and an answered prayer. Thank you!
