Our friendship deepened and grew into a meaningful, long-distance courtship (over the phone mostly). I would occasionally find a chance to stop in Wamena midday while out flying and she would sometimes come to the hangar and bring a lunch. We would talk and I wished I could do that more frequently. I was able to do a few of my airplane inspections in our hangar there in Wamena – that allowed me to spend a few days in a row in lovely, cool Wamena (a nice break from the hangar heat in coastal Sentani) as well as visiting Beth (she’s a fanTAStic cook and homemaker) and getting to know her girls as well. As we wondered and prayed over our future, I prayed. A LOT!! My heart wanted to find a partner to do ministry with and I have always wanted to be a husband and a father, but was not sure where she would come from after all these years – so, my decision to just keep serving in Papua as best I could.
As we discussed our futures and more importantly, asked God to direct us, we saw Him “bending” our paths toward each other. I don’t know any better way to describe it, but HE did lead each of us through our questions, doubts, fears, hopes and give us direct and specific Blessing on our relationship.
So, to cut to the chase, I asked her to marry me one night in early May 2010 just before I was to return to the US for my furlough. She said “yes” – actually, she asked “does this mean we’re engaged now?” and so, technically, I said “yes”. She extended her term another 7 weeks to finish a house she was building (another story of God’s provision) in Wamena. When she came home in late July, I had already met her parents and some siblings in Manheim, PA and we were ready to plan the next step of our lives – specifically, a wedding!
