"Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God." Ruth 1:16

Katelyn

“You are worthy of a great love story.”

This was a kind and loving reminder of hope the Lord whispered to my heart a year ago.

On January 1 2023, I woke up with an increase of faith. I noticeably felt it within; a greater faith for a love that I had not yet known for another. A greater increase of faith that God was weaving together a story, just for me. A greater increase of faith that without a doubt, I would be married by the end of the year. It was a strong knowing that this season in Texas was all preparation. I was excited and moved forward in that faith.

Prior to moving to Texas, I received a prophetic word from someone that my future spouse would be confirmed to me by two witnesses. That there would be a confirmation in my spirit, and that he and I would know without hesitation and confusion, just a clarity and peace. This man praying over me had no idea I was making plans to move to Texas, but He spoke to me and said, “There’s a sojourner spirit about you, similar to Ruth, and there’s a new land being prepared for you.”

Little did he know, for the past 2 years, God spoke to me often through the character of Ruth and often highlighted her to me.

I didn’t know why until He put Texas in my heart. **In fact, after first moving to Texas I was at an evangelism outreach and a pregnant woman walked up to me and asked if I would pray for her baby. After she asked, I knew God specifically wanted me to pray for the child. When I asked what she’ll name her baby, she replied Ruth.**

So God called me to move to Texas and to stay with Cyndi, a lady from the church I grew up in. She had moved to TX from OH 7 years prior. For the past year, I’ve been living with her and it’s been a beautiful time of growth in the Lord! What a special season for us both that God had in mind. Never would I have dreamed this for myself when God first led me out of Bowling Green.

Back to the prophetic word - I tucked it away in my heart and knew that the defining thing about the man God had for me is that there would be no hesitation. In past relationships, all I had known was hesitation and confusion. This would be and feel noticeably different.

It’s April 1st, 2023, and I remember talking to the Lord and telling Him how strongly I felt I was to meet the man He had for me this year. That I believed I was to get married and wondering “OK, it’s April! Where is he?”

Again He responded with - “You are worthy of a great love story.”

I continued to feel that strong witness in my spirit for marriage that didn’t leave. My heart recognized His voice; my head wanted to doubt. I had to choose to not doubt, but lean into His promise.

A couple weeks into April, Cyndi mentioned there would be a missionary couple staying with us from Singapore. That a friend of a friend of a friend, connected them to Cyndi.

In walks Joshua and Esther Lam!

We opened the door to greet them their first night and recognized right away the joy of the Lord in them! I remember them sitting on the couch in the living room with Cyndi, and I was doing the dishes in the kitchen when (somewhat abruptly) Esther asks, “Katelyn, are you single?” After I answered yes, she then asks, “What are you looking for in a husband?”

I listed some qualities.

She turns to Josh with a big smile and they begin to whisper. Cyndi and I exchange looks, wondering what they’re up to.

Both looking at me, “We have someone for you.”

I stare.

“Y’all are thinking of the same person?”

“Yes,” Esther said with full confidence.

In that moment, I felt the weight of the Holy Spirit on me. The word the man first spoke over me a year ago came back to me in a moment and I felt a confirmation in my spirit full of peace that the man they confirmed was someone special.

“Well, what’s his name? And where does he live??”

“Columbus, OH.”

“I’m from Ohio.”

“Yes, we noticed your northern accent.”

“Wait - are you suggesting him just because I’m from Ohio?”

“No, it was a prophetic impression when I first saw you,” nodding their heads in agreement and strongly encouraging me to meet him.

I mentioned how I was traveling to Ohio next weekend for my cousin’s bridal shower and that if Brett felt confirmation from the Lord, he could reach out. I knew I was to have my hands off the wheel. Esther was eager to show me a picture of Brett, but I said I didn’t want to see but she could show Cyndi.

With Cyndi looking at the photo, I said, “Describe him in one word.”

“Hallmark.”

Ha! I smiled to myself.

Looking back on our story, I’m in awe of the way Jesus loves His children. He loves to surprise us. He is a creative and fun God who is very much active and present in our lives, if we allow Him to be. Those who know this side of the Lord are those who lean into faith and wonder, and step out of religion. When the man at church first told me to pay attention to the “two witnesses,” I assumed it would be two close friends, my siblings, or a couple who knows me well! I never would have imagined it to be two strangers - missionaries from Singapore who Cyndi and I just happen to host.

Now onto Brett’s story. 🙂

Brett

For the past 12 years, I have been pursuing Jesus. I’ve been serving with several different organizations and have been a part of many different mission/ministry trips. Needless to say, I needed a wife who had the same heart. I had only been on two dates in the past twelve years; my third date being Katelyn.

A couple years ago, I was at a Christian conference when I started to think about my future wife. I was asking the Lord many questions. “Who was she? How will this work out?”

During worship, one of the missionaries came up to me and gave me a prophetic word right as I was asking the Lord about this very thing.

He said, ‘“The Lord wants you to know to not worry about the wife - there isn’t going to be any of “is this the one, is this not the one” and guessing games. You will say “this is the one, I’m going to marry this girl.” There will be no doubt about it.”’

He also mentioned, “I don’t know if it will be in two months or two years, but it wouldn’t be good for you to be married right now in this season because of how busy you are.” At that time I was building an apartment. I received that word on October 23, 2021. It was an on time word and I felt the weight of the Lord on it. It just so happens that our Wedding day is almost 2 years to the date of that word - 10/22/23.

In 2018, I met Joshua Lam in Singapore.

I was there for a month and we hung out often doing life and different ministry activities.

Fast forward to this year in April, Josh calls me up and says, “I have someone I want you to meet.”

I wasn’t interested because over the years well meaning christian friends and family have tried connecting me with different women, and I’ve never felt a peace and confirmation from the Lord about it.

Immediately I told Josh, “Thanks, but these kinds of sets up have never worked out for me. God will have to bring about the right one.”

Josh said, “Ok buddy, well pray about it. We have hung out with her over the past week and we see no red flags. I think your personalities would really compliment each other well.”

When I prayed about it, I didn’t feel a check in my Spirit. I only felt peace. Which was surprising to me because after praying about several other dating situations, I had never felt that before.

So I asked Josh for her Facebook page. After looking it over and reading her blog, I thought “wow she seems great.” I reached out to her then over Facebook.

I was interested in what I saw, but I had to meet her and see if our personalities and callings lined up. It just so happens she was coming to Bowling Green, Ohio that upcoming weekend for her cousin Bethany’s bridal shower. Bowling Green was 2.5 hours away and seemed like a long shot, but I reached out to see if we could meet up and grab some lunch.

So we met up. Everything went well. She was very sweet, kind, funny, and good with children.

We ended up hanging out all day and I actually got to meet her family that first day.

I drove up again to Bowling Green on Sunday morning to spend more time with her and her family. We had a great time and I still wanted to get to know her more.

She was flying back home to Texas that Monday. It just so happened I didn’t have work that week. Katelyn was in between jobs at that time so she had the week off as well. I was able to fly down and hang out with her everyday that week.

It was then where we talked about our callings, danced in thrift giant, explored ikea, went hiking at Prayer Mountain, ate some good tex mex and bbq, talked about our passions and different words that were spoken over our lives and really talked about what life would look like if we were to marry one day.

Everything just went together smoothly. We found ourselves jinxing each other a lot in conversation. The whole thing felt easy and effortless and the days flew by.  

At the end of that week, we knew we had something special that the Lord brought together.

And the rest is history! :)

**I (Katelyn) will be moving back to Ohio where we'll be living in Columbus! Texas will forever hold a special place in my heart and I know we'll visit often as we truly love the people there. I'll continue to work as a writer for Human Coalition, working fully remote! Brett has his business and ministry; together we plan on traveling and sharing the love of Jesus wherever we go!