G: I first met Loise back in 2018 at a mentorship forum we attended together. Both of us had a similar area of interest and so were placed in the same track.

L: Yes… we were allocated the same mentor. That's where we first had a conversation. We have a photo for it!😁

G: Both of us were still in campus. After completing my studies, I joined an apprenticeship program, which worked to bring us together later on. As you shall see.

L: No direct conversation happenned between us after the mentorship forum.

G: The next time I met Loise was at a conference in 2019, where I had been stationed at the booksale desk.

L: I am always excited to meet people I know, and this was no exemption. We had a very engaging conversation about book reading. Hah! He encouraged me to read, after I'd shared my struggles with reading non-academic books. He at the end recommended a book, “Celebration of Discipline” by Richard J. Foster. (You got to read it)

G: After the conversation with Loise that day, I 'saw her.'

L: (Laughs) I really hadn’t seen the brother yet.

Well, in January 2020, I lost the book and later went back to request for the book from him. This helped us catch up.

G: I'd share updates on my progress and these updates were great conversation starters.

L: Fast forward to 2021, I started making door mats and Gideon got interested in buying one from me.

G: By this time I had taken an interest in Loise, but I needed to be sure that she was not seeing anyone before I made any moves. The idea that she would deliver the mat to me was an opportunity for me.

L: Due to some reasons that worked for our good (in hindsight), the plan to meet, deliver the mat and leave did not work. So Gideon offered to buy coffee and have us catch up.

G: I had pre-planned this.😎

L: We chatted about much over coffee, and at the tail end he asked me, “Unatuitia mchele lini?” What a subtle way to ask someone if they are single!😀

G: What was I to do? I needed to have that cleared up before the next course of action.😉

L: I was not exactly happy with his question for some reasons, btw, although I answered him, we didn’t talk again for quite some time. *** Mid 2021.

G: After learning Loise was not seeing anyone, I went to the drawing board and strategized. To be intentional to know her and grow our friendship.

L: We went on a number of dates, and Gideon had a way of making sure he asked for the next day before one ended.

G: A few dates later made the big ask.

L: This is toward the end of 2021, our friendship had grown exponentially. I'd say I saw the question coming – I knew my answer even before the question was asked, but I asked for some time to be sure. 😁

G: Ladies, word of advice, if you know the answer, just give it right there. The waiting journey was quite something. But I made sure we kept the friendship and communications ongoing.

L: Things were not weird though – Gideon had never verbalised his feelings for me, so even after the proposal, we were able to keep the friendship. After about a month, I was ready to give my answer.

G: It was her graduation day, and she had requested that we meet. I was not quite sure what to expect, but I had faith. I thought long and hard that morning and decided to pull my wildcard. I put my intentions in black and white, and for the first time I said the three magical words. Figure out what they are😎

L: Guys, guys! I was so excited and confused at the same time, I kept moving around the house as if with a goal yet without one altogether. I couldn’t wait for time to give my response, but I waited.

G: Loise and I have been courting for more than 32 months, and are still excited to do life together. With your support in prayers, service and finances, we can make this goal a beautiful reality by God's grace.

L: Yes, we are happy to have you share in our story, and to encourage a heart looking for love that there is love – and the greatest of it is the Love of God.

G: I don’t want to sound cheesy, but what I have learnt over time is that we are able to love others to the extent to which we accept the love of Christ. When we accept the love of Christ, He helps us to be gracious and loving to others.

L: That has been us – catch more in the titbits section.