It has been a little over a year now since we first met in Dallas, TX, and what a wonderful year from the Lord it has been. I (Susan) was a bridesmaid for one of my best friends, Hanna. Also at the wedding was Hanna’s tall and handsome older brother visiting all the way from Florida (me, Joshua!)

We met and had a great conversation, finding out that we had both been to the same country in West Africa, Senegal. Susan had lived there while working with Mercy Ships. Joshua had visited while on a missions trip with his church in high school.

After the wedding, I (Susan) was still intrigued by this new handsome man I had just met. Hanna had told me that he was single, so I decided to send him a friend request.

I (Joshua) was already looking forward to Hanna getting back from her honeymoon, so I could ask her for her beautiful friend’s phone number. Boy was I excited when just a few days later I got an online notification on social media from Susan, asking to connect! We messaged back and forth that evening and throughout the week, and the rest is history!

We spent the next few months getting to know each other over the phone. Later that summer, Joshua came to Texas to take Susan out on their first date, dinner at a Mi Cocina restaurant. It was a really really really very very good date.

A few weeks later, Susan was road tripping with Joshua all the way back to Florida for a few more weeks of the summer to be spent together.

This past year has been full of phone calls, Texas visits, Florida visits, and an incredible community of friends from Florida and Texas coming alongside us as we have gotten to know each other.

The Lord has truly blessed our journey together. He has surrounded us with incredible family and friends that have supported, counseled and loved us so well. I (Joshua) am so so blessed that the Lord brought Susan into my life. God has filled her heart with a beautiful love for himself and a desire for His name to be worshiped in all the world, and a special compassion for people groups who have not yet heard the Gospel, the good news of Jesus. She is a constant encouragement to me to seek Christ more!

I (Susan) have seen even more of the Lord's faithfulness than I have ever known as he has allowed me to know Joshua. Joshua is incredibly thoughtful, compassionate and generous. The way that he seeks Christ daily and has a passion for the truth of the Gospel to be proclaimed is such an encouragement to me.

We are so thankful for the inheritance we have in Christ, and that he has allowed us to seek him together.

While we can't wait to celebrate with each of you at our wedding, we also continue to long for the day when Jesus returns and those that belong to Him can celebrate together at the great wedding supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9), one day coming soon!

In looking back over how the Lord has brought us together, and especially in how He has adopted us into His own family through the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, we can say along with David:

“The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;

you hold my lot.

The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.”

Psalm 16:5-6

J&S

Wedding Day

Reception