Every love story has two different versions. Our love story is no exception. Marie and I were both born in 1981. She was born in Queens New York and I was born in a private doctor’s office in Washington. Our lives began more than three thousand miles apart. Both of us have had our own share of trials in life. The beautiful thing is that our trials led both of us to God. It only took 43 years but eventually God led us to each other.

When Marie first came into my life, she was not romantically interested in me, instead it was a curiosity for the SDA culture and the word of God. As she got to know me, her respect and admiration grew. This led her to care and develop a friendship with me. Our friendship provided safety and comfort, like family does. Eventually, I shared an interest and she realized that the feeling of comfort and safety is what true love really feels like. We had become best friends. A friend she is willing and wanting to spend forever with . With God leading us, she has expressed a desire to work with me, to be lead with laughter, tears, joy and challenges. She realized I’m strong yet kind enough to handle her stubborn ways (her own words lol) and is ready to accept God's blessing and join me in the adventure of #goingFarr :)

The first time I prayed for my future wife I was only twelve. It only took 31 years for God to lead me to Marie. Marie and her daughter traveled to Pendleton Oregon to visit her parents and grandparents. I had recently graduated from the seminary at Andrews University and then I became the district Pastor for Pendleton and Pilot Rock. Marie's daughter Nathalia got involved with Pathfinders and it led to her making a decision for Bible studies to prepare for baptism. It wasn't long before Marie also decided to study for baptism. I got to baptize both of them December 23rd of 2023. At the time I was not romantically interested in Marie. Not long after the baptism they went back to Florida. Nathalia began telling her mother that she liked it better in Pendleton. God also began working on Marie's heart. She started taking steps of faith and decided to move to Pendleton. She took her new found faith very seriously and got involved in ministry at the church. This gave our friendship a chance to grow. I began to admire and respect Marie as I watched her living her journey of faith with great zeal and integrity. It didn't take long before I started to develop feelings for her. I started praying for God to make His will for our friendship clear. We became best friends in a short period of time and I finally worked up the courage to ask her to date me. September 23rd of 2024, I asked her to be my girlfriend, twenty-three must be a special number. Then on December 31, 2024 I asked her to marry me.

Marie told me early on that she now chooses to live by the motto "if it's not from God, I don't want it and if it’s not for God, I won't do it." She chose the #goingfarr because she is excited not only to change her last name to Farr but she is also excited to go with me on the journey of life together with God. We want to go wherever he leads us.

Her and I both walked broken roads but those roads led us both to God and to each other. We believe that together with God we will go a lot farrther then we ever could separately.

Thank you to all of you who have prayed for my wife. You didn't know it until now but you were praying for Marie. Join us in celebrating our love. A love that only God could make possible through prayer. Amen