March 8, 2025 – Oh To Be Young and In Love; The Beginning of Our Love Story

    It's been a few days since my return from the Philippines; since my journey to finally meet my one true love, Johanna Nancy F. Binuya. The trip was a surreal dream, a culture shock, and a dream come true. It is hard to believe that in a few short hours, you can be on the opposite side of the planet. Even harder to believe, that after ten long years, my long-distance penpal and I were finally united. Everything was like a dream, besides the bustling city traffic and the poverty of the Philippines. The trip turned out perfectly, orchestrated by God every step of the way. I got to see a glimpse of the day in the life of Johanna and her family in the city of Taguig. Johanna and her family treated me like royalty, with the utmost respect and love. A huge thank you goes out to Mr. Joe, Mrs. Cora, Jayson, Jonathan, Marvin, Angel and Ferds, and Johanna. Y'all made my stay so sweet and pleasant. I had the greatest joy I've had in my lifetime. Mr. Joe, thank you for all the knowledge and wisdom you shared in our conversations. Thank you for blessing me to ask for Johanna's hand in marriage. Thank you for trusting me with your one and only daughter, and I will strive my best to never let you or her down. Mrs. Cora, thank you for your tireless duty to serve me and your family the best Filipino meals during my sojourn in the Philippines. Every morning and every evening we had a most wonderful, filling, Filipino feast. I enjoyed all the dishes you prepared from the Filipino spaghetti and pancit to the lumpia and topsilog; from all the different kinds of soup to the beef stews and delectable desserts. You certainly know how to win a man's heart...through his stomach. Another thank you goes out to Jayson. Without complaint, Jayson gladly picked me up every morning and returned me every evening to the Grace Residence condo. By your aid and help with transportation, you really made my time more enjoyable and productive while visiting your sister in the Philippines. Thank you, Jayson! Thank you to Jonathan, for welcoming me into your home. I know having a stranger in your home for three weeks is quite, well, for lack of a better word, strange. Thank you for making me feel like family. Thank you Marvin for picking me up from the airport and being our personal transportation at the beginning of my sojourn in the Philippines. It was a pleasure meeting you, and I can't thank you enough Marvin. Another gigantic thank you goes out to Angel and Ferds. It was a pleasure to serve beside y'all at the San Lorenzo food giveaway and to get to know y'all better during my journey to Lipa, Batangas. Thank you for allowing Johanna and I to stay in one of your transient homes during our sojourn to Lipa, Batangas. We had an absolutely joyful time together, and you saved us quite a large sum of money by letting us stay in your transient home free of charge. May God bless you guys more and more, as Jesus continues to lead, guide, and direct your path in this short passing life. Finally, an immense thank you goes out to my fiance, Johanna! Thank you for your love Johanna. Thank you for planning the trip from the most minute of details to the large excursions. Thank you for accommodating my visit by taking days off work, and by going out of your way to spend quality time with me. You made me feel welcome, even though you lacked sleep, and you still carried out your duties of work throughout the night. God bless you more and more Johanna. I love you, and I can't wait to continue our adventure together as husband and wife.

    Indeed, Lord willing, this journey is simply the beginning of our love story Johanna. There is so much more adventure on the horizon of our life. Oh to be young and to be in love! There is nothing greater, other than salvation from Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Let us continue to pray to God to help us navigate the K1 Visa process. May God bless our marriage, and may we enjoy our bicycle journey in New Zealand and our honeymoon in Japan or in the Philippines...whichever you choose. May we always seek God's will for our life. Besides all the upcoming adventures that our marriage will bring, I simply look forward to being a team for Jesus Christ with you. I know God has great plans for our life. Plans with a hope and a future. Plans to start a family and to live life to the fullest with our family. May God always be at the center of our relationship. May God lead us to victory in Jesus. May we love one another from now until the end of our time on this earth. I love you maganda Johanna. True love is indeed, maganda.