Girl Marries Boy Who Sent Shoebox Gift Over a Decade Ago
“Love finds a way.”
The samaritanspurse.org posted a story on how romance bloomed between two people who were 7,000 miles apart and after 14 years since their chance encounter from far sides of the world.
(Photo credit: samaritanspurse.org)
She was eight and he was seven.
In 2000, Joana received a gift in a shoebox at a Vacation Bible School graduation ceremony in Quezon City from Tyrel in Idaho. Little did these two kids know that it was the spark that ignited the beginning of love.
Fast-forward to 14 years later, the two got married last October 5 on a cattle ranch in Idaho.
(Photo credit: samaritanspurse.org)
What happened seem like a fairy tale being told but it was just coincidences and things falling into the right places.
When Joana received the gift 14 years ago, it was more than just a collection of fun things but a means to hear the presentation of the Gospel and accept Jesus Christ as her Savior. After a while, his father also accepted God in his heart and became a pastor. The gift also came with a photo of a blonde-haired boy on cowboy attire and mountains in the background along with a name and address. To express her gratitude, Joana wrote a letter to Tyrel.
Unfortunately, the letter never reached him.
In 2011, Joana saw Facebook as a channel to try to reach her generous gift giver from 2000. With many “Tyrel Wolfe” that showed up on her search, she decided to send a friend request from the one from Idaho. She thought since Idaho had mountains, that might be the blond-haired boy on the photo.
On the other end of the Facebook request, Tyrel was intrigued but accepted it anyway.
It was the start of a beautiful friendship.
After all the correspondences and getting to know each other online, Tyrel flew to Manila in 2013. He spent 10 days with Joana’s family, asking her dad if he can take Joana on a date. He then went back to Idaho determined to go back to the Philippines soon.
During the holiday season of last year, Tyrel went back to Manila and spent a month with Joana and her family. This is when he popped the big question, not to Joana, but to her dad. He did it speaking in Filipino.
Joana’s dad approved.
Joana and Tyrel began processing papers to get her a fiance visa. In September 2014, Joana flew to Idaho and begin a new life with Tyrel.
Now married, Joana and Tyrel are looking forward to their first Christmas together as husband and wife. They began a tradition of packing shoebox gifts, the spark that started their journey to love, for the Operation Christmas Child.
(Photo credit: samaritanspurse.org)
“And when we start having children, we want to involve them in packing boxes too,” said a smiling Tyrel as he held his wife’s hand. “I remember as a little boy, I was so excited to know the toys and other items I put in the box would bring joy to another child somewhere else in the world.
“I just didn’t know the joy it would bring back to me one day.”
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Girl Marries Boy Who Sent Shoebox Gift Over a Decade Ago
