Growing up in our local church, I saw Hanna almost every Sunday with her friends from the Siomai band, where my sister was also a part of. As a kid, I always tried to hide from my sister’s friends, including her. Fast forward to 2018, when she rejoined the music ministry. We became close through our fellowships and playing Uno cards, just hanging out with the group. But then, one Sunday, something changed. While she was singing “Only Your Love” during worship, everything around me seemed to slow down, and when I looked at her, she was shining like a star. That was the moment I realized I liked her.

The very next evening, I dreamt about us on a date together. From that point on, whether it was youth nights, youth camp, or Sunday service breaks, I always tried to be near her. I knew in my heart that I wanted to be with her, always. Even on her birthday, I gave her a pair of earphones as a gift, and I was so excited to give it to her, hoping she’d notice how much I cared.

But then came Valentine’s Day, and that’s when I experienced my first rejection from her. I tried again, and again, and again, four times in total. But oddly enough, with every rejection, my love for her even grew stronger. Each “no” felt like another chance to love her more deeply, to show her that I wasn’t going to give up.

As the months passed, I never grew tired of courting her. Every day, I was excited for another chance to express how much I loved her, and after a year of persistence, she finally said yes. That day was the best day of my life.

Now, after almost five years of being together, my love for her has only deepened. I’ve learned so much about her, and with every discovery, I fall in love with her even more. There’s never a dull moment in our relationship; even the simplest days become special when I’m with her. Through her, I get to experience God’s grace in my life—she’s a perfect picture of His love, full of joy and kindness. And every day, I’m reminded just how blessed I am to have her by my side.

Zoe and I both grew up in the same local church, but we never really became friends as kids. To me, he was just the brother of one of my Siomai girlfriends—just some kid I vaguely knew from church. Everything changed in 2018 when I rejoined the music ministry. Through group fellowships, endless rounds of Uno cards, and shared moments, we gradually became closer. Still, it never crossed my mind that he liked me, until he gave me a birthday present that year.

There was something about the way he called my name that day. I can’t quite explain it, but in that moment, when I turned to him, everything seemed to slow down and for the first time, I saw him differently. That’s when I realized that he likes me. I didn’t feel the same way, so I rejected his efforts, hoping he’d eventually move on.

But to my surprise, he never did. No matter how many times I pushed him away, he remained constant, patient, and unwavering in his pursuit. And with each rejection, God kept showing me why Zoe is the man He wants for me. In the quiet, unexpected moments, God revealed his heart, his kindness, his perseverance, and his unshakable faith.

Slowly but surely, I started to see him in a different light. It wasn’t just his persistence; it was the way he reflected God’s love in everything he did—in his patience, his actions, and his heart for others. And through it all, God was working on my heart too, gently showing me that the one I had been praying for was right in front of me all along,