The Story of Sky and John-Michael…
Sky and I actually met in August, 2004 at Virginia Tech and became good friends during my last year there (her first year). For over six years we remained friends and would enjoy spending time together, but never did either of us ever think of anything beyond friendship. It was like God covered both of our eyes from seeing each other in that way. That is, until the last day of November last year. Sky had moved to Korea just a couple months earlier and I was really enjoying seeing her more. And then, for the first time, I considered seeing her as someone I would like to date. That thought brought me both a lot of excitement and joy, but also a lot of fear and concern. We had such a great platonic friendship for so long and I didn’t want to ruin it. I also could have never seen Sky with a non-Korean and I also knew she is super blessed by people who are musically talented, which I currently am not (used to play piano, but not for over 10 years now).
Following the advice of my pastor, I waited and prayed for a month. God did some crucial things for Sky during this time and looking back I can see how he was readying her for dating. In mid-January I finally asked her for a date and gave her some time to respond. She told me later that when I asked her for the date she was shocked and immediately in her mind thought, “No, it’s not going to work.” But in her heart she felt, “Yes.” By just the next day she felt peace through and through about it. Her heart won over her mind. So she accepted the date. And soon after that, we were in a relationship.
I hadn’t dated for over 10 years, so when I told my parents I was interested in someone they were very excited. And they weren’t surprised at all when I said I was interested in Sky. They had met her a few times over the years back in Virginia. While they don’t know her too well, they both were really impressed by her and could tell she was someone special. A few weeks into our relationship we Skyped together with my parents. My dad has apparently not stopped grinning for a while thinking about us.
A few weeks into our relationship we also Skyped with her dad and her younger brother. He was really excited about us. Sky’s dad had a tough past but has recently found the Lord through her and is so happy. He said to me, “You helped lead my daughter to Christ. She has then led me and my son to the Lord. I am eternally grateful to you. I thank you. I trust you. I love you. I bless you.” Whew!!! That was my first time talking with him! Interestingly, he later shared with me that before Sky and I dated he had a dream of a tall, handsome man in pastor clothes but he wasn’t necessarily a pastor of a church. When her dad found out about me, he knew I was that man in the dream. So he knew from the beginning, without telling us, that we were meant to be. God is too cool.
The past few weeks I’ve gotten to know her mom who is visiting here in Korea. I spent some extended time with her and at one point was able to talk with her alone about my relationship with Sky. Speaking solely in Korean, I thanked her for her love for Sky and how she cared for Sky growing up and then I expressed my feelings for Sky to her and asked for her blessing. She brought up a number of concerns, but as we talked I could tell she felt peace and at the end she said in Korean, “I bless you” referring to me marrying Sky. She told me that when she first saw me over six years ago when I picked up Sky to drive her to Virginia Tech with friends that she had a really, really good impression of me. Without us even talking then, she told me she could tell I was really good person. God is amazing. It was the same for her with me as it was for my parents with Sky.
Personally, I am so thankful for the years we have had as friends leading up to our relationship. I can honestly say I feel more comfortable with her than anyone else. We have so much joy together. I’m amazed at how God has answered so many prayers.
For a long time I was so focused on ministry and North Korea that I blocked out the thought of dating anyone. Then, for the last few years, I was focused only on finding someone with a clear vision for North Korea. But God, through so many different people and different ways, kept convicting me that I am not to marry for ministry but I am to marry for love. I feel over the long years of single life God was preserving me and preparing me. I’m so thankful for His timing and His blessing. Sky and I are truly a perfect fit for each other.
Sky and JM, posing a while after I had proposed
Outside the gazebo where I had surprised her. We went up the mountain for a picnic and the gazebo was empty. While we were having our picnic some of my friends decorated the gazebo and set up the chair with a letter on it for Sky. She didn’t see the gazebo until we were right in front of it and she was shocked. As she read the letter I took the ring from one of the rafters and then proposed when she was done reading (with the P.S. reading, “Please stand up.”). We have it all on video (I had a hidden camera set up nearby), but I’m not sure how it came out yet and don’t plan to post that for a while. Sky was crying a lot. 
Sky and JM
With her mom, who gave me my shirt and shoes as a gift
Walking in a park together
Goofy shots while on a short vacation with her mom and her aunt
Height advantage
Propose?
Goofy goofy
Flowers!
At her cousin’s wedding
Sky brings out the rock star in me that I never knew I had…
God is good!!! =D
