Big Day

As many of you have heard... by the glorious grace of God, Hannah Rayes agreed to marry me! It is a privilege just to know her- as I'm continuing to learn more and more as I get to know her and her community out here- much more to call her my fiancée! I'm super grateful... if you haven't seen it already, please check out this video we made to announce it:

So here's our engagement story, for those interested...

Hannah's perspective:

Luke and I met at a two week class for training to take the Good News to the nations. After the two weeks ended, he flew back home to Virginia and I stayed in Arizona. When our first skype conversation ended up over 2 hours long, I knew I was talking to someone very special so I said a prayer asking that God take my heart and show me what He wants to happen. I decided to just enjoy the time getting to know Luke as a friend and to let God lead. It wasn’t too long into our friendship that Luke stated his intentions for me, and he defined our relationship just one and a half months after meeting and after he asked my parents for their permission to date me. Shortly after that Luke moved to Arizona and I was so excited that we were going to live in the same city!

With the progression of our relationship I didn’t ever doubt what I saw and learned about Luke and my feelings didn’t betray me, he was genuine with nothing to hide and I felt accepted and free to fall for him and so I did. One week before he told me he loved me I admitted to myself that I really loved this man, and in that admission I knew I could spend the rest of my life with him. We started talking about marriage and engagement soon into our dating relationship and having those open conversations was key to letting my heart process what was transpiring so quickly before me.

When Luke said he wanted to have a picnic in the park I didn’t think anything of it. I knew he had been talking about not being able to afford a ring so I put the possibility of a proposal out of my mind. When he picked me up I was so hungry and had one thing on my mind: get to the park quick so we can eat. Little did I know that was the furthest thing from his mind! After we unloaded his car, guitar, chair and picnic basket, I got to work right away making our sandwiches while Luke sang me a song he wrote. Unfortunately the loudest thing was my stomach so I wasn’t listening to the words he was singing. But after he repeated the song the last line stood out to me “And I want to worship the Lord by your side for the rest of my life.” Still dismissing the possibility of a proposal I exclaimed my happiness at the words and asked that we eat soon! However Luke had more to say. After explaining to me that he felt that I was the one for him he got on one knee and proposed with, of all things, a twisty tie as a symbol of the poverty we may face at times as a couple. I gleefully shouted my "yes, yes of course I’ll marry you"! He then got back down on his knee, saying that God will also bless us abundantly at times, pulled out a ring and said it was his Grandmothers ring. She had given it to him when we visited her in Tennessee on our trip across the states. I was overjoyed, shocked and ecstatic. This was really happening!


Luke's perspective:

Many people have told me in the past that "when you find the right person, you'll know." I was very resistant to this idea, for in many areas of my life, I solely walk by faith and the Lord leads and guides as I go. When I first started getting to know her, I didn't hear anything from the Lord- though I prayed a lot about it- so I walked by faith. When we started dating, same situation. So when I was praying about marrying her, I figured it would be the same deal. And I told her that... woops. Tip to guys who are dating someone: never tell your young lady, "I don't think I'll ever know if you're the one". That doesn't inspire a vote of confidence.

But God was laughing as I said that (and Hannah was very gracious in her response), for that same night, not 30 minutes later, He put on my heart, "this is the lady you're going to marry. She's the one for you." Wow! I was SUPER excited and 100% confident that it was God and not just feelings (although there are plenty of feelings there, as well). But I didn't tell her about it right then...

Later that week, after discussing it with a few friends, people I respect, and family, I asked her parent's permission and they gave me a "yes" (I was hoping they would, but was still nervous, because we haven't been dating too long... but glory to God!). My grandmother was tremendously generous in giving me her old engagement ring so that I wouldn't have to buy a totally new one! But I also came to discover that Hannah likes the more simple style, so I had the stone fitted in a much more simple band and setting, and picked it up Tuesday night.

We were planning on going on a picnic together Wednesday night, and I'm glad I only had the ring in my hands for less than 24 hours... it felt like it would burn a whole through my bag/pocket if I had it for any longer! But in my usual, "on the go" way of doing things, I hadn't checked out this park to know where we could see the sunset or where would be a good, private place. So we drive to the park (after I got off work and to her apartment late), rushing to try and see the sunset, and after unloading the car, I ask if I can sing a song for her. She replies, "Luke, I'm really hungry. Can we eat first?" I'm not about to have this happen (food>engagement), so I compromise and let her make the lettuce wraps while I sing. At the end of the song, I ask if she had heard any of the lines (the last one: "I want to worship the Lord by your side... for the rest of my life"). She says.. "not really". Again- hunger trumps song. So I played it again and then asked her for a hug (I had to get her on her feet).

After the hug, I told her how God had shifted in my heart to knowing that she WAS the one for me, dropped to one knee, and told her that "there will be times in our life when we will be poor... but even then, will you allow me the privilege of being your husband?" and pulled out a twistie-tie to symbolize the poverty. She said, "are you proposing?" I said "yes." Then she said, "Yes, of course!" and gave me a big hug! Then, I said, "but wait! There's one more thing." Dropped to one knee again, and said, "but there will also be times when God blesses us abundantly..." and I pulled out the ring, and asked, "Hannah, will you marry me?" Her eyes got big and she said, "yes!"

We then proceeded to eat (finally), I washed her feet (took a page from my buddy Kyle's book- symbolizing Christ's love for the church and serving His disciples- I hope to love and serve her like Jesus did), we prayed and read some Scripture together, and then started calling family!

Please keep us both in prayer as we go through this exciting time of engagement! Pray that our hearts are open to hearing what God wants us to learn and are always seeking to love and build up each other.

Exciting times!