Kristina

After the summer of 2006, Discovering His Treasures ministry became top priority. In six weeks, Daniel and I had developed a new logo, the website had a new look, and I was headed back to Decatur, Arkansas, for another series of nature meetings. What a blessing to have my first official seminar at the very church where it all began!

November sent me flying once again, this time to Kentucky for two and a half weeks. One of my colporteur students, a friend of Daniel's family, wanted a seminar in her area. She talked to her pastor, and soon I was scheduled in three churches. Daniel had just come back from Africa, and it was such a blessing to see him and his family again.

During those weeks, we enjoyed working together in person for the first time. Daniel helped me put the last few talks together, ran the computer and slides during the presentations, and assisted with the material's table. I was touched by his dedication to the ministry, his real burden for the work, and his personal interest in me and my needs. The demands of leading the summer program had taken its toll on my strength, and at times I needed a wheelchair to get around.

I began thinking what a blessing it would be if God led us together. But suddenly my mind would bring me back to reality. How do you know what he thinks about you? Do you really think he'd be willing to care for someone with potentially permanent disabilities? He has dreams, goals and desires, too. Do you think he'd want to give up all his aspirations to help a lowly ministry and a weak young woman? I didn't have the answers. All I could do was wait on the Lord and pray.

Kristina

Seeing Daniel's extra enthusiasm to help me anytime I needed it, and noticing the look on his face when he turned my direction, made me really start to wonder. Though he hadn't said anything, feelings began to spring up in my heart—feelings that I had been trying so hard to keep under control.

Kristina

Now that I knew there really was an interest on Daniel's part I had nothing left to hold my feelings in check. I immediately asked Daniel to call my parents and discuss it with them.

Kristina

I came home from Kentucky with a lot to think about. I wished I had held my emotions in check, and not placed myself in the position to be told of Daniel's interest, before my parents had given their consent. For two weeks I wrestled with my emotions, until finally I realized that I was holding back, and not giving them to God. I sat down and wrote a letter to God, telling Him everything I was feeling, my hopes and dreams, and turning everything over to Him. Even if Daniel did have an interest in me, that wasn't an automatic "This is it!" I left it all in God's hands and told Him that I was willing to follow wherever He should lead.

My parents and I had been studying courtship and marriage for the past year, but Daniel's phone call definitely stimulated more research and discussion. We discussed what should happen when a young man asked their permission to marry me. We also finished a list of qualities I needed in a young man—what fit my specific needs, and what he should be like, so I could benefit him. We analyzed Daniel by that list, along with several other friends. This helped me look at them for who they really were—their weaknesses and their strengths, and put things into perspective.

Kristina

January 2006 found me doing a nature seminar for my home church, before heading to Canada again, this time for three months. While I was there, Daniel and I embarked on a new project—creating an inventory and accounting database for Discovering His Treasures! It was a fun project, because I was able to start learning computer programming in the process.

During this time I was able to counsel more with my parents and with my friends in Canada. It was a blessing to learn from their wisdom and experience, and it helped keep my focus in the right direction—ministry—rather than relationship. Daniel and I set more boundaries in our communication and work time, limiting discussions mainly to work and ministry, rather than focusing on our friendship. Though it was a challenge, it proved to be a tremendous blessing to us by keeping our eyes fixed on Christ.

In May I flew to North Carolina to do nature meetings for a campmeeting. Since it was only a few hours' drive from Kentucky, Daniel's whole family was able to come, and it was so much fun to see them again! I was very busy that week, running the materials booth in addition to finishing my talks and doing the meetings, so Daniel and I had little chance to talk. But what a blessing to have him and his brother helping with the materials' booth and giving ideas for the talks!

Kristina

We had been counseling with our parents and praying for God's will and direction. I realized that we needed some time "apart" to think objectively, to pray, and to seek His leading—without communicating or even working together in ministry. Since I would be gone for nearly three months, running the colporteur program in New York, I realized that this would be the best time. As head leader, I would be too busy to maintain a lot of communication, and I needed to be able to focus on the summer program. As hard as the decision was, I knew it was the right thing.

Kristina

That was probably the hardest decision of my entire life! We had grown close in our friendship, and it was like tearing my heart out to say goodbye. I realized this was best—I had allowed my feelings and emotions to control our friendship, and I needed time to reconnect and focus—to re-intrust my feelings with God. Despite the trying circumstances, God used this to bring about one of His greatest miracles. Little did I dream what He would do during the next few months!