Someone I not only Fell in Love with..

 By Aimelle Caguin - Manrique 

{MY STORY}
I met Erick on 15 July 2008.

I took the week off for World Youth Day (Sydney, Australia) celebrations and was thinking I could enjoy a hard earned Monday long morning sleep in. Little did I know that I would be woken up earlier than I usually get up for work anyway with loud bangs on my front door...

Everyone was fast asleep as they were all on holidays, but because my room has the window closest to the front door it disturbed me the most and I knew no one else was about to get up. So unwillingly I got up to open the front door and there stood someone I’d never seen before in my life. I quickly figured that it was another missionary from Manila that my brother-in-law (Joseph) would know so I woke him up so he could entertain him because I wasn't about to, especially since everyone had been on holidays except me at that point. Joseph took a while to get up, but I was annoyed so I wasn't talking to him until I remembered my manners and offered him a drink. By that time, he had already taken out his laptop and declined my offer probably sensing my annoyance.

I would run into him a couple of times during his first trip here, but we didn't really talk which is probably because I don’t normally talk to people easily and our first meeting was a bit awkward. After a few months , Erick was assigned here in Sydney for his missionary work for the next three years.

The young adult ministry I was more involved in didn't really meet him as he was initially assigned to the youth. It wasn't until til one of our retreats in 2009 that I spoke to him for a long time. He was mainly asking me about how the young adult ministry was going, but also managed to ask for my number. I gave it to him. After that we started emailing, chatting, texting and talking, communicating a little bit more each time.

Early 2010, I attended a core group meeting which consisted of the leaders from all the ministries. Erick was one of the people who spoke at the front that night and they used his laptop to project from. I remember an error code coming up on screen and giggling as I caught his eye. He shared about one of the first meetings he went to when he was new to the community where he saw the couples praying and holding hands. He said that was the moment he knew that someday he wanted to be a couple and I blushed, not admitting exactly why but knowing I wanted the same thing. Except I didn't know yet it would be with Erick.

Afterwards we worked on several projects together especially after I became a mission volunteer for the community in August 2010. We stayed that way for a while but I don’t regret it because we were working together as partners and I wasn't sure if it would become uncomfortable if things were to develop earlier. Although, we were probably talking at odd hours and more than just friends do. It wasn't until we were coming home from a mission trip to Melbourne on 13th December, 2010, that he told me he had feelings for me and asked to court me. I’m traditional when it comes to dating and thought that it was nice that we were friends first. I told him that it was okay and that I would pray about things while we got to know each other. He thanked me for the opportunity and for the trust I had given him during our friendship, something that was very precious to me.

I took my time before I said yes to be Erick’s girlfriend knowing that I would be his first and what he wanted to be his only. I already had feelings for him before he told me, but I knew that we were both looking long term so I got to know him more. We both went to Philippines to attend a Singles conference in February, 2011 and I missed him because he left Australia before me. While we were there he would travel 2 hours to come and see me, he looked after me when I got sick and I met his parents briefly over dinner. I also introduced him to my cousins. I told myself that I wouldn't say yes to him even if I wanted to before I saw what he was like there with his family and friends, and I found that he was the same caring person that I knew.

I said yes not long after he got back from Philippines on Friday 18th March, 2011, at Manly Beach on one of our dates. He was always careful with me and often asked permission before he would become more affectionate. On that particular day he asked if it was okay to hug me and if it was okay to hold my hand. I really appreciated this gesture because it was as if little by little he was building our relationship and my trust in him. Because we were both serious about the relationship we both agreed to intentionally work for it and build it. He would initiate things towards this like praying together, talking openly about things that bother us, keeping one day in the week free to do things together and being more expressive as I often found it difficult to verbalize my feelings coming from a quiet family. He would also make a sincere effort at spending time at my house with my family which was very important to me. There were times that I could even just leave him and my dad talking in our lounge while I took my time getting ready to go out. He has a deep respect for elders and would remind me to not take my parents for granted and value them more.

The night before the 2nd of August, we were together and he managed to convince me to wake up extra early and do the walk from Coogee to Bondi with him before sunrise as our City to Surf training. I was reluctant, but gave in at the end. He rang me early the next morning to make sure I was awake. He led a prayer in the car on the way asking God to bless the day, but even then it didn't occur to me that he would propose. When we got to Coogee he was telling me that he didn't get much sleep and kept stopping feigning tiredness. I told him he really should have slept well before early morning exercise. Funnily enough, I had no idea that the reason behind the lack of sleep was the pre-proposal nerves and that the reason he kept wanting me to sit down was to eventually propose. But all in good and God’s timing he got me to sit on a cliff face near Bronte, started with a story about him sharing to a friend how he knew he wanted it to be me and then took out the ring and asked me to marry him. I was surprised and dazed, but managed to say yes.

I felt that he was someone I could trust and someone I not only fell in love with, but also who I could love and commit to. I've found that he’s someone who deeply respects me, holds the same values as me and makes me laugh and love life. That’s why on 2nd August, 2011, even a sleepy version of me found it easy to say yes.

{TIP}
Our wedding colour theme was based on the colours of Max Brenner (chocolate brown and pink), where we went on a date to talk about our wedding plans soon after we were engaged.

Having to plan our wedding from overseas, one tip I can suggest is to select not just talented suppliers but those who are easy to work with, people who are just like your friends and who make the effort to get to know you. Maybe another is to choose rings that are a little bigger because you tend to gain more weight after, being extremely happy..  haha =)

{DISCOVERY}
Dominic Barrios – he did an amazing job with our photos; suggested talented and accommodating suppliers within our budget; and prayed for us.

http://dominicbarrios.com/