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Wedding Bells
"Whoso findeth a wife
findeth a good thing,
and obtaineth favor from
the Lord."
Proverbs 18:22
Three days after arriving in Sanford, John asked Linda if she would
marry him. Her answer, after a short pause and a twinkle in her eyes,
was "Yes."
Never in their letters had John and Linda used the words,
"I love
you." Their letters were tender and "loving," but neither of them
never wanted to presume that they were actually "in love," without
seeing each another in person. Now the words, "I love you" could be
expressed. Timmy and Sarah were ever so excited that they were going to
have a new Daddy and Mommy. Timmy began calling John, "Daddy" in
public, even before it was officially announced that they were engaged!
Sarah did the same for Linda, her soon-to-be Mommy. Timmy had prayed
for a Daddy for a long time and now his prayers were going to be
answered.
After their engagement was announced, the decision was made by the
Mission's leadership that John could work in the Typesetting Department,
the same department where Linda worked on the typesetting of tribal New
Testaments. John would begin learning how to typeset the Mission's many
publications and eventually he was to take the place of another
missionary who would soon be leaving. John was to begin his training
after their wedding and honeymoon.
Isn't the Lord good?! Imagine the joy that John and Linda had, not only
to be married but also to continue together in the ministry that was so
dear to both of their hearts. Years before, they had "stepped out in
faith" as two different families, to serve the Lord and now they would
continue this "journey of faith" as a new family together, as husband
and wife.
July 24, 1982, was John and Linda's Special Day. John's Mom and Dad had
flown down from Canada for the wedding. Linda's Mom and Dad had flown
from northern Wisconsin. Linda's sister, Shirley, had flown over from
Texas to be her bridesmaid. Timmy was the ring bearer and looked very
handsome in his new suit, as he proudly held the little white pillow
with the two wedding rings on top. Sarah was the flower girl and looked
very pretty in her new dress, as she held a little white basket
containing flower petals. John was dressed in a brand new suit and
looked very happy. And Linda—what a radiant bride she made, in her
lovely wedding gown and the bouquet that she held in her hands.
John and Linda's good friend and co-worker, Mel Wyma officiated the
service and "tied the knot." He and his wife, Connie, had baked and
decorated the wedding cake. Mel and Connie had learned how to bake and
decorate wedding cakes during their ministry in the jungles of Bolivia
while working among the Ayoré Indians. The wedding took place at New
Tribes Mission, in the Paul Fleming Chapel. At that time, the chapel
still did not have air conditioning. Fans were strategically arranged
about the room. The sun shone brightly, without a cloud in the sky and
the temperature was in the high 90's. A perfect day for a very Special
Wedding!
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