Meet Patty

Patty Mae is one special girl. I am so blessed to know her and be able to court her. "Court?" you say. "What is courting anyway?" Courting is something you don't hear about that much anymore. As far as the original meaning I think that what we are doing might look a little different. What it means for Patty and I is pretty simple. Both of us came into the New Tribes Mission training for one purpose: to reach unreached people with the gospel. That is where God has led both of us-seperatly. But here at the training in Canada we meet each other and like each other. What now? We both know that God is working in our lives to use us to reach tribal people and with the knowledge that believers (yes, even believers in ministry) have the freedom to marry and knowing that if I were alone in the minisrty I would have a tough time of it, I decide to get to know her better. Well, a little later and with much prayer I decide to appraoch her about a relationship. I was pleased (ecstatic actually) to find that, as I thought, she liked me too. I was also pleased to find that she was not interested in a casual dating relationship. Patty didn't want to waste time or enegy on a relationship thats only purpose was to be fun or just seen as something to do. God was still her #1 priority and reason for being in the training. I received permission from her father the day after I asked her. So, back to the courting bit; neither of us want to wast time on a relationship that isn't going anywhere. By the time we decided to start seeing each other we had known each other for almost a year. We felt that though we just started our relationship we not only could aim toward marriage but that it would be wise to do so. That is what courting looks like to us. It is a purpose driven relationship. Christ remains the reason and strength behind it and we both understand that without Him it cannot work. It has been amazing to see how God has provided and lead us. We are planning on being married June 16th, 2007. We will take the next year or so to get used to being married and to raise support for the field we end up going to. Thank you for your prayers.

Todd-O