I am getting married to my best friend!

You know how you see someone for the first time and feel like you’ve known them before? That was the exact feeling I had in 2011 when I knew him, It was easy to notice and single him out from the crowd. Every other time I saw him, whether it was at the walkway, cafeteria or stadium, it felt like I was seeing someone that I have always known. Maybe it was in my past life, but I felt like I had always known him….really! Hahaha... One evening, I was walking to Pioneer Church, and I felt someone walk up from behind. It was him! We said “Hellos” but I don’t remember the rest of the conversation. In church, we sat in the same pew, and I remember being amused at how he stressed all the ‘r’ sounds in the hymn lyrics with his deep voice, it was funny…well, that was how the rhythm of a promising friendship started. After youth service, he traveled for further studies in 2017 and I was here, but distance couldn't stop us from blooming. Years later, he proposed and I said YES. Did I mention that we almost lost each other? Hmm... Well, we almost did, between 2017 until 2023 was a long story, but God was in this story! Yes, He was, He is, and will always be! It has been a blessed and beautiful journey with my best friend. It hasn't been all roses, but we’ve seen more sunshine than rain. It’s been more than a decade of good friendship, and we're planning a forever. Achi, you’re a gift of friendship and evidence of God’s mercies and love to me. I look at you, and I know with all certainty, that God actually hears us. Me doing life with you means that God is intentional about my peace and rest for life...

The year was 2013, the location was Babcock University campus in Nigeria. It was our second year as undergraduate students, during examination week, I saw Zion walking ahead of me to church for Vespers service on a serene Sabbath evening. As a sharp guy, I doubled my steps, caught up with her, and introduced myself. We walked together, our conversation flowing freely. We sat together in church that evening, walked to the cafeteria together after service, and that evening, a friendship was born. Now, this was not just a random meeting. It was the first time we met and spoke, but not the first time we crossed paths or noticed each other. There's more to the story: The first time I noticed Zion was during Orientation week at Babcock University in August 2011. As freshers, we had arrived earlier than the returning students to get acquainted with the campus and its operations. There were many faces in the crowd, but Zion's stood out to me. I couldn't explain why she caught my attention, but there was something about her demeanor, comportment and carriage that impressed me. Anyway, my parents did not send me to school to start noticing ladies, so I brushed it aside and focused on why I was there. However, there is something about fate that you cannot escape for too long. Over the next few months during our first year, I would often notice that same face walking to class, at the cafeteria, at worship gatherings, etc. She had a presence that was hard to ignore—serious, focused, and seemingly aloof. From a distance, she appeared unapproachable, almost like a snub. Our paths finally crossed in a more significant way during our second semester in school, thanks to an English class debate project. The lecturer had grouped us into different debate topics with 5 or 6 students in a group to support a motion, and another 5 or 6 students on the opposing side. As fate would have it, Zion and I were placed on opposing sides of the same topic. My group was arguing that Euthanasia is an inhumane act and should not be legal, while Zion’s group opposed this motion. There was a quiet intensity about her, a calm confidence that was both intriguing and intimidating. Her demeanor was composed, she didn't speak much during the initial preparations, but when she did, her words were measured and insightful. I couldn't help but admire her sound mind and the quiet strength she exuded. It was not until our second year, on that fateful Sabbath evening, on the road to Pioneer SDA Church on campus, that we met and spoke for the first time. That evening marked the beginning of our friendship. We exchanged contact information and continued to meet regularly. Every Sabbath afternoon, we joined a small Bible study group under a tree near the Registrar’s office. This group, started by a mutual friend, Chinedu Eti, became a sanctuary for us. Though the group began with a few others, Zion and I quickly became its core, drawn together by our mutual love for scripture. Over time, we joined a larger group organized by the Nigeria Association of Adventist Students (NAAS), which met every Sabbath afternoon. These sessions became something we eagerly anticipated, offering a respite from academic pressures. Zion had become a true friend. Our friendship grew stronger with each passing week. It was a friendship built on mutual respect, shared values, and a genuine curiosity about each other's lives. And while I had no thoughts beyond a platonic connection at that time, I couldn't deny the unique and special bond that was forming between us. Little did I know then just how significant that first encounter would be. Little did I know that this bond would set the foundation for a love story that was truly divinely inspired.