Our paths crossed on a Sabbath afternoon in August 2023 while I was visiting family in Lusaka. That day, I decided to check out a friend's church, Railways SDA. As I sat on a wooden bench waiting for Bible study to begin, I noticed a beautiful stranger walk past: Shoma. She wore a yellow head wrap, a lovely maxi dress, and a multi-coloured sweater. Her beauty caught my eye first: those big, pretty eyes and that radiant smile. Unfortunately, I had to leave early and didn't get the chance to say hello, but I was definitely intrigued.
Determined to see her again, I returned the following Sabbath. As fate would have it, she arrived (fashionably late) with her sister and sat behind me. Being the gentleman that I am, I greeted them and directed them to better seats in front of me, mostly so I could steal more glances and gather intel from mutual friends.
That night, I did my detective work and learned that Shoma was not only stunning but also kind-hearted and passionate about serving others. Sadly, I also discovered she was working out of town and leaving Lusaka the next morning. Undeterred, I relentlessly pursued her number from a friend, and after getting her permission, I finally reached out on August 15th. The rest, as they say, is history!
From that first phone call, our friendship grew effortlessly. We discovered how much we had in common, our shared values and our aligned personalities, and despite the distance, we became close. I returned to America soon after, but our connection only deepened. Three months later, we made it official, and a year after that, I knew without a doubt that Shoma was The One. So, I asked her to marry me, and of course, she said yes!
Charles
