Nathan's side.
It was the year 2010, in May, and I was getting desperate. I was getting desperate for wanting to do something with my life. I had a fear inside of me, a fear of failing at anything that I tried to do with my life. At this point in my life I was looking at two options, either I would go to I.T.T. Tech to be a video graphic designer, or be a preacher. My fears were that if I went to I.T.T I wouldn't be able to pass the classes, and if I was a preacher, I wouldn't be able to preach a good sermon. I was struggling, I wanted to give my life for God, and deep down I knew it wasn't God’s will for me to go to I.T.T. Tech. It was a Friday night, I had been praying and weeping before the Lord, I was broken yet again. I turned on a bravehearted thought (if you don’t know what that is, look it up on Ellerslie.com), and at the end of the video it had the website to go to – Braveheartedgospel.com. So I decided, why not? I’ll go check it out. It lead me to Ellerslie.com and I read Eric’s testimonial page, in that moment, while I was reading, God put it in my spirit to go to Ellerslie. The next day I sent in my application, and the next Friday I spoke with Eric Ludy and was accepted to Ellerslie. I was so excited, and from there on every event was more grand.
God let me know why He was bringing me to Ellerslie, to prepare me, and that while I was there He will show me what to do next. My first semester at Ellerslie was by far the most amazing time of my life up to that point. I ended up staying on through the advanced program, which meant staying there for another two semesters and three selah’s. So the winter spring semester came around and lo and behold, I had met for the first time the one God called me to be with, although I didn’t know it at the time. I would fight very strongly against any “feelings” for females and told myself that I was too unworthy to be with any girl that goes to Ellerslie and there would be no way I would even be ready to be married until I was like 30 years old or something. So it became very easy for me not to look at girls in any other way except as my sisters in the Lord who are all going so marry some other guy. Even though Kayla was far above and beyond all I could hope or dream of in a future wife, she was my sister indeed. So the semester went by, and apparently I didn’t even go and say goodbye to Kayla when she was leaving to go home. So then there was a selah period then a three week break then the summer semester came along, and throughout all of these God did some amazing things in my life. He had given me the heart of a missionary and called me to go to China. The summer semester was coming to an end and I was even praying about leaving after the summer semester, because I had known what God wanted me to do and I already owed Ellerslie enough money as it was, but after a few days of praying about it I felt I was supposed to stay for the last Selah.
So here is where the interesting part of the story begins. By my surprise, Kayla comes back to be on advanced, and I was very excited to see Kayla but once again I took it before the Lord expecting Him to help me rid myself from my affection for her, but quite the opposite happened. I knew that this was different, I had the go ahead to pursue Kayla in prayer and I did. Nobody knew, especially Kayla. I knew that I was so unworthy of Kayla, and I hardly knew anything about her except her person. The way she treated other people, her humbleness, her contrite spirit, her meekness, and especially I knew she was a girl that loved the Lord. I thought it was impossible for me to be with somebody this beautiful, but I also knew that through God even this is possible. I prayed about her every day, and God was answering my prayers. It was kind of a miracle that I even had the privilege to set up a meeting with Eric in the last week of selah, because he was so packed with meetings that week. I told Eric everything, and he was the first person I told it to. I added that I was unprepared and just wanted to know for when the time
came the steps that I should take. I will keep Eric’s part of the conversation a secret, but I will tell you of the outcome instead. Let’s just say that I was encouraged.
The last day of Ellerslie came along for me and I prayed that day just like any other, and God gave me the biggest conformation that day. It was pretty much like when Jesus came to Thomas and had him stick his hand in His side. There was now no doubt in my mind that Kayla was the one for me. So Ellerslie was done and I had a lot on my hands, I have to somehow now make enough money to pay off Ellerslie and to send two guys to China. I waited on the Lord for a few months and I finally had the liberty to call Kayla’s dad. Scared? You bet I was, but Kayla was worth it. So I started to build a good relationship with Kayla’s dad (during this time Kayla was at Ellerslie). While I was unaware, Kayla knew that I was talking to her dad the whole time! But it was a good thing I didn’t find out until her father gave me his blessing to pursue Kayla in a courtship. So after a few weeks I finally got the courage to call Kayla, and so on the fourth of December, 2011, Kayla said yes to be in a courtship together. And that was the glorious start to our beautiful love together, with Christ in the center being our chief cornerstone to build upon. Her family came to our house the week after Christmas and a few days before I was about leave to go to China with Gabe, and that was the first time we saw each other since the last day of Ellerslie. For me it was a little of a rough start, because this was the first time I had ever been in this kind of relationship with anybody. So Kayla goes to sit on a couch by herself to eat dinner and I sit on a completely different couch because I didn’t know if I was allowed to sit by Kayla. But eventually we got the hang of it, we had many talks and many prayer times together, and those were always the sweetest. I left to go to china and tried to call her as often as I could. God did some awesome things over there with me and my brother but that is a story all of its own (I will be posting it soon!). So I came back from China safe and sound, and through the next months and weeks I was preparing myself for marriage, and to give it all I have to be the man that God created me to be, for Him, and for Kayla. June 16th 2012, the day before my birthday I proposed to Kayla and she said yes.
The days are becoming more and more grand, and I know that the Lord is coming very soon. So we have to be as servants that are waiting at the door. We must give it all we have for the glory of God, and we must with all our strength and love, tell the world about what Jesus had done for them on the cross.
Kayla's side.
God is so good. Words seem inadequate to express all that He has done in bringing Nathan and I together… it has been an amazing journey. I am so thankful to God for giving me a man that loves the Lord more than anything else in the world and seeks His Kingdom. He is the man I have always prayed and waited for.
About a year and a half ago (February, 2011), God took me to Ellerslie (Eric and Leslie Ludy’s Bible school) for a semester. In my time there God expanded my view of Him by far, and brought me to a deeper surrender to Him. It was one of the most amazing times of my life. That is where I first met Nathan; he was an advanced student during my first semester.
I went home, and spent the summer with my family, not planning to go back to Ellerslie, but by the end of July I really felt like God was leading me to go back for the advanced program. I went back in August.
Selah (a 5 week study time at Ellerslie, between semesters): We all had some amazing times together. Prayer times, classes, volleyball games, and lots of time for study and prayer. God did a lot in my heart during that time.
It was a lot of fun getting to know Nathan more. He was passionate about everything he did, from playing volleyball, to praying for the lost and dying. He told some of us that he really felt God leading him to China and when I heard about that, I realized how serious he was about following Christ… where ever He called. Nathan’s abandonment to Christ really impacted me, and God used it to press upon my heart to pray that I would be the kind of woman that would stand behind such a man.
Nathan graduated from the advanced program that September. He left and I didn’t know when I would see him again. That day, I remember thinking that he left a huge hole on campus that couldn’t be filled. I left for the fall break the next day.
I went back for the fall semester in October. During the semester, I got a message on my phone from my parents saying to call them right away, so I called them back and they told me that Nathan Bedard had called my dad to ask about pursuing a relationship, with me!!! I was so shocked. I was also really honored. I was so surprised, that he liked me, but apparently he did. =)
I remembered all the things that I had seen in Nathan: most importantly his devotion to Christ. God gave me such joy and peace about starting a relationship with Nathan. I knew He had brought this.
After my parents gave their blessing, Nathan called me for the first time, and we began courting.
We got to know each other, mostly over the phone, because we live over 600 miles apart. During the early part of our courtship, Nathan went to China for a trip that God had led him to go on. It gave me lots of things to trust the Lord with. And it was during that time that God showed him that He wants us to be there eventually. I can’t say I was shocked, because I knew that Nathan had been planning on China before, and that he was willing to go where ever God would lead, but it became a lot more real when I realized I was going to go too! God showed me though, that the best place for us to be is in the center of HIS will.
Months later…
..On a beautiful June day, Nathan asked me to marry him, and I said yes. =)
God has done it all. He is the Author, the One who has set it in motion, the one who has brought us through, and will continue to lead us in His way. I am so thankful for His hand in our lives in bringing us
together. His way is far beyond amazing!
What a sweet story! You two are beautiful together ♥ I hope and pray that your wedding and marriage will be blessed beyond measures! And whatever you do and where ever you go will be blessed fully! :)
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