Phillipino Woman Marries American Man After He Sent Her A Christmas Box 14 Years Earlier

Dec 10, 2019 by apost team

Is it a coincidence or a love story that was predestined? A couple married after getting in contact 14 years after husband sent wife a Christmas present. Tyrel sent a gift anonymously via an organization called Samaritan's Purse's Operation Christmas Child to Joana who lived in the Philippines. She never forgot the gift and was able to find Tyrel online years later to say thank-you. 

The love story of these two from across the world is still being told 5 years after their marriage. The story begins with an act of Christmas charity that was shared between a young boy and girl. Little Joana received a shoebox gift from young Tyrel from Idaho in the year 2000.

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Joana tried to contact him again many years later via Facebook. She asked Tyrel if he had sent a gift of toys years earlier and he said he did. But solidify that they were really who they said they were, Joana explained to Tyrel the photograph that he had sent of himself in the box from 14 years before. 

They started developing a lot of engagement through the online platform, and they also exchanged letters. Tyrel became so enamored with the young lady from afar that he decided to make a trip to the Philippines to meet her. They developed a romantic relationship and Tyrel went and visited Joana two more times in the next year. 

The couple are both Christians, and they believe that their meeting had been preordained by God. Tyrel told ABC 6 News that the fact that Joana could find him after all these years was not possible by mere chance, and divine influence had to be at work.

It took a few visits to the Philippines before Joana's father gave his blessings to marry the young lady. Tyrel referred to his intended bride as "the one." The outdoor wedding ceremony was held at the Tyrel family ranch in Idaho in 2014.

The couple credit the charity organization for enabling the love story to begin years ago. They asked guests to present wedding gifts in shoeboxes to pay homage to the charity. They hoped that this gesture would bring recognition to the organization's impact on their lives.

The couple now has a child, and they're living in their own house in Idaho.

Do you believe that this couple was joined by destiny or by modern social media? Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and send links to this story for your friends so that they can get involved in the discussion.