Wedding Date on Aug 17, 2019

Love At First Sight We first saw each other at the bus stop between our houses. Over the next few months, we would sometimes see each other once a week, sometimes once a fortnight. At first, we would only say "good morning" to each other. Chantal also noticed that David always wore the same ring, which made her think David was already married. A breakthrough came after Chantal returned to Hong Kong to visit her family, disappearing for about a month. David thought he may never see the beautiful girl at the bus stop ever again. But, Chantal soon returned to Australia, and we met again on the 1st of December, as the Christmas holidays were drawing closer. "She's here!", David thought. That day, the bus was packed, and we sat next to each other for the first time. We were quiet, but our heartbeats raced, and we knew there was a spark between us. Our First Kiss The next day, David introduced himself and asked for Chantal’s contact details. We began texting each other every day. We shared our lives. It was a wonderful feeling as we were able to talk like old friends about everything - movies, jokes, people we'd seen that day. Soon, the messages were not enough to share our feelings for each other, and our first date came very quickly. On 12 December 2015, it was a chilly evening, and David picked Chantal up at our bus stop for our first date - a trip to a local bubble tea café. The café was busy but surprisingly peaceful and quiet. We were sitting on a comfortable couch, facing the sunset. We could feel the warmth of the sun, but all we could see was each other. We shared our first kiss, and have been together ever since that day. Too Hard to Say "Goodbye" By October 2017, we had moved in to our new home, and were ready for the next chapter in our lives. All seemed good in the world, until distressing news came: Chantal’s working visa had finally been considered, and it had not been approved. Within 45 days, Chantal would need to leave Australia permanently. We were dumbfounded, angry, stressed and desperately seeking advice on what to do next. We cried, and were at a complete loss. It was hard, but the hardest day was 14 January 2018: just after our 2-year anniversary, we had to say farewell at the Perth International Airport. We held each other tight, right up until the last possible moment, but then it was time for Chantal to go. It was devastating. In many ways, we were and are very lucky, and have a lot to be grateful for. We knew we both wanted to be together and that our relationship was precious. We had the skills and resources to navigate the minefield of Australian immigration law, and we had love and support in abundance from our extended family and friends. We wanted each other to know how much we loved and missed each other. We resolved to get through this time, together. We spoke via video call each night, and by phone several times a day. We booked regular international trips – David travelled to Hong Kong twice, and Chantal to Perth twice, so that each visit never felt like it was too far away. David bought Chantal a letter writing kit before she left, so we sent letters to each other from the other side of the world, and we will keep and treasure those letters always. Cherished Proposal Chantal is obsessed with romantic dramas, especially from South Korea. She always reminds David that he is not romantic enough, or when he does do something romantic, he is told “there is always room for improvement”. 2018 was a difficult year – we were apart for most of the year, and we both had challenges with our jobs and with our visa. Given all of this, Chantal did not expect there would be time for David to take on any additional projects, like a marriage proposal. But it turns out, there was time … On 29 June 2018, Chantal flew from Hong Kong to Perth for a visit. Her flight was delayed for almost 2 hours, and she was very anxious because David and his family were waiting for her at the airport. Chantal walked out of the Arrivals Gate. She was very surprised and touched because not only was David's family there, but also his friends, and her friends. They were lining up, waiting for her arrival. Chantal received a warm hug and a beautiful rose from each of them, one at a time. She cried tears of joy because they had all come to welcome her. But she had no idea that it would be the most unforgettable night of her life. Chantal was looking for David, until she received the 11th surprise rose from David's mum Gail, and was guided to the entrance of the terminal. Then she saw him, the most beautiful man in her life. They hugged and kissed, and David looked into her eyes and said: “I have something very important to ask you…”. At that moment, Chantal realised this was not just a surprise welcome home, it was a proposal. David kneeled down at the entrance, and presented Chantal with a ring. He asked, “Will you marry me?” and she said, "Yes, I will". The airport resounded with cheers and applause from the supportive passengers who had been watching on and waiting for the mysterious traveller to arrive. Chantal thought it was the most romantic moment in her life. But of course, there is always “room for improvement”. Our Love Story, continued... A week after our cherished proposal night, Chantal flew back to her hometown, as we still had 6 months to wait for our visa. We were still living in two different cities, 3,700 miles apart, but from that day we became one. We had found the missing part of ourselves, and we were now complete. Eventually, on 10 March 2019, 419 days after Chantal’s departure, she arrived back in Perth on a one-way ticket. David and his family welcomed Chantal home with warm hugs. Although there were still more visa hurdles to be cleared, the hardest part was over. We could now plan for our future, and enjoy the joy and happiness of this moment, and each other’s company. We finally had a clearer sense for God’s plan for us, and knew that we could overcome anything, if we stood by each other, loved each other, and faced our challenges with courage. Before long, we joyfully announced our wedding date of 17 August 2019. Now we both understand God's plan for us. We are each other's destiny, and the next chapter of our story is just about to begin...