Paane and I unofficially met while he was serving his mission in New Zealand. The Saturday before church on Sunday, my Dad mentioned that we had new missionaries transferring to our ward and that he was hoping the new missionaries would work hard to increase baptisms in the ward (since he was in the bishopric). I didn’t really pay attention to what he was saying and quickly went about my way.

The next day we got ready for church at 9am and made the 30mins drive to the chapel. The distance meant that we had to be there early, so when we got to the chapel I had a few minutes to spare so I decided that I would go upstairs and prepare my classroom since I was teaching sunday school class for the 12 year olds. As I walked through the doors to the church building, I looked further down the hallway and noticed a guy standing by the chapel door greeting the members. He had his back to me so I assumed he was the new missionary my Dad was talking about. I remember standing there looking at his back and having this strange feeling overcome me and the strangest thought entered my head, “Tita, that is your husband!” Feeling somewhat overwhelmed, I quickly ducked up the stairs to go prepare my classroom. By the time I came back downstairs, the missionaries weren’t at the door so I quickly walked in and sat with my family.

The rest of that Sunday, I don’t think I remember meeting the missionaries.

When we got home, I went to the bathroom and stood there for what seemed like hours upon hours contemplating about what I was about to do. Then I slowly went on my knees and prayed. I remember vividly saying, “Dear Heavenly Father, that missionary is my husband! And, if it is your will, please provide a way for us to get to know each other personally after his mission. Please bless me that I will forget about my feelings and thoughts while he finishes his mission, and in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.”

I stood up feeling like my face was on fire, embarrassed even, because I didn’t know whether the prayer that I had just offered was even appropriate, given that he was a missionary, and second of all, I was praying for someone whose name I didn’t know, or where he was from! The weirdest part was that I was so sure of it and I hadn’t even seen his face.

The miracle of it all for me was that during the time Paane served in my ward, not once did I look at him and thought, Oh that’s my husband! It was like after the prayer, I never once looked at him any differently other than what he was at the time – a missionary!

Eventually, Paane transferred from our ward and went to a different area and that was the last I heard of him.

Months passed, I was trying to keep up with my Master’s Degree, being a Stake YSA Leader, and work.

I remember sitting at school finishing a paper that was due when a notification for a friend request popped up on my Facebook news-feed. I clicked on it and it was a friend request from Paane Tonga. I accepted his friend request and he started chatting to me. Asking me what I was up to and how I was doing. We chatted for a little bit and I had to leave to finish my paper that was due.

When Paane asked for my number so that he could call me, I remembered the prayer I offered on our bathroom floor that one Sunday. I thought, is this the answer to my prayer? Is this Heavenly Father’s answer of providing us a way for us to get to know each other personally after his mission? Unbeknownst to me, that really was the answer to my prayer!

Paane and I talked for several months over the phone but didn’t really know what we were, and as it turns out I was going to travel to the United States for my cousins wedding in Utah, which meant we were going to be in the same state together!

The night my cousin had her wedding dance, Paane had messaged earlier and said that he was going to try and be there. So when he texted and said he was at the dance, I freaked out! lol I didn’t know what my reaction was going to be… I didn’t know what was appropriate – whether to shake his hand when I first saw him – or to hug him – to kiss him on the cheeks – or to just awkwardly wave – it wasn’t something I was looking forward to. So this song came up and I looked up and he was standing there!!!! Imagine my surprise – I got up NOT knowing what to do and so I opted for the Hi-kiss-the-cheeks-and-hug-the-poor-guy action! lol We danced. We talked. We sat. We went out to eat Burritos – and I left to go home.

Well, we went on a date to watch his cousin Solo’s football game. I must say I have learnt a few things from that date:

1. I don’t like stairs. We walked up the bleachers and by the time we got up there I was trying so hard not to talk because I was too busy trying to catch my breath! haha!! and I didn’t want to look like I was unfit bahahaha but really…I WAS!

2. I don’t like American Football. I don’t get the game. The rules are confusing and are not easy to understand. I clap when others clap. I jump when Paane jumps up to cheer. I basically don’t like American Football.

3. Apparently, I am a BYU Cougars fan. Because Paane is a fan. Tolo is a fan. and Solo plays for BYU. so need I have anymore reasons?? lol

4. I love WINGERS. its their american version of chicken nibbles!

Paane and I also went on another date. We went hiking! Well our version of hiking differs from the norm so I think ours was better..hahaha! Paane came home to pick me up to go hiking and I wasn’t really ready for hiking given the fact that I was out of breath walking up the bleachers stairs – I was already dreading the hike! But I thought – why not! I like to live dangerously (not) hahaha So we went up to hike the Y trail. It was getting dark when we got there – Ofa dropped us off and so we were on our own. Before we started walking we saw that the board had actually outlined that in order to get to the top of the Y, you had to walk through 11 turns, and each turn had a bench for you to rest. We started walking, and by the time we got to the first turn I was already out of breath and that bench seemed to be calling my NAME! lol I didn’t care whether all those palangi’s was looking at me, or the small fact that I might be loosing brownie points from Paane because I was so out of breath I just wanted to lay down. and that’s what i did..hahahaha We got talking – and never actually made it up to the Y, but hey, why go to the top when you can just chill at the bottom?! lol faka’ofa…hahaha

Paane and I talked about a few things – mainly about marriage and our feelings for each other and I shared with him the experience I had whilst he was still on his mission. After telling Paane about that experience, he went down on one knee and proposed! I said yes and one thing led to another and we were suddenly engaged!
We have been married for six years now, and there isn’t a day that goes by that he doesn’t tell me that he loves me!

Like they say, “every love story is beautiful but ours is my favorite!” 😉

xx Tita