Man, it’s hot! I’m sitting in a Catholic church in a local neighborhood of Cancun, Mexico, wearing a rented tuxedo and sweating profusely. My jacket was soaked before I even left the hotel! The church is packed with standing room only. The priest is giving a sermon, but I’m looking around. I see people kneeling, praying, and crying at the altar of Mother Mary. More people come up from the congregation and speak. But I do not understand a thing. It’s my wedding and everything is in Spanish, a language I do not know. I ask myself, how did I get here? How am I so blessed to marry Reyna?

That was twenty-eight years ago. Since that time, I retired from a successful career, and Reyna and I raised twins together. For years, we attended Rolling Hills Covenant and heard the word of God every weekend. We know we are blessed, but it wasn’t always like that.

A few years before I met Reyna, I was in a dark mess, alone, angry, frustrated, sad, and lonely. I was drinking almost every night and dating different women. My career stagnated due to a lack of effort. I was not close to family and closed off time with friends. I was drifting through life and didn’t see a path forward.

I never really prayed before, but I was at a point where I had to try. I grew up in a holiday-only church-going family (and that was only occasionally). I did not feel worthy enough to talk to God, but I prayed to Jesus, asking Him to help change my life, quit drinking, and stop dating women I really had no interest in. I asked Him to find someone I could marry, have a family, and grow old with together.  

At that time, the only verse of the Bible I knew was John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” I could not imagine sacrificing my son for people I did not know. Why would He do this for me? I was a wreck. Why would he save me?  

But then, one day, my prayers were answered.
 
A good friend from college called and wanted to come out to California from Chicago. He was getting divorced and needed to get away. We decided to go to Cancun in May. The first night, I went to the hotel lobby bar. The band was still playing and I sat down with a couple on their honeymoon. We enjoyed a couple of beers together. One of the waitresses came by with a tray of cigarettes and cigars–the groom wanted Cubans. As we were picking out cigars, a woman walked by and immediately got my attention. I asked the waitress, “Who is that?”  

The waitress replied, “She’s the boss and manager of the lobby bar.”  

“Wow!” I kept watching her.  

I saw her next to the band and took my chances. I danced my way over to her, grabbed her hand, and twirled her onto the dance floor for the next song.  She said she could not dance because she was taking care of the clients. I said, “I am a client staying at the hotel!”

The next morning, I awoke and thought about her. I tried to talk to her all week and finally got her to go to dinner with me. She was different from other girls back home, and I wanted to know her more. I had a great time and was sad I could not stay longer in Cancun.

After I returned home, I faxed her at the hotel (no emails or texts back then!). She replied! We faxed each other every day. Finally, she asked me to visit her home. If I wanted to get to know her, I could not stay at a fancy hotel, but in her neighborhood.
 
I returned in July. I was nervous, but she made me feel welcome. I met her family–five brothers, wives, kids, and her parents–who came over for a big party.  I never saw a family eat, drink, laugh, and dance together like that. I loved it! I was so thankful to be there.  

The next morning, as I was sitting on the couch drinking my coffee, Reyna danced and swept up from the party with Spanish music going. I was so in love with her! We drove to the American consulate and got her visa to come to California.

Reyna came to California in September. I wanted her to meet everyone and to show her California. Unfortunately, my friends were not as enamored with Reyna as I was. They thought she was trying to take advantage of me to get a green card. My family back home in Illinois thought the same thing.
 
Nevertheless, after she returned home, we continued faxing each other during the week with phone calls on the weekend. The holidays were coming, and a good friend and his wife asked me, “What is next with Reyna?” I wasn’t sure. I prayed a lot, asking Jesus if this was real and what I should do. I was truly in love with her, and I think she was with me. Jesus told me yes; she was the girl He brought to me.  

I returned for Christmas and New Year’s, and we got engaged at the New Year’s Eve Party she managed at the hotel. A few months later, we returned to California as a married couple. By that time, my friends told me, “We like Reyna more than you!”

When I look back, God has changed my life. I see many instances of His work in my life–even when I did not know it at the time. He has never failed me and I know He always has my back. That is comforting to know. I still fail almost every day and sin, but I know He loves me and He wants the best for me.