Our Love Story...Written By God

  On July 22nd,1992, a little girl was born, the first child to a young couple in central Oklahoma. It was their desire to raise her up in the admonition of the Lord, to prepare her for adulthood and eventually a family of her own. November 2nd,1992, a little boy was born, the ninth child to a Mennonite couple in northeast Ohio. It was their desire to prepare him for adulthood, to someday love and cherish his wife, and lead a home and family. 

  Ever since Sarah was a young girl she dreamed of having her own home, lots of little babies, and a prince in shining armor. Yet, as she moved into her young teenage years the idea of leaving her love story to God was fully understood, and she decided that was what she wanted. She was now free to serve God to the fullest during her single years, and not worry about attracting any young man's attention. God knew who He had in mind for her and she was happy waiting on His timing and not rushing anything. Josiah was happy making many memories on the family farm with his siblings; laughter, fun, and creating strong family ties reigned there. Girls and getting married were far from his mind, when he did think about the future he knew someday he would want to get married. In his teens Josiah decided that going around checking out and looking for a girl was not what he wanted to do, he told God to show him the girl that was meant for him. 

1,069 miles were between them and many decisions yet to be made, unknown to each one those decisions would either bring their meeting together or not at all. The year Sarah turned 21 her family decided to join the local Mennonite church, coming from a conservative church it wasn't that much of a change but big enough that Sarah wasn't so sure about it. God was faithful and a year later not only was she a member of the church but happily learning and taking on the Mennonite faith. Though she wasn’t aware at the time, this decision was a pivoting point in her life, her whole direction would have changed depending on what she decided. Josiah was in Ohio deciding what he wanted to do in life, continue on at the farm with his family or leave and take higher education somewhere. God's directing hand led him to stay home, he was ready to move ahead in life but patience was given to him and he waited.

In 2013 large tornados ripped through central Oklahoma, Josiah with a group of young men from his area come down and helped with the rebuilding of Moore, Oklahoma. He had no clue that he passed within 25 miles of where Sarah lived, but God was not done preparing Josiah and Sarah for their meeting. Josiah came and left not knowing that his girl was so close.

 In 2014 Sarah left home for the first time, for two months she lived in Arkansas helping friends and working. It was a good stretching time, one that made her realize it was time to do more, serve more, and reach out more. Once back home the struggle began, what next? Asking God for over six months "what do you want me to do", marriage was tucked way back as she wondered if maybe God was calling her to a life of service. During that time she was needed at home since her mom's health was not well, but entertained many thoughts of where to go. Places to serve at were visited and thought over, but deep inside Sarah felt something holding her back, a feeling of "no don't go, there's something better planned". Many people had suggested teaching school but that was not on the list of possiblies, not even something that Sarah may want to do. After months of having plenty of time to become close to God, Sarah trusted Him completely and knew sometime He would answer, it was just a matter of patience and practicing faith; every single day! On her 23rd birthday an answer came and it was a direct answer to a prayer she had prayed about a week before. A deep impression to teach school was laid on her heart, and she actually wanted to teach! Three days later she found herself back in Arkansas for a week of Christian Light Education Teacher Training, and by the end of the week word had gotten out about another available teacher and two schools had called offering a classroom. By the end of the week Sarah knew this is what she wanted to do, and almost told the school in PA that she would teach there, but that same impression from months before came back, "no don't go, there's something better planned". Before she left Arkansas Sarah bought a plaque that made her think of traveling; that was the theme she had picked for her classroom if she had one. The plaque was placed in her bedroom and every time it was looked at, she would think just maybe a school would call her yet. Finally she was resigned to the fact that God was probably having her wait till the following school year. She signed up to go to Calvary Bible School (CBS) and had her whole winter planned out, yet everyday she hoped a call would come. Two long weeks after the completion of teacher training, the fourth school called, located in Minerva, Ohio. They wondered if Sarah would consider teaching their lower grades. Right away there was a confirmation this is the school, it was amazing how they found her, only God could have done it! Excitement started to build, in one week she was leaving and school started a week after her departure! Meanwhile Josiah's sister was married the very same weekend Sarah was asked to teach; he started to wonder about this school teacher he had heard was coming from Oklahoma.

August 30th, 2015 Josiah and Sarah 'met' they weren't ever formally introduced but he knew who she was, and it took Sarah months to figure out which brother was Josiah and which one was John. Much to Sarah's amazement in October the school took a field trip to the exact place that made the plaque she bought back in Arkansas. She also would have been amazed to know that her dream of getting married and having a home of her own was slowly happening. After Sarah spent a few weeks in Ohio Josiah decided he liked her, enough that he wondered what to do about it. One winter evening the youth enjoyed snacks and games at a young couples house, Josiah was looking across the room at her when he had a thought , "this is going to be your wife". 

Meanwhile Sarah threw herself totally into teaching, she loved every bit of it and made the most of it. At times homesickness set in and she wondered why God brought her over 1,000 miles from home, but she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that God brought her right to that school and He had a reason for it! No one had a clue that a certain young man had decided what he was going to do but was waiting for the right time, some in his family would drop hints and he would smile and not say anything. Not even Sarah suspected anything, they had only talked a few times and she didn’t know him that well, he was just one of the youth guys who was quiet and reserved, yet very polite and respectful. In February there was a party at the church for a dear lady, Sarah was sitting at a table with a handful of church people who were discussing the need for another courting couple in the church. One person felt like Josiah would not get married anytime soon, he just didn’t seem to need a girl or was even interested. Sarah wondered herself who Josiah would end up picking, but thought since she was teaching and knew people up there she would find out when it happened. Yet, weeks later, Josiah was in Florida and told his married brother that he liked a girl and was going to ask for her sometime soon. The Sunday evening before Easter the youth gathered in Josiah's home for a bible study led by his dad and a meal cooked by his mother. Afterwards the youth played games in the living room; one entailed telling the person to your right a sentence. Sarah's mind would always go blank when she had to come up with something fast like that, but a sentence popped in her mind at the last minute, "because I have a plan". Josiah was sitting to her right and she leaned over and told him the sentence, the biggest grin came on his face. If Sarah had known he had a plan and was about to act on it in a few days she would have fallen right out of her seat! 

Spring break landed over Easter and Sarah decided to fly home for the weekend, on Friday all the ladies decided to go shopping and a few hours later a phone rang. It was mom’s and Sarah dug it out of her mom's purse, the area code was 330 and she knew that was Ohio. She also knew from the one sided conversion that a young man had just called wanting to talk to her father, it didn't take long for her to narrow down who it could be and what a shock it was! Two days later Sarah's parents told her Josiah Kensinger had asked to court her, never had she dreamed he had such intentions, and at first she was ready with a no. Before she left to teach school her parents had asked her not to teach the following year if she happened to start courting, Sarah did not see that being a problem and agreed. If they wanted her closer to home while she courted that was fine she didn't see it happening anyway. Now it had happened and Sarah had agreed to teach the next year, her mom kindly pointed out "Sarah are you going to turn down a godly young man just to teach?". 

Sarah had much to think about as she flew back to Ohio, by the time her plane landed she had decided God was giving her a peace to start a relationship with Josiah. Even if it meant giving up something she loved so very much for a man she hardly knew. Wednesday was a church service and Sarah had every intention to sit in the back and get a good look at Josiah, she really didn’t know what he looked like! He was terribly tall and had blond hair but other then that she had never paid any attention to him. Josiah went to church dressed very nicely knowing Sarah would be there, unfortunately her plan didn't work out that well and she left not knowing anything more about what he looked like. The next day Sarah flew home again for a friends wedding Friday morning; the wedding was such a blur as Sarah’s mind was far away. That night Josiah called and they talked on the phone for the first time, the first of many more phone conversions to come. By Sunday Sarah was back in Ohio and they had their first date April 3rd, 2016, it was a cold snowy afternoon that they spent inside getting to know each other better. It took several weeks for the shock to wear off Sarah, she had to put their picture on her desk at school and constantly tell herself she now had a boyfriend. It was almost unbelievable, she felt like it was a dream, she was actually dating someone! 

Six weeks later it was very hard for Sarah to leave Ohio and come home, looking at months ahead of being over 1,000 miles apart was not a pleasant thought for both of them! Josiah would fly down regularly to see Sarah, and she came to Ohio a couple of times. They made many sweet and pleasant memories together those months they were dating. It was enjoyable to get to know each other's hearts in such a deep way; in a way no other person knew them. And to see an example of Christ's love and devotion to us as His children.

March 25th, 2017 was a cloudy day with decent temperatures; it was exactly one year after Josiah called Sarah’s Dad, to request his permission to begin a relationship with Sarah. Hoping the clouds would break and a nice sunset would finish the day off, Josiah and Sarah headed up to a nearby lake. After walking along a trail for a while the woods broke and an opening down to the water appeared. Just as they made it down there the sun really broke out and made a pretty scene on the water, not quite a sunset by close to it. After enjoying the lovely scenery it was decided to continue on so they could make to a restaurant for supper. As Sarah turned to go Josiah stopped her and said he had a question to ask, her answer was YES!! The next few moments were beautiful as they rejoiced in the goodness of God and enjoyed the beauty around them. God is faithful! How wonderful to be right in His will and know it was ALL His doing!!