Story of Us Becoming The Aijians

As you support us in ministry, it feels quite important that you also know a bit more about who we are as a couple:

As Katie was preparing to move to South Africa for an initial commitment of two years, she spent about a year of putting together a partnership team, three months before she left, she emailed some of her long time family friends (those that had even prayed over her as a child) to ask for prayer partnership in ministry moving forward.

That email ended up in the inbox of her mom's childhood best friend, Muffy, who also happens to be Ben's Aunt.

Katie's mom grew up with Ben's family- had even gotten so significantly sick in high school, that with Ben's grandfather being a doctor, Katie's mom had moved into their home for a season. So although Katie had never met Ben, the Aijian name, was often mentioned throughout her life in association with the affect their family had had on her mother's life and faith journey.

When Aunt Muffy received this email, which had been specifically written so Katie could reintroduce herself as an adult- with literal bullet points detailing the things that God had been doing in her life, Muffy connected the dots. 

Muffy and Ben had both been living on the East Coast for the last few years, and had gotten quite close, as Muffy's straightforward wisdom had guided Ben through previous relationships. Ben would share with Muffy what he was looking for in a spouse, which ultimately left him realizing that there was such a specific person, with such specific values and Callings, that he could not settle- it would have to be something ordained by God. 

Katie was in a very similar place- knowing she would be in South Africa for two years, and knowing there was such a specific Call on her life, and how she didn't want to settle for anything less-- they both found themselves contently single, knowing exactly what they were looking for, with little assurance that person actually existed other than faith.

Then Aunt Muffy connected the dots- she read Katie's bullet points, which were verbatim what Ben had said he was looking for in a spouse (how wild is that?!), so she prayed for a few days, and after still feeling peace-- started making phone calls...

She first called Katie's mom to confirm that Katie was single (Katie's mom was more than happy to confirm, eager to hear if there was an option). Muffy then called Ben's parents, and they all Facebook stalked Katie together (which thankfully turned out alright!). So with the parents confirming what Muffy had been piecing together-- she calls Katie.

Katie receives a phone call early one morning, with no context, just an excited Muffy who after quite a lead up, shares that she believes God wants Katie to "be with" her nephew. To which Katie had a hearty laugh about. She informs Muffy that she doesn't have much time to give to something that she doesn't think will be worth her time, but she can pass along her number to Ben...

Then Muffy calls Ben, he feels skeptical as well, but also knows its not in Muffy's character to meddle unless its something of the Lord, so figuring it couldn't hurt-- he texts Katie, and they agree to Facetime the next day...

That initial conversation was SEVEN HOURS, late into the night, of two individuals scarcely believing that the other could relate to their Call to well.. they chatted about ministry experiences in Africa and with YWAM and Iris, they nerded out about photography- shared bits of their testimonies and weird ways their family stories aligned...

Then every night for the next month were 5-7 hour conversations every night... 

From the beginning, Ben said what drew him in is that Katie is a woman that is passionately following after what God has Called me to do in ministry with absolutely everything! For Katie, Ben was an answer to the prayers she had thought could never be answered- the giddy happiness and utter peace was over them both...

Then Ben's sister (who was now a part of the families arranging our marriage) tricked / blessed him with tickets to fly from the East Coast, to California, for the holidays.. but really to meet Katie.

We spent a month together-- they had blissfully wonderful date, met family and each other's friends- both were grilled thoroughly... and things became official! 

Katie then moved to South Africa, but needed to come back for two weeks to CA for her Graduate studies, so Ben proposed! If you want to hear more of the story, you can read more HERE.

We then continued our long distance relationship- supporting each other from afar, doing premarital counseling, reading through books on communication and finding long distance to actually be a blessing to the foundation of our relationship!

Then in January, after Ben graduated from UNC, and Katie was on a break from ministry, we both came to CA to get married on January 15th, and honeymooned our way back through Europe to South Africa!