Everyone always asks, “So, how did you meet?” Cupid has a pretty long reach with that bow of his… Actually, it was OKCupid, and a computer algorithm. We were both ready to meet someone special in 2017, so we went online on the off chance that we might find that person.
Becki says “He had me with his answer for ‘on Friday nights I am most likely to be found…’ having pizza night with my family.”
After small-talk about favorite pizza choices, our correspondence carried through Ernst’s transition out of his work in radio and Becki’s return to Switzerland from serving in Ragusa Italy.
Becki kept a prayer journal through this time, and often recorded prayers about bringing glory to God through our relationship.
Becki’s prayer: If this happens, help us to glorify you together. If not then I don’t want this to happen. So, please help us both to be wise.
When she was visiting her friends and family in the United States, Becki invited Ernst to visit her family for Thanksgiving in Yakima. The team at Open House Ragusa knew of his visit and prayed God’s blessing on it.
While visiting Yakima, Ernst mentioned his desire for the to serve the Lord in missions for the next chapter of his life. Becki shared this with her school leader in Switzerland when she returned to Switzerland, and two weeks later, Ernst was surprised to be invited to and applying for a Discipleship Training School with Youth With A Mission.
“At 40 years old, I would not have felt capable of joining up with a group called “YOUTH” with a mission, but Becki has a way of making things happen 😉”
While getting to know each other in person, Ernst and Becki spent 2018 at YWAM Wiler and served on outreach in Romania and Bulgaria. That summer, Becki visited Ernst’s family in Newfoundland before beginning a 9-month School of Biblical Studies (SBS) in Wiler, Switzerland.
“We took a break at the end of 2018 ahead of Ernst’s outreach to Ethiopia to enable Ernst to take time to mature as a believer in Christ. For Ernst, it wasn’t possible to do that and grow in a relationship at the same time.”
“If God really has us in mind, then our time apart will help us determine that”, Ernst said at the time.
After they finished their SBS, Becki moved to be near her parents in Yakima, WA, where she began work as the Volunteer Manager with Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington. Ernst went on to a ministry school in Chile and mission work in Argentina. After that, he returned home to Newfoundland, just as the Pandemic shut the border.
“It was impossible for Becki or me to meet in person, so the relationship stayed where it was as friends.” Meanwhile, as with the rest of the world, they made do adjusting to pandemic life.
Becki and others prayed to help her move forward, but as she tried Ernst was never far from her thoughts.
“In the past, I would feel a clear no from God when asking for God’s wisdom in a relationship. With Ernst, I was never given a no.”
In October 2022, two of Becki’s friends began praying for clarity in our relationship.
Then, in November, Becki met up with her ‘forever friends,’ and they held her accountable to let Ernst know her feelings.
Meanwhile, Ernst noticed the same lingering feeling that “there’s something there with Becki. We just couldn’t do anything with the closed border and all.” In October 2022, Ernst and his small group prayed for clarity in the relationship.
“Finally, I felt a lot of spiritual movement and began praying more fervently and specifically for a resolution and for next steps.”
Shortly after Becki returned home from the reunion, she wrote to Ernst addressing the relationship. “When I saw an e-mail I was surprised, as we mostly text. I could tell right away the tone was serious, and at that moment I said “Lord, if she’s asking to start up the relationship again, then I’m gonna marry her.”
After a couple of video chats Ernst said, “I don’t think we can continue this conversation online…. I think any more talk requires being in person.”
So in January of this year, Ernst found himself on an airplane to Yakima once again.
-End-
I love your story. Thank you for sharing the beauty, the mission, the dedication, the doubt – all of it! Becki, you are loved by me, girl! You’ve been a good friend and a beacon of light. I’m beaming! I’m so happy for you and Ernst!