Our Story
Because I know you've all been dying to know how in the heck in the world (quoting Kenny Li here, =P) Tom and I got together, here it is!
For your reading pleasure, we present:
HOW TOM & JAS MET
We actually met on the subway in 2005 where we were randomly introduced for the first time.
In Summer 2007, we had some random phone convos about counseling a youth.
THEN, in the Fall 2007, a friend (Tim Tan) began these monthly dinners with Tom and a few friends from OCM, and Tim RANDOMLY invited Jas. (Notice the RANDOM thread here? Not random at all, of course - God is the MASTER of Conspiracy! ^_^)
By Winter of 2007, another friend of ours (Rose) began to pray in earnest for Tom to meet his future woman of God. She began to sense he would meet her at Jas' prayer group where she'd been attending for a few months.
Thru the monthly dinners, Tim invited Tom to Jas' weekly charismatic prayer group. He began coming and we found ourselves in the same small group WAY too often for normal coincidence! ^_^ We also saw each other at other events and ended up sitting next to each other. Through it all, Tom was taking mental note of all these not-coincidences, cherishing all these things in his heart. He even began to notice the little things they had in common, like the same 30G black iPod. (It's the little things, you know? ;) ) He also realized we're anal about using the same brand of pen (PILOT, pls!), that we eat oranges and not apples, that we love Starbucks, yet dont drink coffee, and that our favorite comfort food of old is beef w/scrambled egg on rice or 滑蛋牛肉飯! =P
Eventually, Jas posted a blog entry about her father's passing during Christmas. Tom responded to it with a Facebook message. (How 21st century!) Jas replied and there began the onslaught of private messages and eventual emails that led us to knowing each other even better. These emails eventually led to dinners - even a Chinese New Yr dinner with Jas' unsuspecting colleagues from work! Tom began to show up at Jas' afternoon church services and shadow her around helping her. In addition, Jas became ill while going up to speak at Binghamton's IVCF and Tom willingly met her at her service again, bringing cough drops, oranges, communion and plenty of healing prayers. =) (He has an amazing gift of Healing! Thank God, cuz Jas is always sick! =P Or, that is... I used to be! ^_^) Jas began to get this vibe, this 'does-this-guy-like-me?' vibe. =P
HOW TOM & JAS BEGAN DATING
Then...on March 8, 2008, on a dark and stormy night, I (Tom) invited a beautiful woman of God to have dinner at a-what turns out to be not too delectable comestibles-vegetarian restaurant. We talked about ministries, wonderful and "perfect" pastors in the church, convictions, funny waitresses and wheat gluten. And as the Spirit of God gave me courage by the end of dinnertime, I said: "I like you a lot. Will you go out with me?" She was smiling with her usual beautiful smile and with dimples showing said: "This is weird."
Yes, I (Jas) thought it was very weird that this man would pay so much attention to me! I didnt really know what to say. But, in many ways, I'd already found myself drawn to him and his very tender way around me. Having not been in a relationship for almost 11 yrs, I knew that if I said 'no' I'd be quite possibly denying myself a chance at true happiness. It was quite an internal struggle, but it was quick. And altho it may have sounded initially as if I were going to let him down easy by saying, "Tom, I think you're really sweet..." (I saw his face begin to fall!) I quickly changed my words and said, "I dont know what's going to happen, but I'm willing to walk through this journey with you, wherever it takes us. ^_^" And that night, I (Tom) was the happiest man walking down Mott Street.
During the first month, we prayed a lot, talked a lot, laughed through LOST episodes, cried through pain and walked through so much together that each day which passed by seemed to be one full month. Sometimes we feel that we have been dating for 3 years now! But most of all, that strong fulfillment of being loved, that security and that liberation which I (Tom) have never experienced in my life was found in being with her. Being surrounded by a tremendously supportive and prophetic prayer group helped confirm that our relationship was blessed and ordained by God. Thru many Scriptures, dreams, visions and even an audible voice (!!!), God has been the orchestrator of our relationship from the beginning. It was clear that we were already one in spirit, if not in flesh. Talk about marriage became an everyday occurrence, even from the first wk of dating!
HOW TOM & JAS GOT ENGAGED
On April 8, 2008, 30 "months" after our first date, we went to celebrate our anniversary together with some green roses, a nice Indian dinner and a diamond ring. Yes, I (Tom) proposed to her! I asked Jasmine: "Will you marry me?" And I didn't wait for the answer as I put on the ring on her finger--which I knew would fit perfectly! (Something I prayed for as a Hollywood "fairy tale" ending in finding my wife.) So, the rest is history. You know the answer is a "yes" when the one you're proposing to doesn't know whether to laugh or cry, or laugh AND cry. =)
Actually, Tom began by telling me (Jas) he had another gift for me that nite, (aside from the roses he'd had sent to my school). Having me close my eyes (at my own suggestion, lol), he started to tell me a story he'd mentioned to me before -- how his grandmother had given him a 'gift' and told him that his future wife would 'fit' this gift. I still had no clue what this gift was. No clue he would be proposing that nite! Suddenly, he did a slight-of-hand trick where all of a sudden I had a ring on my finger (!) and then he said, "I knew it would fit perfectly." And while getting choked up on the outside, I swooned on the inside. Then, he asked me to marry him. At which point, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, and being inclined towards optimism, I chose to laugh! (^_^) I hugged his neck and said yes! Yes!
Thank you for taking the time to read this and in sharing our joy in looking forward to spend a lifetime of fulfillment and love with one another. Please continue to keep us in prayer and if you can, lend a helping hand through wedding preparation, children preparation and ministry preparation (n_n) Love y'all!
Tom+Jas
