Lydiah & Jared - March 27, 2026

How We Met

We met in church, but our story had started years before we ever knew it.

After months of convincing from friends, Lydiah finally agreed to visit Calvary Gardens SDA Church, even though she was serving at Lavington SDA Church. The church was warm and immediately felt like home. Just before worship started, she noticed the praise and worship leader, a man who clearly loved God and had an incredible voice, and that Sabbath already felt special. Then the team sang a Kikuyu song that touched her heart deeply, and she felt a connection she could not quite explain.

For Jared, that Sabbath was different too. Though he is usually fully immersed while leading worship, he noticed Lydiah walk in and was completely stunned by her beauty. He saw her quietly taking videos during praise and made up his mind to speak to her that very day.

After the service, he came over to greet her and her friend and asked for their numbers so he could invite them to music events. Her friend gave hers. Lydiah handed him her phone to save his, only for him to pause and say, "You already have my number."

Confused and embarrassed, she tried to understand how. Then she remembered. Three years earlier, while on a work trip in Seattle, she had attended an SDA church frequented by Kenyans. During lunch, a kind woman sat with her, shared a meal, and gave her her son's number. Lydiah saved it and later forgot all about it.

That woman was his mother.

Discovering this felt like more than coincidence. To Jared, it was confirmation. His mum had met her before he had. What began as a surprising connection grew into a beautiful friendship, then a love rooted in faith, laughter, and intention.

From a shared hymn, to a saved number, to a shared life, God was writing our story long before we met. 💜

The Proposal

Jared knew two things. Lydiah loved surprises, and surprising her was not easy.

By then, their love had grown deeply. Hardly a day passed without long phone calls, weekend dates, shared Bible studies, laughter, and stories from childhood. Somewhere between faith, friendship, and countless moments together, Jared knew he could not imagine life without her. It was time.

Because Lydiah is naturally inquisitive, he needed a perfect plan. He told her he had a high profile work dinner at Ole Sereni Hotel, a black tie event, and that he had already bought her a dress and shoes to wear. To make it even more believable, he sent a makeup artist to her workplace that day so she could get glammed up for the "dinner."

It was a Thursday evening. Who proposes on a weekday? She suspected nothing.

When they arrived at the hotel, Jared's sister Joanne was waiting at the reception. Jared had mentioned she would also attend the dinner, so Lydiah felt completely at ease. Joanne asked Lydiah to sit with her while Jared "confirmed their seats." They chatted and took photos, as usual.

Then they were told dinner was ready and asked to head to the rooftop.

As they stepped onto the rooftop deck, Lydiah noticed it was much quieter than she expected. Confused, she walked forward, led by Joanne. Then she saw it.

A red carpet lined with flower petals.

Soft music in the air, "See What The Lord Has Done."

Friends standing on both sides of the walkway.

A beautiful heart shape made of petals.

Glowing words at the center: Will you marry me?

And there was Jared, stunning in a black tuxedo, waiting at the end.

He walked toward her, went down on one knee, and asked the question that would change their lives forever. She barely heard the rest through the tears filling her eyes, but her answer was clear.

Yes.

Tears of joy. Tears of love. Tears from knowing she would spend her life with the man God had written into her story.

For Jared, it was the moment he knew God had blessed him with the wife of his dreams. 💜