14 Yrs After Receiving Shoebox Gift, Filipino Girl Marries Boy Who Sent It December 03, 2014 | Good News Network Share this article When a young Filipino girl received a Christmas gift-filled shoebox in 2000, she couldn’t have imagined that one day she would meet the 7-year-old boy from Idaho who packed the box in a small town 7000 miles away. And, she never dreamed that she would marry the American boy, now grown up, 14 years later. This month Joana and her new husband Tyrel Wolfe dropped off their own gift shoeboxes at Samaritan’s Purse headquarters in North Carolina, where Operation Christmas Child is run, and told their remarkable story. A Lost Letter Joana received the shoebox at a vacation bible school in Quezon City, a suburb of Manila. Included in the box was a small photo of a little boy in a cowboy shirt holding a lariat. The boy had included his name and address. She wanted to write and tell him how the box had impacted her. Although Joana mailed the young blonde boy a letter, he never received it. Years later Joana decided to use Facebook to see if she could find the person who packed her box: “I still wanted to thank the person who gave me the box that had meant so much to me.” The only information she had to go on was a name: Tyrel Wolfe. Numerous options appeared when she did a search. One name popped up from Idaho. The child in the photo was dressed in cowboy-type attire with a rustic mountain background. She had never been to the United States, but she knew that Idaho had mountains. Was this Tyrel Wolfe the one? She clicked on the link and submitted a friend request. In the rural community of Midvale, Idaho (pop. 160), Tyrel was intrigued by a message from “a random girl in the Philippines.” Thus began their Facebook friendship and an exchange of letters and pictures over the next year. The more they corresponded, the more Tyrel and Joana found they had in common. They were both passionate about music—albeit different styles—and both sing and play at least one musical instrument. And Joana had always dreamed of a quiet life in the country. Despite the 15-hour time difference, they set aside time in the morning and again at night for daily Facebook visits. But if their relationship was to progress, they needed to see each other in person. Journey to the Philippines In June 2013, after saving up money for a plane ticket and receiving cautionary blessings from his parents, Tyrel flew to Manila. He had been on an overseas Christian missions before, but had never been to Asia, and had never traveled alone. “Once I saw his face, an amazing feeling came over me,” Joana said. “I was so happy I cried.” Tyrel stayed for 10 days and got to know Joana in her home environs. Prior to the trip, they had agreed not to officially date until Tyrel asked her father’s permission in person. Midway through his visit he finally gathered up enough courage to ask the protective dad and pastor. Joana’s father gave his approval without hesitation. “I wanted to spend every moment I could with Joana while I was there, because once I left I didn’t know what would happen next,” Tyrel said. “All I knew was Joana was the one.” To Have and to Hold Tyrel returned to Idaho fully determined to go back to the Philippines. He took on extra hours as a trails- and bridge-builder at area state parks, saving every dollar he could in order to visit Joana during the holiday season. This time he stayed for a month. At last he was ready to pop the big question. Speaking in the Tagalog language, he asked her dad for permission to marry the girl of his dreams. The couple held an engagement party in the Philippines and obtained a fiancée visa for Joana. On October 5 they got married in an outdoor ceremony on Tyrel’s parents’ 400-acre cattle ranch. Tyrel wore a barong, the traditional embroidered shirt worn by Filipino grooms. Wedding Guests Donate Shoeboxes “My mom is the one who originally came up with the suggestion,” Tyrel said about the idea to ask invited guests to bring gift-filled shoeboxes for donation. “Operation Christmas Child is what brought Joana and me together, so we wanted to somehow make the project a part of our celebration.” Joana loved the idea and included “Pack a Shoebox” brochures with every wedding invitation. Some guests brought boxes; others gave a donation. Rather than leaving the shoeboxes at one of the many Samaritan’s Purse drop-off location in Idaho, the Wolfes agreed it would be more meaningful if they delivered the boxes to the Christian aid group’s headquarters, bringing their own shoebox journey full circle. Now six weeks into married life, Tyrel and Joana are looking forward to their first Christmas together in the United States. They have started a tradition that they hope to continue every year for the rest of their lives—packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. “And when we start having children, we want to involve them in packing boxes too,” said a smiling Tyrel as he held his wife’s hand. “I remember as a little boy, I was so excited to know the toys and other items I put
Posted on: Sat, 06 Dec 2014 16:03:15 +0000
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