01/31/2026
It was a September day in 2013 when two strangers from Brazil crossed paths far from home in a train station in Japan. It was nothing short of divine appointment that brought Eliana into Victor's life that day, and the rest of their story is an ongoing testament to God's grace and faithfulness.
At the time of their meeting that day in the train station, Eliana was at a low point in her life. She and Victor shared only 40 minutes of conversation before her station stop, during which she spoke with candor about some of the heartbreak she was struggling with. As they spoke, Victor's care and genuine concern made a deep impression on her. They exchanged numbers, but Victor was headed home to Brazil only days later. The two of them had very little communication for nearly a year afterward. In the spring of 2014, on a whim, Victor sent a text to check in. That text sparked an ongoing conversation which turned into phone calls, and the conversation continued until the two were quite inseparable. Victor purchased a round-trip ticket to visit Japan to visit Eliana, but he'd never use that return ticket.
The 6th of May was the apex of much joy and anticipation. For the last two years, Victor and Eliana and their families had planned for and dreamed of this day. We'd had the pleasure of spending 2 full days and a 13-hour road trip getting to know Victor and Eliana the week of the wedding as they showed us around the beautiful country and shared their time and their hearts with us. We compared notes on the hilarious idioms of our native languages and bonded over everything from culture and travel to our shared faith. We quickly realized that we've found lifelong friends in these two wonderful people. When the day of the wedding arrived, we joined an intimate gathering of about 30 friends and family in the lush mountain landscape of Mie-Ken, near Japan’s southern coastline. The love was palpable in that little mountainside retreat; We were immediately welcomed as part of the family, showered with hugs and gifts as if we were long-lost relatives. Any language barrier became an afterthought, eclipsed by the shared faith and mutual joy that served as a universal bond for everyone in attendance.
As the celebration continued into the evening, a blanket of fog settled over the mountains. candles were lit and the newlyweds shared their first dance under a canopy of glowing lights. After dessert, everyone gathered inside while Caleb tried his hand at the pump organ and I sang with him. We were soon joined by other instruments and voices, as worship broke out in the living room of the little cabin. It was one of those days that makes you wish time would just stand still.
Eliana and Victor – May 6th, 2017