Below is the story on how Dan and I met. I typed it out since i couldn't find it on our other computer. I hope you all enjoy even though for me I would much rather sit down over a cup of coffee and tell you in person. It was very had for me to type this out. I just don't feel gifted in writing.

In 1997, I was in Antigua Guatemala during short term mission.  I didn’t speak Spanish at all and did not have many English speaking people around me. I am a person who loves to talk and it was during this time I was talking with God a lot and He was speaking to me. One night I felt God speaking to me about my future husband. God gave me 7 things I was not to compromise that the Man He wanted me to marry would have. The 7 things where

1.       He would be a spiritual leader

2.       He would be like minded

3.       He would have the same conviction about not dating.

4.       He would treat his family well.

5.       He would trust god for his family size.

6.       He had to like me for who I was and not what I looked like

7.       He had to be missions minded.

I wasn’t sure why God had given me these things, I was not looking to get married, in fact, marriage was far from my plans but I took note of what God had spoken to me and committed to the Lord to wait for the man who fit these qualifications.

1 month after my return from Guatemala I left for Hawaii to join Youth with a Mission for a Discipleship training School.  I had no idea what had God had in store for me over the course of the school but I knew He had called me and I wanted to do His will.

A few days after arriving in Hawaii I met one of the DTS staff named Dan Wall. We had a pleasant chat about him being a Mennonite and we became friends. We didn’t get to know each other very well until Dan volunteered to be a male chaperon on our all girls camping trip. During the trip Dan and I started talking more about our beliefs our lives and it was amazing how likeminded we were. One night around the camp fire Dan shared his testimony and my respect for him grew deeper.

Dan and I spent many hours discussing the bible, God and how we should live our lives. The more I got to know him the more I realized he fit the qualifications God had given to me about my future husband perfectly. I really liked Dan but I was really struggling with my emotions.  I would try and pray away the feelings I was having for Dan, blaming the devil for distracting me and so forth. This was a whole new thing for me since Boys had never issue for me. I had never had a boy friend, not did I want one. I found easier being just friends.

As the school was getting ready to go on outreach I knew my friendship with Dan was going to change. I was called to Fiji and Dan was called to the Philippines. I was not looking forward to saying goodbye. Dan had taught me so much about the bible. I was 18 and he was 25 and sometimes I thought he saw me juts as a girl he was discipling. A few weeks before we left I was really struggling thinking about Dan being the perfect man to marry.  I was getting articles from my mother labeled, “Can God find a husband

 for our Daughters.”  People would come up to me each day and say something like, “Wow, I could really see you and Dan married.” Or “Do you like Dan!” What was I supposed to say? I was so confused at times I just wanted to go on outreach to clear my thoughts and head. One night I couldn’t sleep so I started praying. I prayed “God I do not know who my future husband is but I pray whoever he is you keep him awake tonight.” After that I drifted off to a peaceful sleep. The next morning I saw Dan playing the guitar so I went over and asked, “How are you doing?”  “Awful, I couldn’t sleep at all last night!” Was Dan’s reply. “How come?” I asked. “I have a lot of my mind.” Dan answered. I was speechless, I just walked away wondering, “Was that really you God?

I left for Fiji and Dan went to the Philippines for 3 months. I knew at the end of our time there we would both return to Hawaii for our DTS School Graduation. My time in Fiji was going wonderful. God was working in me and through me as I ministered in Fiji. One week before I returned to Hawaii. I started struggling knowing I would see Dan again and was having difficulty sleeping. I was praying and the Lord spoke to me to tell my mother about Dan. Up to this point I didn’t talk to anyone about my inward struggle of liking Dan especially my mother. “No God I can’t tell my mother.” I pleaded Telling my mother I had a crush on some guy she had never met was something I just wouldn’t do, but that voice kept telling me, “You need to tell your mother about Dan.” After a few days of struggle I thought I would out smart God, “God I will tell my mother if you give me a sign!” In my mind I thought he would have to strike me with lightening for me to ever tell her. Once I gave that promise to the Lord I had peace and I was once again sleeping soundly.

I returned to Hawaii a few days before Dan’s team from the Philippines arrived. I had a stack of mail I was going through when I got to a Valentine’s Day card from my Mother. She had written a personal note on the bottom that read, “I am praying God reveals a special valentine to you soon.” As I read those words, God spoke to me saying, “Melissa this is your sign.” Although I wasn’t thrilled on telling my mother about Dan since there really was nothing to tell I called her and told her everything there was. “Mom, I don’t want to tell you this but I feel God wants me too and I am not sure why. There is a Man here named Dan Wall and we are really good friends. I really feel like I could marry him. As far as I know he just see’s me as a girl he has been discipling.” My mother listened and was silent. There was no lecture on how girls can let their emotions get away from themselves, she said nothing but just promised to pray for me.  

Dan arrived back in Hawaii a few days before I flew home to Maine. Dan shared with me how he almost stayed in the Philippine long term but didn’t have a peace so he was back in Hawaii seeking the Lord. He was praying on either going back to the Philippines or going home to Canada. 

 When I said goodbye to Dan at the airport to fly home, I was filled with so much peace, I felt God had showed me that Dan was the man I was going to marry even though I never had any sign from Dan. I just knew I needed to trust God.  It didn’t matter if I had to wait 10 years, God had showed me and I would just wait for his timing.  I felt like Elizabeth Elliot waiting for Jim Elliot. My only doubt I was having was why God had me tell my mother.

A few nights after I returned home the phone rang late.  It was Dan telling me he had decided to go home. I asked him why and he said strange things were happening. I tried making small talk but Dan was very quiet I started to try and wrap the phone call up and again Dan said “strange things are happening.” So I asked him “What strange things can you tell me?”  Dan went on to tell me how he had been talking with a friend from Canada about returning to the Philippines or coming home and his friend encouraged him to make sure God wasn’t giving him another option. Then Dan was talking with a girl in Hawaii about his returning to the Philippines and she said, “Dan I don’t think God wants you to return to the Philippines till you are married.” Then Dan was talking to another good friend who bluntly told Dan, “Dan, God does not want you to return to the Philippines you are supposed to marry Melissa.” (Mind you I was getting people on a daily basis asking me if I liked Dan or how they could see Dan and I married  and so forth yet this was the first time anyone spoke to Dan about anything .)

As Dan was speaking I felt I was dreaming. Could he really be telling me this, When Dan finished I went on to tell him about all the things God had been doing in my life and when I finished Dan said, “Melissa, you know that I said once I knew the girl I was going to marry I was just going to ask!” Well the rest is History. As I write Dan and I have just celebrated our 10 year anniversary and have 4 children so far.  I just encourage you single woman to trust God, He has your best in mind.

Melissa Wall

Clinton Maine.

Melissa is Married to Dan Wall and God has blessed them with 4 children so far, Faith, 9 Eli, 7 Alicia, 5 And Emma 2.