Our Love Story — #Newness26

Some stories begin with a spark. Ours began with a quiet friendship.
Before Debbie resumed at OAU, she had prayed to God for a loyal friend, someone she could really depend on and who would stay close like family. Of course, she must have been praying for a female friend, but we all know God answers in mysterious ways, innit? Since she didn't specify, God, knew exactly what she needed and Timi was the answer to that prayer.

That same year, in OAU, she had just finished the Foundation Bible School of the Anglican Students Fellowship (ASF), and that was where she met Timi. Timi was a senior colleague but so many things about him just made it easy to be friends with him.

A simple hello turned into several topics when we spoke for the first time after one prayer meeting like that. It was surprising two people could be meeting for the first time and end up speaking for more than an hour. We realized we had a couple things in common and we got interested in each other. It's funny how two people could be from the same town, same church, only to go and find each other in some sleepy ancient town 270km away from home. After the conversation, we didn’t even exchange numbers but another reunion wasn't far off actually, since we attended the same fellowship.

At the end of that missions outreach in September 2017, Debbie asked for my number because the End of Semester break was starting that day, and we began talking more frequently through the break.

To be honest, the connection on both sides felt natural, effortless, and safe. For Debbie, she had found a companion who felt like a brother, and for Timi, he had found in her a sister and friend.

I remember laughing out loud the first time he hinted me on the idea of a relationship, not out of mockery, but out of surprise because at that time, I had come to see him as my brother in fellowship, my mission partner, and my friend. But the longer the question lingered the more I received my conviction, and it gently settled in my heart that this guy was good for me. This was around early 2019, and that was the first time we started seeing real signs that this would become more than a friendship.

Later on around June 2019, I asked her out and she took some time to reflect and pray about the whole thing before giving a yes in November 2019.

Through the years, there has been moments that challenged us most, but our love wasn’t shaken; it was strengthened. But there has been so many sweet memories on both sides. Timi has a large heart and he is very supportive. During Pharmacy School, he would often cook and bring me food where I was having overnight study for an exam or test, I remember he once read through my Pharmacy Administration and Management notes just to explain them back to me in ways I could understand since he was a Political Science student and understood Administration better. His presence didn’t distract me from my goals it supported them.

To be honest, being with Debbie has helped me to really articulate the things that are most important to me in life. Around the time I met, I really wasn't keen on another relationship, but the more our friendship grew, the more I realized how much a fool I'd be if I trivialized her presence in my life.

Looking back, we sometimes wish we could relive OAU days, the cheap dates, the walks around campus, the mountain hikes, the fellowship meetings, the night talks at main bowl, the endless jokes, the end of semester missions, the long conversations after evening prayers etc...

But the best part?

We didn’t peak then — we were only beginning.

Now, what we love most about doing life together is the unity, we dream together, plan together, laugh together, and intentionally build together toward the same vision. We are so excited to step into the biggest part of our story yet - the everyday Newness God promised from the start!

Deborah & Oluwatimilehin

#Newness26 💍🥂✨