Our Love  Story

About Him

Jan-Erik teaches 8th grade students in a Christian school in Bergen, Norway. He specializes in Math, Science, Religion and Carpentry. To him, teaching is more than a job, but a calling that enables him to share God’s love with his students. Challenges in his youth taught him the value of listening and embracing God’s wisdom through mentors that inspired him along the way. These experiences have become stepping stones, empowering him to guide young people through their struggles today. This compassion that God planted in his heart has led him to the Philippines to do volunteer work teaching young adults financial management and computer skills that would be useful once they step out of the shelter where they grew up. This is a man who is deeply loved by his students, colleagues and friends. He is also a doting and supportive father to Kesia, and a fun and playful grandfather to Mileah and Eleni.

About Her

An adventure-seeker with an unending thirst for learning, Christine has had a fulfilling career wearing different hats – from being a diplomat, an English teacher to Chinese students, to being a Human Resources Manager, Project Manager, and Banker, before she gave up corporate life to join their family business. An independent and resourceful woman, she lived out many of her dreams while exploring the world through work, study, and most enjoyably, on vacations. She believes in being a servant-leader and being a good steward of what the Lord has blessed her with. She hopes to be utilized however God leads her. The only daughter in a family of 6, she is a doting auntie to her nephews Jacob and Ethan, and nieces Yomee and Jill. 

Our Lovestory

Hebrews 11: 1, 8-12

1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she[b] considered Him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

Love knows no barriers – not place, time zone, age, language, nor culture, even more so in this digital age. Just make sure that in these days of artificial intelligence, it is you who your sweetheart falls for and not ChatGPT doing all the courting and sweet talking.😂 In reality, when Jan-Erik found Christine online, they chatted with minimal AI interference – except maybe a little assistance correcting his English. 😊

Christine’s business trip delayed her reply to Jan-Erik’s first few messages until the next month. Wary of online dating site scammers, she put on her detective hat and snooped into his online profile and did a google search. In his profile, he described himself as a teacher in a Christian school, doing volunteer work at a shelter in Batangas, a proud dad to a daughter who is also a teacher, and is 6’1” tall. The man seemed legit, with the last piece of information totally putting him in the clear. Just kidding! 😊

Their exchanges grew more frequent until they finally met face to face. During their first meeting, the Americano went cold (but not this Norwegian😅) and their halo-halo melted away, untouched. Yet, for them, it was clear their focus was entirely on each other, and not on the colorful, tasty dessert.

Undeterred, Jan quickly sought more meetings, leading to 3 additional encounters before he left for Norway. During their time apart, they got to know each other’s innermost thoughts, values, and faith through creative, humorous conversations, always seeking to outdo each other’s funny remarks. By the end of his vacation, they both realized that they really liked each other.

Each weekend, Jan endured a 4-hour bumpy and crowded bus ride from Batangas, where he volunteered with children, to visit Christine in Metro Manila. During this period, both have been fervently praying for God’s leading for them as they knew their relationship will not prosper if they do not surrender it to God. Daily, they sought wisdom through prayer, Christian mentors and Christian books, which did not only strengthen their bond, but also made them closer to God and to knowing His will for their future marriage.

Their faith, family and the Christian community helped them most especially in navigating through one major cultural difference that later on transformed into a blessing of a deeper understanding of each other. This experience underscored the importance of their commitment to each other and being anchored in God, and became pivotal in their journey together.

Married now for a few months, they rely on God and His goodness day by day in their journey as husband and wife. Everyday, they experience how God uses their strengths and weaknesses to complement and grow together, both as husband and wife, and as individuals. Jan-Erik brings with him his playfulness into Christine’s otherwise predictable days, and brings her out of her shell through his encouragement and social skills. His heart for God and others models to Christine the value of serving others. Christine, on the other hand, tempers his impulsiveness by structuring his days, and guides him in financial planning and encouraging him to eat healthy. They pray to take each day with an open heart as God uses them in serving others wherever, whenever and however, while enjoying the sweet gift of wedded bliss.