Every year, a Christian organization called Samaritan’s Purse facilitates the distribution of shoeboxes filled with small toys and useful items to children in poor or war-torn countries. The boxes are filled by people across America in the spirit of giving to those less fortunate at Christmas.
“Back in 2000, an 8-year-old girl named Joana in the Philippines got a shoebox packed by a 7-year-old boy named Tyrel in Idaho. Through that box, Joana heard the Gospel and put her trust in Jesus. So did her father, who is now a pastor.
In 2011, Joana wanted to thank the little boy whose gifts transformed her life. The only clue she had was the name on a photo she had kept from her shoebox showing a blond boy in a cowboy shirt holding a lariat: Tyrel Wolfe. She found him on Facebook, and they became such great friends online that Tyrel traveled to the Philippines to meet her. Then they fell in love, and guess what? In October, they were married. For wedding gifts, they asked their guests to bring shoeboxes.
Tyrel said, “I remember as a little boy, I was so excited to know the toys and other items I put in the box would bring joy to another child somewhere else in the world. I just didn’t know the joy it would bring back to me one day.””

This story appeared in a Samaritan’s Purse publication, December 2014.

I read this story over a year ago and it touched my heart. I thought Valentine’s would be an appropriate time to share this sweet love story. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.