I don't think it's traditional for the Bride to do a speech, but considering that I have given a few speeches throughout different parts of my life , I did not want my own wedding to be an exception. I love writing and talking about Jose (My now HUSBAND) is one of my favourite things to doI knew I wanted to give a speech. The speeches took place after dinner and I was the last to speak. Enjoy!

I want to thank all of you for being a part of this day celebrating Jose and I getting MARRIED!!!

Truly, it means so much to see so many faces that have impacted our lives individually and together as our love story unfolds.

Thank you to my bridesmaids, Gabi, Alexis, Miranda, Kate and Tina. My heart lives in each of you and I am grateful for the ways you have loved me. 

Thank you to the Churchward family because without your yielded-ness to King Jesus— I don’t know how my journey to England would of ever happened and I am convinced that the weightiness and the fun of Holy Spirit follows you as a family wherever you go. 

Thank you, Josiah, Miranda, and Sam for shaping Jose into the man that he is today. In your fun, banter, and keeping each other in check— thank you for how you’ve loved him. Thank you Elisabeth for the ways you have built Jose to be such a sweet, caring, strong, intentional, loving and God-fearing man. Thank you for trusting me with your son. And thank you Darren for how you’ve cultivated Jose’s passions, diligence, and making him into the biggest nerd, which I what I’ve prayed for. Thank you from the deepest part of my heart.

Thank you to my family who has traveled all the way from California. Seeing you all here in LEICESTER, England is the ultimate cross over of worlds and it means so much that you could all be here! My siblings Mija, Mantha, and Tina— and of course, Maggie and Baboo, who couldn’t be here today-- but wherever I travel,  you are always with me.

And to my Mommia and Daddia— guys, for every good and kind thing you can think and say about me is because of my parents. They have led in kindness, warmth, generosity, strength, diligence, and faith. Wherever I go, they will always be honored. Thank you for letting me come to England and supporting me in everything that I do. Thank you for giving me everything and loving me—more than I can ever imagine. You’ve taught me so much and I am grateful for all that you’ve done. Thank you. I love you both so much.

Now, to my HUSBAND, Jose! I’ve been waiting for a moment like this to talk about Jose— then again, I always do. One of my favorite things is metaphorically twirling him around— because I love him, I’m obsessed, and I’m so proud to call him mine. Even working at Waterstones, I have told about 95% of the people I interact with that I’m getting married today. Even the security guard, Dylan, at the little Tesco on Granby street knows about Jose and I are having our wedding today! 

In everything that Jose does, he does to glorify the Lord— everything, I mean everything, everything— work, his hobbies, the way he interacts with people, base playing, the gym, and throughout the entirety of our relationship. When he leads, he is firm, but gentle. In the business ideas he’s had and in moments of creative urgency or long days. 

I would often sit in his living room while he worked. I would hear Jose praying, asking for help from God, which sounded like low mumbles, or stillness, which was immediately followed by vigorous typing and spiratic audio coming from his computer. I knew this was his creativity landing and riding on the Holy Spirit. 

In all the waiting, hoping, and dreaming, Jose is worth the wait. He was worth the Lord saying “Just wait a bit longer” and I’m sure my parents have waited, prayed, hoped, and dreamt MUCH longer and harder than I have— and it worked!— And in the waiting, I remember so many moments of God as a kind Father. 

There are a few stories that I want to share— in the hopes of expressing how much I love Jose and to shed light onto little nuggets that led us to where we are today. 

When I was 12 years old, I watched the live-action movie “Peter Pan” that came out in 2003. If you’ve ever seen the movie there’s a part at the end where Wendy wants to give Peter a farewell thimble, which if you watched the movie, was actually a kiss. Hook lets Wendy give Peter this “thimble,” but when Wendy kisses Peter instead, he explodes from joy and happiness, which ultimately defeats Hook and his crew. Peter and the Lost Boys are able to take over Hook's ship. 12 year-old-me thought, “I’d like to make a boy feel like that one day.” 

While I did my first year at BSSM, I remember sitting in my car at the Parking lot of the Civic Center in Redding, California. I was FaceTiming my Daddia. A lot was happening with my family at the time, to the point I thought, as the oldest, I could leave everything to help my family back in San Francisco. I’m telling my Daddia this on FaceTime and he says, “What you’re doing there, this family needs.” 

Later that day, we always start class with worship and while I stood there laying may heart at Jesus’ feet. The Holy Spirit brings up a picture of my Daddia on that FaceTime call. Tears start stinging my eyes because I thought Jesus, I give everything to you, my family, my heart, and my future. And I’d LOVE to introduce the love of my life to my Daddia one day. And without any prompt or warning, the Lord takes me into an encounter. I’m imagining my family home and I’m introducing the love of my life to my dad and it’s the Holy Spirit. I realized that Jesus wanted my heart before anyone else could and what an honor it is that it's always meant for Jesus, but it has always has been prepared for Jose.

When Jose and I first started dating, we had fish and chips for dinner and since I was still learning about British culture. We were sitting in the living of Deancourt and before we started eating, Jose said, MJ, I need to tell you that when British Families eat fish and chips, we take our little wooden forks, cling them together and say “Fish, fish, fish and chips. Fish, fish, fish, and chips.” As he was telling me this, I was invested. Convinced and attentive to memorizing this song, which was quickly followed by Jose laughing and caving in that he couldn’t continue to let me believe what he’s saying was real. It still makes me laugh. So if you ever babysit our future kids, and take them out for Fish and Chips and they start singing that song— you’ll know why!

There was another time, I received a prophetic word during BSSM in which this person said to me, You’re future husband is going to have such a pure heart. And I believe we can all agree that Jose has the purest of hearts.

The last and final story. Fast forward to arriving to Chroma. I remember first noticing Jose then his arms, then his smile, then the conversations with him that I never wanted to end. 

Now I want to tell about a time when Jesus showed me about my future wedding day- today!

I'm at Chroma and we’re deep in worship and Jesus showed me being hugged by him. I’ve told a few of you this story. I had my eyes closed and everything around me faded away. I was standing there in worship our arms wrapped around each other, my head on His chest and His chin resting on the top of my head. And I hear Jesus say, “I was just at your wedding.” Crying. I started crying. Then three questions came to mind. The first was, How was the food?” He said, “It was the most delicious food I’ve ever tasted.” Then I asked, “How did I look?” He said, “You are the most beautiful bride.” And my final question was, “Did my Groom cry?” Jesus said, “Like a baby.”

After Jesus had told me this, the space around us began to fill with music- the kind that shook walls. I could also hear laughter, and conversations — I looked at where the sound was coming from and it was as if a door had come a jar and I could see light and sound seeping out of this slightly opened door. Jesus then said, “You can walk right through it and see, if you’d like.” My heart sopped and my response was Jesus, I am not going anywhere without you.” Holding Jesus tighter. When all of a sudden, He takes me through the door and I see three different pictures. One was of an overhead view of my wedding, my parents sitting front row at the ceremony, my bridesmaids standing next to me crying, and my brother at the wedding party holding a bottle of Hennessy. 

With every thimble, with every encounter with Jesus, and every fish and chip meal— I will always love you, Jose. 

Thank you for loving me so well and thinking of me in every detail. It is my greatest honor to twirl you around for the rest of my life knowing that you are mine and that I am yours forever. 

You are more than I could ever dream or hope for, you are more than I could ever think up or imagine. You are exactly who I need and I am excited to build a future, a family, and life with you. Jesus has thought and created you with all the gifts, talents, qualities, and heart that He knew I needed. I thank God for you.

I love you. Here’s to forever until Eternity. 

Than you for reading!

-MJ