Nancy wanted to meet someone committed to their faith and interested in a long-term relationship. CatholicMatch seemed like a great way to do that.
There was just one problem: Nancy was skeptical, even afraid, of online dating. “While I wanted to meet someone looking for a strong commitment, I was very doubtful that I could find that someone through online dating,” she said.
I'm too nervous to meet in person
Nancy, who was in her mid-30s, took a leap of faith and joined CatholicMatch in October 2013. She met Mike, also in his mid-30s, the same month. She was drawn to him because of “[h]is detailed profile and description of his love and appreciation for his family, in particular the strong relationship he had with his grandmother.”
Mike likewise said he was “attracted to not only her beauty, but her devotion to her family and commitment to her profession.”
Nancy was from Lima, Peru, but had moved to Charleston, South Carolina, where Mike lived. Despite their close proximity, Nancy was reluctant to meet in person; even though she had met her match, she still had her doubts about online dating.
“I was afraid of going on a date with someone I met online, so I delayed it as much as I could. That allowed me to get to know Mike better and gather some trust,” Nancy said.
Another hiccup sent them shivering to plan B
They finally agreed to meet for Sunday brunch. Mike gave Nancy three options for where they could meet. But when they arrived at the popular local eatery she had picked, it was overcrowded with a long wait in the cold outside. Mike had to scramble to meet up with Nancy outside and get her to follow up to a backup location.
But after the initial hiccup, the date went well. “We had a wonderful meal and exchanged many details of our personal lives,” Mike said. “[I]t had that old cozy romantic vibe with a great southern menu. We enjoyed our first date a lot,” Nancy added.
The only problem was that it eventually had to end—perhaps a little earlier than necessary. “I enjoyed [it] so much that I didn't want it to end,” Nancy said.
“I would later learn Nancy wanted the date to last longer, however I was eager to get home and watch football!” Mike confessed.
Nonetheless, both knew almost immediately they were meant for each other. “I felt Mike was the right person for me since we started communicating even before seeing each other face to face. That sentiment grew after our first date though I didn’t reveal to Mike my feelings until he did so in March,” Nancy said.
“I felt incredibly comfortable with Nancy on the first date, which arguably was the reason I felt compelled to share many personal details,” Mike added.
I thought she was the one, but then I knew
Since he was dating someone from another country, Mike not only learned more about her country he also says showing her around Charleston gave him the opportunity to feel like a tourist in his own town.
Although Mike had a sense that she was the one for him, he became certain months later. He recalls the exact date: Saturday, March 29, 2014. “I knew she was the one for me, based on how she helped me through a difficult time in my life related to my work and family,” Mike said.
“Ultimately, how loving and comforting she was with me, helping to resolve some issues, allowed me to feel God’s hand. I felt then, and still do, that we were both meant for each other, that God intended all along for us to be together, and He waited 30-plus years for both of us to be blessed with the other entering our lives,” Mike added.
On January 31, 2015 Mike took Nancy to their favorite comedy club hangout. But what he had in store for the night was more than just a few good laughs: he proposed to her in the presence of many of their mutual friends. On April 10, 2015 they married and the couple had their first child, a son, later that year.
“I’m so glad that I got over my fears of online dating and was able to meet the love of my life!!!” Nancy wrote in an email.
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