At 35, Annie Hanson was a veteran missionary, a seasoned expat who had worked for Wycliffe Bible Translators as a teacher in Africa and Germany. Her assignment at the International School in Lima, Peru, was not a typical post for a Wycliffe teacher. She would be the only missionary working at the school, but she willingly agreed to take the position.
Living the Expatriate Life Fully, Not Looking for a Relationship
Like all Wycliffe partners, Annie’s friends and family had committed to praying for her and sending money on her behalf to the non-profit each month. These charitable donations were used to pay her expenses in Peru. Annie would teach without a salary so the children of Wycliffe workers in the area could attend the school at a great discount.
Experience had taught Annie that long distance relationships were not easy to maintain and unlikely to flourish. She believed that relationships were fragile enough without adding the stress of blending two different cultures. Borrowing from the idea of fasting from food, Annie decided to put herself on a man-fast, not to date or have a relationship during the first year she was in Peru.
Circumstances Lead to Friendship Dating
Walter Jimenez was 37 when he met Annie. Many women had been attracted to this shy but gifted engineer. In fact, Roxana, the wife of one of his friends, was constantly on the lookout for Walter’s Miss Right. He owned his own business and was a dedicated Christian – a very suitable bachelor.
Annie took public transportation to the same church Walter attended each week. Walter lived near Annie, so Roxana suggested he offer her a ride. Walter was on the worship team, leading the church in singing. Annie also sang, so Roxana suggested they sing together.
Eager to practice her Spanish and be immersed in the fellowship of the international church, Annie gladly accepted Walter’s offer. For several months they traveled to church together twice each week. They became good friends.
Danger in the Expat Life, a Bonding Experience
In March of Annie’s second year in Peru, Annie’s mother came to visit. Accompanied by Walter and another local friend, Ingrid, Annie and her mother visited a local pastor’s home for dinner and conversation. They returned home in Walter’s car about 11 PM that night. As the friends got out of Walter’s car, a vehicle cruised by slowly and then circled around to drive by again.
As the car slowed to a stop, six bandits – two of them brandishing guns – jumped out. Walter quickly pushed the lock button and slammed his door. Unfortunately, Annie’s mom still stood in front of the open passenger door. Ingrid jumped in front of her, Annie positioned herself in front of Ingrid and Walter stood in front of the three women as the robbers stormed the open car door.
Like many other neighborhoods, Annie’s neighbors had hired a private guard. He came running but the thieves forced him to the ground, a gun to his head. The other gunman seemed confused and watched as his companions tried to get past the stubborn friends to steal the car.
Protecting the women was Walter’s primary goal. A skilled boxer prior to his conversion to Christianity, Walter was now a man of peace. He didn’t want to fight so the bad guys pummeled him, trying to move him out of their way. Walter tried unsuccessfully to block all of their blows, but he would not be moved. The would-be robbers weren’t sure how to neutralize the screaming foreigner who at 5' 9" towered over most of them. After several minutes, the thwarted thieves left with nothing but Ingrid’s purse. Walter was beaten badly. As Annie wiped the blood from his face, they touched for the first time.
Christian Interracial Dating Requires Cultural Awareness & Sensitivity
A couple of weeks later, Annie and Walter were talking on the phone. Walter asked Annie when her man-fast would end. Her reply, July, was only a few months away. Then he asked when she would be returning to the states. Once again, her reply was July. Overcome with a sense of futility, Walter overcame his shyness and confessed his love for her. Annie was speechless.
Her replacement at the school had already been selected. The missionary students who attended there would have to find a new school. Instead, their parents and the entire Wycliffe community began to pray. A week later, the principal of the school told Annie that her replacement teacher had not been answering phone calls or responding to any communications. “Would Annie consider staying another year?” he asked.
Annie thought about it. She prayed about it. All of her financial supporters agreed to continue sending funds. Her newly-married sister was taking care of their mom and wanted help but agreed to wait another year. Annie called to discuss her decision with her mom who was fragile and frequently anxious. To Annie’s amazement, her mother replied, “I think it would be wise to stay another year, don’t you?” Believing that God had provided this opportunity, Annie accepted the offer.
Christian Expats Have Many Opportunities to Trust God
At the end of the following year, although Walter and Annie had spent hundreds of hours together, she wasn’t convinced that they should marry. She accepted a job near her home in California and in July left Peru. For four months Annie and Walter communicated regularly. During the months of separation, during prayer, Annie believed that God told her, “When the time is right, I will give you the answer.”
Annie still didn’t have the answer but she decided to take a ten-day holiday in Peru during the Thanksgiving break. As she stepped off the plane and breathed the polluted air of Lima, she suddenly realized she’d come home. Two days later, Walter and Annie were engaged. Less than a month later, they were married. After a Christmas honeymoon, Annie returned to California.
Paperwork and red tape consumed the couple’s time for nearly a year as Walter worked through the process of immigrating to the US. He arrived in California for the first time in October, 2005. A year later, and one month before she became 40, Annie delivered their first child. Today, Walter and Annie are the proud parents of two beautiful children, ages four and two. They are committed to teaching their kids about their rich family heritage with roots in two countries – Peru and the US – and a faith in God that engenders miracles.
Dating couples in any country may also enjoy Couple Prayers – for New Lovers When Apart.
Source:
The writer interviewed Annie Jimenez on February 10, 2011.
Mistie Shaw - Writing for nearly half a century, Shaw's interests and education meander from music to the military, and from faith to fun.
Join the Conversation