Thursday, 15 November 2007

• The Elevator Proposal

  The Elevator Proposal

  
  
  So I got engaged to the girl of my dreams last Wednesday (Nov 7). If you'd like to know how it went down, read on!
  
  So last Wednesday marked six months from the evening on which I asked Erin out. Back in September while I was in NY, I had purchased an engagement ring (btw brothers, I highly recommend Blue Nile)! We have been talking and praying about marriage and I was eager to propose. I was originally going to propose to her while in NY back in September but timing was not right and God gave me signs to wait. So after several more weeks of waiting and prayer, I had peace in my heart that the time was ripe.
  
  Playing MASH in Grade School
  All my life, I've talked about marriage. From playing MASH in grade school to laughing over Personality Tests on missions trips, marriage was always the hot topic. Anyone who knows me knows how much I talk about it. Before I even met Erin, I would boast about how wonderful my wife would be, how romantic my proposal would be, and how grand our wedding would be.
  
  All Out of Ideas
  But when it came time to finally propose, all my ideas seemed corny and cheesy. Plan A was done before. Plan B would be too hard to pull off. Plan C was too boring. So I asked my friend Alex Lim how I should propose and he sent me this email:
  

  def do something personal, something from dating , even something she brought up in a casual conversation, or something about the future, something that u guys talked about and u can use as part of the proposal.

  Ahhh... now I get it! The key was not to make it fancy but to make it personal and meaningful!
  
  God Answers Prayer: The Creativity Anointing
  So I thunk and thunk and thunk. But no voila moment was hitting! So in sheer desperation, I began to call on the name of the Lord and asked for His favor upon the proposal! We call on his name for revival, for healing, for deliverance. Why not for a proposal? While praying, I even went a step further and asked for the anointing of the Holy Spirit! I prayed for the creativity anointing and I committed the proposal into the hands of the Lord, confident He would grant me success!
  
  Praise God because He answers prayer! Amen?! The day before the proposal, the wheels started to turn in my head. It was like a master plan was placed before me. And I started to see the dots connecting.
  
  Getting the Chingoos Involved
  The couple days before the proposal, I emailed a bunch of our closest friends and family and invited them to come to my apt. I was going to have everyone surprise Erin after I had proposed to her. I had heard so many stories of women who can't remember anything that's said right before the proposal, so I decided I would focus on the post-proposal. And since Erin said she would hate it if I ever proposed to her publicly, I knew that the pre-proposal and the actual proposal would have to be a private affair.
  
  I wasn't sure how many people would show up on such short notice but I was hoping at least half the 20 people would come. Then I emailed a bunch of friends that we have in the States and asked them to send in a video congratulating Erin for the engagement. I would piece those videos together and show them to her after the surprise. Since everyone's so busy, I thought I'd be lucky to get 2 or 3 videos. Realizing I was giving everyone such short notice, I prayed and asked God for favor. I asked God to free up people's schedules so they could come.
  
  The Favor Begins to Drop!
  The eve of the proposal, God's favor began to shine through! I was planning to decorate the apt myself (which would've been disaster) but Jenny Kim, a sister with gifts in design, offered not only to decorate but to pay for the decorations (thank you so much Jenny)! My roommate James agreed to oversee everything. James' hometown friend, Victor, who is now a close friend of mine (and future seminary classmate), agreed to play cello for us. Melissa offered to prepare snacks. All 20+ people replied that they were able to come (w/ the exception of two). And everyone who I emailed for a congrats video actually got their clips to me! The favor of Almighty God was chasing me down!
  
  "Christian's a Jerk!"
  Meanwhile, Erin had one of her hometown best friends, Grace, sleep over the night before. Grace knew about the plan but Erin was clueless. Erin told Grace all night about how frustrated she was with me for not proposing yet. Grace humorously consoled her by saying men are strange creatures and then proceeded to call me a "jerk"! =P
  
  The Evening of the Proposal
  The plan was set. Here's how it went down.
  
  Gift #1 - Flowers and a Vase
  Under the guise of "celebrating our six month anniversary", I prepared six gifts for Erin, along with six notes. The plan was to give her these gifts throughout the evening and then the sixth gift would be the engagement ring. So for the first gift, I placed a crystal vase at her apt door and then I sent her a txt msg telling her to open the door. When she opened the door, she found the following note taped to her doorbell:
  
  

  Month 1 - May
  Prov 3:5-6
  Trust in the LORD with all your heart
  and lean not on your own understanding;
  in all your ways acknowledge him,
  and he will make your paths straight.
  
  First Time - Lifehouse
  Looking at you, holding my breath
  For once in my life I'm scared to death
  I'm taking a chance letting you inside
  
  Hey baby, today is our half year anniversary,
  And tonight I'm giving you six gifts Erin Lee,
  To mark the six months we've had,
  Since I first asked you out in front of your pad,
  The first gift are these pretty flowers,
  To symbolize the beauty of the first six months and those first few hours,
  When our affections bloomed,
  On the night I found out you're a Sanguine Phlegmatic in my living room!

  
  
  After she was done reading the note, I popped out with a half dozen roses to go along with the vase and gave them to her saying "Happy Anniversary"!
  
  
  
  Gift #2 - Chocolate
  Then we got into a cab and headed to a nice restaurant that Jee Hae Yoon and Niko introduced me to called "La Cucina". In the cab, I gave her the second gift, Lindt chocolate contained in a cute gift box.
  
  
  

  Month #2 – June
  Prov 13:12
  Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
  but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
  
  Girlfriend - NSync and Nelly
  Why don't you be my girlfriend
  I'll treat you good (I'll treat you good girl)
  I know you hear your friends when they say you should
  'Cause if you were my girlfriend
  I'd be your shining star
  
  
  Like this chocolate, our love is so sweet,
  But we had to wait for many many weeks,
  So we prayed and hoped, calling on the Lord,
  And fifteen minute hugs were all we could afford,
  I sent you flowers but the delivery man got lost,
  You fell under the fire as God had you count the cost,
  Ezekiel and full time ministry were on your heart,
  Shashlik and CM2007, who could keep us apart?

  
  
  Thanks Anthony!
  "La Cucina" is pretty expensive but we were thankful for God's favor because Anthony Huh had given us a $100 gift card out of the blue a few weeks before. Bro, let me just say, God's gonna bless you ten fold for that!
  
  Gift #3 - Become a Better You
  Before our food arrived, I gave her the third gift, a copy of Joel Osteen's new book "Become a Better You" (soooooo good! highly recommended!!!).
  
  
  

  Month #3 – July
  Prov 21:1
  The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD;
  he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.
  
  Quando Quando Quando - Michael Buble and Nelly Furtado
  I can't wait a moment more
  Tell me quando quando quando
  Say its me that you adore
  And then darling tell me when
  
  
  Praise God for Joel and Joel because they were right next to us!
  Our wait seemed like forever, but in the Lord we learned to trust,
  Hi "Prison Break" and goodbye "Sex and the City",
  My Utmost and Experiencing God, baby you’re so pretty!

  
  Touching Base with My Roommate
  I had lasagna and she had filet mignon (both were delissssh!!!). After we had our fill, she went to the bathroom and I called my roommate to see how things were going, back at "Surprise Central". He gave me the thumbs up and I lifted up a hallelujah!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Gift #4 - Cute Things from Art Box
  Next, we got in a cab and I took her to "Cheong Gye Cheon", where we had ice cream for our 2nd date. For the fourth gift, I got her some cute little Japanese refrigerator collector magnets and a facial cloth that she said was cute.
  
  
  
  
  

  Month #4 – August
  Psalm 20:5
  We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests.
  
  This is How We Do It - Montell Jordan
  It feels so good in my hood tonight
  The summertime skirts and the guys in kani
  All the gang bangers forgot about the drive-by
  
  
  Just like the items in this fourth gift, baby you’re so cute!
  Beautiful inside and out, that’s my girlfriend, shoot!
  Now that we’ve gone official, it’s time to call you what you are,
  My hundred fold honey, my mango, my superstar!
  Dreams of steep stairs, forgiveness at Namsan,
  Let the bodies hit the floor, God said, “Erin you can…”
  Do all things because Christ is strengthening you,
  Jehovah Nissi, the Lord our Banner over me and my boo.

  
  
  Gift #5 - A Journal
  It was getting cold so we walked over to "The Place" near Gwang Hwa Mun where we had our very first date back in May. That's where I gave her the fifth gift, a journal full of 21 entries that were written during my 21 days in September while separated from Erin. The journal also included a link to a secret online journal that I had kept since I first asked her out, documenting all the hardships and lessons God brought us through during our 2 month voluntary waiting period. After dating for two weeks, we broke up and waited two months and prayed because her parents had initially opposed our relationship.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  Month 5 - Sept
  Psalm 84:11
  For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
  the LORD bestows favor and honor;
  no good thing does he withhold
  from those whose walk is blameless.
  
  Thank God I Found You (Make It Last Remix) - Nas and Mariah Carey
  Let's show the world you're my golden girl, when we shoppin'
  They see us on the streets, they say, "Son, scooped a hot one"
  You taste like banana cake, you shaped like the number eight
  And you my number one candidate
  
  
  In Sept, we finally got to the moment we were waiting for,
  Off of Jericho I met your parents on day 24,
  Things went well, much better than we feared,
  The anointing was strong, your mom amazingly teared,
  Praise God for His forgiveness whenever we failed,
  We can always rise up because on the Cross He was nailed,
  Anyways so in Sept, I wrote everything down in this journal I’m giving you,
  So read it and then click the link because there’s much more I want to show you!

  
  
  Gift #6 - Well... almost...
  Lastly, I took her to the steps of an old palace building that's near Seo Dae Mun. It's where we had a long talk after our first date and it was the designated private spot where I would give her the final gift and propose to her. Things were going according to plan and it looked like nothing could ruin this perfect evening.
  
  
  As we sat there reminiscing, I started to get very nervous and my hands started to shake. Erin was shaking too... but it was because she was freezing cold! As I tried to go ahead and give her the sixth and final gift, something unexpected occurred! Erin began to get really bad stomach cramps! Oh that devil! I could smell his tactics anywhere!!! I immediately prayed for her and rebuked the attack. When I said amen, Erin said she felt better. Relieved, I began to think of how I was going to get her to stand up so I could propose to her. Suddenly, Erin started freakin out!!! She started to writhe and scream in pain because she not only had cramps, she suddenly needed to go to the restroom too... and pronto!!!
  
  
  My Child... Let it go!
  Being a choleric, I was so set on proposing to her at the palace that I was not willing to accept that her gastrointestinal discomforts would hinder my success! Erin began to walk away looking for a restroom. I grabbed her hand and made her stop which resulted in a sharp, bewildered look on her face. I tried to stall and suggested we wait a little to see if the urge would go away. She said she needed to hit the restroom NOW! I suggested we look for a restroom on the palace grounds. She wasn't having it. She started to get really aggravated at my lack of sensibility. I kept insisting on not leaving and after awhile I finally heard a small, still voice say, "My child,... let it go." And so... after some more stalling, we ended up at a MacDonald's restroom across the street where Erin took care of bidnass.
  
  
  My Roommate Holding it Down!
  Meanwhile, everyone had gathered at my apt and my roommate James was giving everyone the directions on how the surprise was going to go down!
  
  
  One hundred balloons on the ceiling and one hundred on the floor!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  A Little Detour
  While she was on the throne, it was 10:59pm and I called my roommate and told him that we would be running 20 minutes late. We were supposed to arrive at 11:10pm. When I called, everyone was already in the room, ready to surprise her, and all the candles were lit. I told them that we would be late because of a little "detour".
  
  Here's Victor putting in a bonus practice of Salut d'Amour since we were going to be a little late. Thank you Vic for giving the evening that "romantic" touch!
  
  
  What Do I Do Now?!
  When Erin came out of the restroom, she was like a completely different person! She was all giddy and smilin'! I laughed inside at the pressure of the evening and the humor of it all.
  
  We took a cab and rushed over to my apt telling Erin that I'll give her some Pepcid to help with her stomach. On the ten minute cab ride, I sent a txt msg to my roommate telling him "5 minutes til eta". Then I found my mind racing a hundred miles per hour trying to figure out how I was going to give her a private proposal before the public surprise at the apt. Once again, I began to call on name of the Lord. "In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me." (Psalm 86:7)
  
  Then in the middle of all this chaos, it almost seemed like the Lord whispered, "elevator".
  
  Our God, Working All Things for Good
  I live on the 12th floor of an officetel and my elevator is infamous for being slow. I always despised it for being so slow and wasting my time everyday but on this evening God was about to turn what I thought was a bad thing into a blessing! Since it was nice and slow, the elevator would now serve as the perfect place for me to propose to the girl of my dreams. Plus I began to think, "it is better lit than the palace steps so at least she'll be able to see the diamond better!" So we arrive at my apt and I ask her, "Hey, do you still want your last gift?" Erin gives an enthusiastic "yea!" As we stepped into the elevator, I gave her this last note and told her to read the poem on the bottom aloud:
  
  

  Month 6 - Oct
  Psalm 18:29
  With your help I can advance against a troop;
  with my God I can scale a wall.
  
  Hosanna – Hillsong United
  I see the king of glory
  Coming down the clouds with fire
  The whole earth shakes, the whole earth shakes
  I see his love and mercy
  Washing over all our sin
  The people sing, the people sing
  
  Hosanna, hosanna
  Hosanna in the highest
  
  
  (This must be read aloud!)
  So we come to our sixth month and to the sixth gift,
  Thank you James for your car or I may have not given Erin that lift,
  Back on that night when the vein on my forehead stuck out,
  And the words just wouldn’t flow out of my mouth,
  Autumn Fairy Tale, the weather’s getting cold,
  Bundle up dear, I wish I could always be there to hold,
  But each time we say goodbye I wish we were going home,
  To the same place instead of trekking back alone,
  Back in Syosset I got a ticket making a turn on red,
  I rejoiced and God used it to speak to me instead,
  Look at the signs, the Lord God said,
  You have a heart but you also have a head,
  So I changed my plans and listened for his voice,
  And tonight I know I've made the right choice,
  So for the sixth gift, I'm going to have to get down on my knee…

  
  Once she read the last line, I got down on my knee, took out the engagement ring, and asked her, "Erin Lee... will you marry me?"
  
  Are You Serious?!
  Erin couldn't believe it! She started freakin out!!! She had no idea I would propose on this evening! I asked her again, "Erin Lee... will you marry me?" And finally she hugged me and said some mumbled answer that I assume was a yes! I put the ring on her finger and we both squealed like little adolescent girls. We stayed in the elevator and we took the advice of Will Smith from the movie "Hitch" who said: "A toast to never cheat, steal, lie or drink... but if you must drink, drink in the moments that take your breath away!"
  
  The Post-Proposal Surprise
  I didn't want to keep everyone waiting too long so I brought Erin into the apt and this was what was waiting for her...
  
  
  (Erin's entering the apt, from my viewpoint: video).
  
  Everyone giving Erin, my new fiance, the surprise of a lifetime!
  
  
  My sister, Erin the young, showing me some love!
  
  
  
  Prayer of Blessing
  After all the hugs, Pastor Sam led us in a time of prayer. Everyone laid hands on us and blessed us! The presence of the Lord got really thick in the room and everyone prayed with fire... then Pastor Sam closed us in prayer. What a blessing to be part of a Spirit-filled community (JSEM)!
  
  
  Congratulations Videos
  Then I showed Erin all the videos of people who couldn't be present to congratulate her. Her eyes were all teary, red, and puffy by this time.
  
  
  Congrats videos: Marcus Corpening, Hyuk Park, Jackie and Henry Kim, Sam Kim, Elana Schuster, Jade Batstone, Jane Kim, Jessica Carlton
  
  My cousin, Brian Ryu, welcoming Erin into the family (1:23).
  
  
  Erin's Maid-of-Honor, Grace Lee (3:23).
  
  
  One More Surprise!
  The evening was so wonderful and Erin was so blown away by all the love... but there was one thing that made Erin really empty inside. None of her childhood best friends (Grace, Christine Chun, Hana Isoda, Hanna Kim) were able to share in her joy. Grace, the only one in Korea and Erin's designated Maid-of-Honor, couldn't attend the surprise party because her NY flight left earlier the same day.
  
  
  
  
  But God is good, amen?! Watch the following video as Erin goes to freshen up in the restroom, moments after watching Grace congratulating her via video:
  One More Surprise
  
  
  God's Favor Chasing Me Down!
  Earlier in the evening right before I picked up Erin, I got a txt msg from Grace telling me that she had missed her flight! She misread her itinerary and had to rebook a flight for the following day. When I heard that, I said to myself, "Oh snap! This ain't normal! This is DIVINE!" Remember that prayer for favor? God's favor was chasing me down and He was putting his fingerprints all over our engagement. God had even arranged Grace to miss her flight so that this evening would be just right for Erin. =)
  
  Let's Celebrate!
  After all the surprises were over, it was time to celebrate!!! Melissa hooked it up with some delicious appetizers and everyone stayed around to enjoy the company!
  
  
  Thanks Mama Mel!!! Charlie Brown thanks you!
  
  
  
  
  
  A Poem from Philly
  And to top off the evening, my Philly brother, Anthony Huh, wrote a little poem for us. Kensie... what do you think?
  
  
  Thank You, Thank You
  Once again, I just want to thank everyone who made our engagement such a blessing! And glory to God for all the favor and revelation He showed us to make this engagement happen! When the evening ended, I could only think of one verse, Mark 10:29-30:
  

  "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life."

  
  It's not easy having to leave behind family, chingoos, and the comforts of home to follow God's call to a different country. When I left behind all my NY friends and Columbia students two years ago, I was sad because I didn't think I would ever find an intimate group of people that I could love like that again. I thought the best was behind me. Little did I know that the best was yet to come! I held onto this verse because it was God's promise to me and last week, my heart overflowed to say, "Lord you are good, Lord you are ever faithful!"
  
  That's my sister Erin Lee on the left, not to be mistaken with my new fiance Erin Lee!!! =/
  
  
  No party would be complete without some Philly representation! Look! Thomas Park, my old HC leader happened to be in Korea on the same week! =)
  
  
  Love love love!!! Thank you Mel for showering us with tender, motherly, and sisterly love!
  
  
  Three 79'ers and one 77'er!
  
  
  Thank you Grace for all your prayers and support over the last few months!
  
  
  The girls, showing off their bling!
  
  
  The newly engaged couple!
  
  
  
  How Did Darock Get the Rock?
  For those who are curious, here's a picture of the rock!!! It's got a bit of bling! I saved up for this ring, in faith, starting five years ago. In order to acquire it, I fasted 122 meals, saved $25 a month for two years, and set apart the Apple stock I acquired while working there. How I got the ring is also evidence of God's favor! For those who keep up with the stock market, I got a few shares of Apple stock on employee discount (I wish I had gotten more) when the stock price was $11 way back in 2002. Click here if you're curious to see what the price is now. =) When you obey His word and keep in faith, God never fails to prove Himself faithful!!!
  
  
  
  
  Pictures of the Evening (Christian's camera)
  Engagement Surprise (Melissa's camera)
  Engagement Surprise (Alex's camera)
  
  
  PS - There's one more crazy part of all this... a few days after the proposal, we both realized that the proposal taking place in an elevator was revealed to Erin prophetically in a dream back in July. For those who are open, ask us and we'll be glad to tell you how frequently God has used dreams to speak to us in these last six months!

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