It all began with one phone call. As cliche as it sounds, I really do remember it like it was
yesterday. It was the Summer of 2017 and I was getting ready to travel to Boston for a
convention the following day. I was packing my belongings, when I received a phone call from my
wonderful aunt Mrs. Priscilla Madu, who periodically calls to check in on me. My Aunty doesn’t
beat around the bush and quickly uttered those magical words that I have heard so often: “Are
you dating anyone?” I laughed and listened to what she had to tell me. I told her I would pray
over our discussion and get back to her before I traveled. Like with any decision, I prayed and
I pursued the peace of God. The decision to give my contact information to her wasn’t hard
because I respect and trust my Aunty’s sound judgement and knew she only wants the best for me.
A few days after I arrive home from my trip, I get a text at work from an unknown number. It
read, “Hello is this Chidinma?” and I thought to myself, “Who is this person calling me by my
Igbo name?!” Later that evening, Chisom calls me, and my first thought was “This guy sounds
like an African Uncle!” Thankfully, I was able to get passed his voice and listen to what he
had to tell me and now his voice is one of my favorite sounds to hear. I am not joking when I
say that we talked for nearly 4 hours that night! Those who know me, know I don’t like talking
on the phone, unless we have not spoken in a while. So for Chisom to keep me engaged in
conversation was only by the special grace of God. After our conversation, I knew this guy was
going to be someone special in my life. We had so much in common, and I felt like I could talk
to him about anything. He was so open and non-judgmental and we laughed the entire night. One
particular, random line that I will never forget him asking me (sorry, Nkem I have to tell it)
was “Would you rather be eaten by a lion or a hyena?” I thought that was SOOOO random, but I am
super random as well... so I knew that it was the start to a beautiful beginning.
Fast forward to September 2017, my family and I traveled to Sacramento for the Okwuosa 25th
wedding anniversary (my Dad and Aunty Chisorom are cousins). Chisom’s family is based in
Sacramento, but at the time Chisom was living in Chicago. During this period, Chisom and I were
still just friends and he knew I planned to travel soon but not to Sacramento. At the wedding
reception, my sister and I were enjoying our food from cocktail hour and walking back to our
assigned table when a lady suddenly, but gently, grabs my elbow and says “I know who you are!”
In my head I’m thinking “Ummm, this is awkward,” but I play along and say, “Ohhh, yes Aunty you
look so familiar! Are you from Dallas as well?” I ask her for her name, but she bypasses the
question then proceeds to ask me what my name is. I eventually give in since it is an unspoken
agreement that everyone at the wedding is unofficially your Aunty. I say “Aunty, my name is
Chidinma” thinking she would be pleased to hear my Igbo name. She said “No, what is your other
name?” I nervously laugh to myself and think, “Ah ah! What is going on here?” I tell her my
name is “Sarah” and this huge smile comes on her face like she just won the jackpot. She then
asks me to go with her to take pictures, and once again in my head I am like “No disrespect
Aunty, but you won’t even let me know your name, how do I know what you’re gonna
do with my picture?” LOL! She comes back to our table 3 times, urging me to take the picture
before revealing her identity. My sister and I eventually guess who she is and under the
pressure of our discovery she finally confesses that she is Chisom’s aunt - Mrs. Uchanma Okorocha! My dear Aunty
Uchanma, I have grown to love and cherish you as if I have known you for years. Thank you for
being such a great detective that night and a loving aunty since then. In addition to that
evening, I met other members of Chisom’s family and all the while I had yet to meet Chisom,
himself.
To make this long story short, the following day I get a surprise text from an unknown number
and it turns out to be Aunty Uchanma inviting my family and I to come and have lunch with
Chisom’s family that Sunday afternoon. I was of course so shocked at how quickly
everything was
moving because I hadn’t even met Chisom yet! However, being the loving and welcoming family
that they were, Chisom’s family invited us over for lunch. We accepted the invitation and that
day I met Chisom’s entire immediate family( except his two brothers)—his parents, his sister,
cousins, etc. It was as if our families had known each other for years. The chemistry was there
and we felt so welcomed. I truly felt like I was at home. Fast forward to October, I met Chisom
for the first time on October 21st, 2017. When we met he was expecting it to be awkward, but
there was no awkward silence. We both chatted away like old time friends, I felt free, and had
complete peace.
We have such an interesting and God led story and I wouldn’t want it any other way. I am so
excited to marry one of the most incredible, calm, loving, and thoughtful men I know. Chisom is
my calming wave to my rushing waters. The harmonic rhythm to my heartbeat and the love of my
life. Without effort, Chisom treats and cares for me like a queen. He makes me a priority and
spoils me with his unconditional love. I thank God almighty for allowing our paths to cross and
that God loved me so much that he gave me such a wonderful man to call my leader, my king, my
bestfriend, and my soulmate. I love you so much Chisom, thank you for pursuing my heart and
choosing me as your wife.
Love forever and always
Sarah Chidinma Asonye
a.k.a-Nkem
Chisom’s Story
When people ask me how I met Sarah, I always stop in wonderment. I wonder how in the world I was
so blessed and lucky to be getting married to the most beautiful woman that I have ever grown
to know. Sarah and I first met in October of 2017. We had just been introduced to each other
through our lovely aunties, Mrs Okorocha and Mrs. Madu. For months, I prayed to God for my
“Nkem,” and God and I laughed about my fantasy stories of how we would meet. In my mind’s eye,
I was going to meet her on a train or possibly at a bus-stop. God laughed and even now I can
admit that I must have been watching too many movies. Unbeknownst to me, my Nkem was coming in
an entirely different, yet equally marvelous, package.
Let’s take things back a few months to my birthday in June of 2017. My aunt called to wish me a
happy birthday and in the middle of that congratulatory conversion, she initiated the typical
Nigerian aunty question:”so Chisom hmm, so when are you going to get married?" I laughed and
told her, “Aunty don't worry, she is coming.” "Exactly! she is coming," Aunty Uchanma replied. She
then told me about a woman named “Sarah.” At first, I thought she was joking about one of those
Bible stories, which would not be unusual given the relationship I have with my family members.
Before the end of the conversation, my interests were peaked and I asked for Sarah's phone
number. About a month later, we started talking on the phone and through text message. She
would ask me all these scenario questions, and I would answer to the best of my ability. We
realized quickly that we loved similar things. We both loved the Lord, we loved to travel, and
we both loved and cared deeply about our friends and family.
When I was 10 years old, I shared the details of my vision for the kind of woman I wanted to
marry. My young 10 year old mind was so clear on my desires that I even noted where I wanted
her hometown to be. Years later, God granted me all of my wishes and answered every level of my
prayers. It was Sarah. 3 months after the initial "Hello,” I flew from Chicago, where I was
completing my last month of medical school, to Dallas, where I would meet Sarah for the first
time at DFW airport. I was already anticipating that awkward silence in the car as we left the
airport, but that never silence never came. We chatted like long lost friends and danced
throughout that ride. She was and still is, the goofiest, funniest, and most loving person I
have ever met. Our first official date was at the Texas State Fair in Dallas and before the day
was over, I knew that I couldn’t afford to not see her again.
Exactly one year after that first date, I came back again to ask her to spend the rest of her
life with me. She said YES! "Nkem,” as I fondly call her, is a gentle spirit, an open heart,
and a lover of everyone around her.
Come August 2019, by the special grace of God and in the presence of our friends and families,
I am super excited to get married to my bestie and future wife, Sarah Chidinma Asonye.
Love Always
Chisom Ofodire
