Placing God as the centre of their lives created a strong foundation in the relationship that Miqa and Josh Ratukalou chose to pursue.
While Miqa is from Yaroi, Matuku, Lau, Josh is from Nabua, Rewa. The pair courted for five years before uniting in marriage on June 30 this year.
They first met when the pair volunteered for the youth ministry of the World Harvest Centre, the headquarter of Christian Mission Fellowship International based in Kinoya. Miqa assisted with the script writing team while Josh was the head of youth production at the time.
In 2016 they were tasked to be masters of ceremony for the church’s annual family day. The event required them to work closely together.
It was Josh’s character that caught Miqa’s attention because he displayed traits that according to her were ‘outstanding’.
“He was very polite, funny, caring, a gentleman.
He was also very genuine, just being himself, he was intelligent and carried himself well,” Miqa told The Sunday Times.
“I noticed his leadership skills. He was unbiased and always fair and I appreciated the fact that he never treated anyone with indifference.
“But most of all, the main thing that I admired about him was that he had a genuine relationship with God which showed in the way he lived and carried himself.”
Miqa shared that during the early stages of their relationship, she was very prayerful and would share her feelings towards Josh with God, especially after seeing in him the qualities she hoped for in a husband.
“I knew that when I said yes to him, I was saying yes to the person I was going to marry.
“For me my love was at the beginning of our relationship and over the years that love for him grew deeper.”
On September 11, 2022, a traditional engagement (ai lakovi) was performed. Josh’s family headed over to Miqa’s home to ask for her hand in marriage.
“My excitement grew everyday as we got closer to the wedding day,” she said.
“In the midst of our final preparations, Gods peace calmed my heart daily, reassuring me every step of the way that everything would be okay.”
The church service was held at the World Harvest Centre. Miqa thanked all those who made the planning journey sweet.
The initial plan was to play an instrumental song ‘Goodness of God’ as the bride entered and walked down the aisle.
But their senior pastor, who officiated at their wedding proposed something different and special.
Reverend Suliasi Kurulo suggested that Miqa sing the song as she walked down the aisle since she was also part of the church worship team.
“I praise God that I did. As I look back to the outcome, it truly summed up everything I wanted to say to my heavenly Father, for everything in my life up until the point of walking down the aisle to wed the love of my life.
“Another significant part of the church service was the reading out of poems we had written to one another before we said our vows. This was also another idea suggested by our senior pastor, as a true outward expression and declaration of our love for one another.”
Miqa said the i tataunaki was also conducted at the WHC dining hall after the service, where her family officially handed over their daughter to the groom and his family.
For those wanting to get married, the couple strongly feels that seeking wise counsel and committing every decision to God and trusting him were important thoughts to consider.
