Tyrel Wolfe, who was seven years old at the time, was assisting his parents in the year 2000 in the process of packing Christmas shoebox presents for children in the Philippines.

As part of the operation that was being carried out by Operation Christmas Child, which was being organized by Samaritan’s Purse, various items such as school materials, toiletries, and small presents were packaged.

It was requested that each individual who contributed by packing a shoebox provide a picture of themselves along with their contribution. As a direct consequence of this, the young guy posted a picture of himself.

When Wolfe was 21 years old, he received a friend request on Facebook from a lady whose name was Joanna Marchan. Because he didn’t consider it to be relevant to his life, he didn’t give it any attention.

“After a period of two years, Marchan sent me a second request to be her buddy.” This time, Wolfe gave a response, in which he expressed his interest about how she was able to recognize him and asked her about it.

Marchan told him that she had gotten the shoebox gift and picture from Wolfe and that she had kept them in a place of honor ever since she had received them. She continued by saying that she had written a thank-you note, but that it had been misplaced in the mail for some reason. As soon as he laid eyes on her, all of those doubts disappeared.

“I had to hit myself a number of times when I ultimately got there and saw her because I felt it was a dream.”

The chemistry was advantageous for both parties. In accordance with the custom of Marchan’s family, neither of them could be legally married without first receiving the approval of Marchan’s father.

Wolfe was disappointed to be forced to go back to his old home, but the experience only served to harden his determination. “It was one of the most difficult farewells I’ve ever had to say since we didn’t know when we’d see one other again.

I made a commitment to her that I would contact her as soon as I could, no matter what it took.”

On a further journey to Manila a few months later, during which Tyrel was this time accompanied by his own father Ivan, he was successful in obtaining papa bear’s approval to marry Marchan.

This lovely story, which is not at much a work of fiction, teaches us that if we have an open heart and a modicum of trust, love and magic are all around us, waiting to be discovered.