JaMahl + Maya’s Wanderlove Story

Her Name: Kismiya
Her Birthplace: Chesapeake, VA
His Name: JaMahl
His Birthplace: Richmond, VA

Where did you meet? Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA.
JaMahl: “We first met at a game night/get-together hosted by the campus ministry we both belonged to. I remembered Maya from middle school and knew her older sister. I introduced myself as if I didn’t recognize her and mentioned that I thought she looked familiar and from somewhere.”

Can you identify specific decisions or life events that brought you together?  We both were members of the same campus ministry and became leaders within the ministry that next summer. She and I each decided to fast for spiritual growth in our walks with Christ. During that time, we individually realized that we were meant for each other.

What were your first impressions of each other and what initially attracted you?

Maya: “JaMahl seemed pretty cool and was always down to hang out and try new things. He was available to do things that a lot of people didn’t want to do or didn’t have time to do. What attracted me to him was God living in him.”

JaMahl: “Maya had a deep desire to learn more about Christ. She wasn’t the average Christian and wanted to go deeper within her walk with the Lord. That’s one of the things I looked for in a future wife. My very first impression before I knew who she was, she seemed high-maintenance; only because of what she had been wearing at the time I first saw her: a fur vest and high heel boots.”

As you saw more of each other, what really made you fall in love?

Maya: “JaMahl was patient and thoughtful. He cared about his relationship with God and had the desire to help people.”

JaMahl: “Maya brought out of me what a lot of women couldn’t. I was very reserved and conservative in who I would open myself up to, but with her I could be myself no matter how crazy or goofy I acted. She also had a constant desire to mature in her walk with the Lord and it challenged me daily to do the same.”

Did your love face any big challenges? Any differences you had to work through?

JaMahl: “In the summer of ‘14, I went away for 3 months to Rector, PA to work at a Christian sports camp. There was no cell phone service so this was our first time dealing with a long distance relationship. It was rough but we made it through with constant letter writing and focused attention on God.  We are totally two different people with two different personalities; raised differently as well. Not living together before marriage was a tough adjustment and we noticed that we had to immediately discuss our differences and learn to reason and compromise.”

Who proposed and how? JaMahl proposed in March ‘15 at Firebird’s Restaurant in Chesterfield, VA. He set up a “birthday lunch” for her which was actually a proposal. While Maya and her family arrived, JaMahl hid on the other side of the restaurant and had the manager bring over a plate with a ‘birthday’ cupcake on it. JaMahl walked up behind him and got down on one knee. He’d painted the words on the plate: “You’re my good thing; proof of God’s mercy. Will you marry me?” Her ring was on top of the cupcake.

Describe your style as a couple:
Modern, yet simple and trend setting.

What interests or passions do you share?
Serving others, reading the Bible and worshipping, trying new restaurants and different foods, mentoring teens, being self-employed, and traveling.

“We believe that people should be loved and not judged. We both came to be who we are today because we discovered the powerful love of Christ. He loved us the way we were, but loved us even more to not leave us there. We realized that He wasn’t condemning us for the wrong in our lives, but rather wanted to show us what believing in Him was truly about; finding hope in hopeless circumstances. In the midst following Him, we found each other and hope to spread the same life-changing love He’s shown us to the world.”

Maya wants to open a life-transition program for the homeless and JaMahl hopes to start a mentoring program for young teens. Maya is a high school teacher and JaMahl is an entrepreneur and wedding & portrait photographer.