Love is Heavenly
Karina Lew Wong and Robert Moggia
December 29, 2012
For a couple like Karina and Roby, celebrating their Nov. 11th wedding in Soviore overlooking the town of Monterosso today in San Francisco during this Christmas/New Year holiday is what we would expect. They are an international couple. Karina is from San Francisco and Roby is from Monterosso, Italy. It is as different and far away as anyone can imagine unless this marriage is made in heaven.
The story is that Karina after working in London decided to visit Italy and finding nothing was opened except Ristorante Belvedere, Roby’s family restaurant. As a wonderful host, working in the front room of the restaurant, he introduced Karina to the best local wines and interesting places to visit. After many email exchanges, more visits, they soon discovered that they both had a passion for food, wine, travel, and sports. Karina likes basketball and probably the Warriors and Roby likes his Italian soccer team Juventus.
While Italy and California may seem like a world apart, in God’s sight, all of it is God’s one beautiful world. Did you know that in some of the big cities in the US that the Italian American communities are next to the Chinatowns? In Boston, Chinatown is next to the North End. In New York, Chinatown is next to Little Italy. And in San Francisco, Chinatown is next to North Beach. Maybe the two of you are closer than you think. And isn’t it true as foodies, that the Italian Marco Polo traveled to China and brought back spaghetti? The Chinese call it chow mein!
We say, “Love is heavenly” to mean that true love is when God could bring together two very unique people from very different parts of his world and bless them with a commitment to love each other for as long as they both shall live. Karina can share the spacious beauty of America with Roby and Roby can share the historic beauty of Italy with Karina for the rest of your lives. That’s heavenly.
Be mindful that the same sun that shines in Monterosso shines in San Francisco. The one God in Jesus Christ whom Roby knew growing up in the Catholic church is the same God in Jesus Christ that Karina knew growing up in a Baptist church now watches over both of you wherever you are traveling to enjoy God’s spectacular world.
May you, Karina and Roby experience companionship in your lives together,
So that if one might fall climbing up the hills of San Francisco, the other may pick the other up;
So that if one is cold cheering Roby’s soccer team, one may give the other warmth;
So that if one is laughing, one may share the laughter;
So that if one is dreaming of your next travel adventure, one may share that dream;
So that if one is crying, one may comfort the other by wiping away the tears;
You found each other because Roby’s restaurant was the only place opened but now you are opening wide a new door of a new life together.
May God bless your loving marriage that is made in heaven!
Let us pray.
Thank you, O God for bringing Karina and Roby together as one in marriage. Bless them as they grow in love for each other and protect them in their endeavors reminding them that in serving others, they serve you. In their love, they have also brought two families together and we pray that they offer each other support and especially loving care for Karina and Roby in the years to come. Thank you, Lord for the abundance of food that we are about to enjoy, for all wonderful things come from you. May this marriage be a blessing, not only for Karina and Roby, but also for many others who will be touched by their lives. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.
Don Ng, 12/29/2012