Ed & Marian Purisima
Class 62 - Sagrada Familia
Manila Chapter
My husband Ed and I had our Marriage Encounter weekend last August of 2011. I thought we had a great marriage, after being good friends for two (2) years, in a relationship for three (3) years and being married for 19 years, yes, we had our shares of ups and downs but I never really know just how strong it was.
But after attending the Marriage Encounter, I must say it has been a blessing, uplifting, enlightening in our life and there is still much more to learn and discover about each other. ME also brought about renewal of our commitment to each other and building stronger relationship.
Through ME, we made new found friends that are the same path with us. Our lives will never be the same as before. Every other week, we make it a point to attend the ME reunion, at times, we almost giggle with excitement to see our ME friends and family. This is our pledge and our own little way in returning to God our blessings and experience.
Now, we see our marriage as an instrument of God's love and we are so grateful and truly blessed.
By: Marian Purisima
MESF-62
Gene & Tricia Chilton - Burnsville, Minnesota (United States)
We thought we had a great marriage but we went to the weekend to appease Tricia's sister. We went with an open mind, but with all the skepticism in the world. Halfway through the second day we felt the power of the holy spirit in full force, and even now can't believe how much it's changed our lives. It was absolutely the most amazing thing we have been through. We started this off with us "thinking we had a great marriage" and that's all it was, a thought. We owe our marriage and our new lives to WWME, our love is so much deeper than anything we could have imagined. God Bless.
Michael & Tracy Dodd - Cedar Rapids, Iowa (United States)
[We] have been married for 10 years, and have three children. We attended the ME this weekend, just 6 hours ago we were renewing our wedding vows with around 20 other couples. The ME Weekend was just what we needed for our marriage. In the last 10 years we've been through 10 major operations, amputation and a total knee replacement. All this had put our marriage to a test, and there were still stresses trying to tear us apart. The ME weekend helped us to open up to each other and through dialoguing were able to put many of the hurts and doubts behind us for good! We now have the tools to take on the next 60 years!
Nicole Son - Daughter - Phoenix, Arizona (United States)
This is a little different from the testimony that you asked for, but when I saw this page, I felt I had to write. My parents, Wes and Vicki Fach, made their weekend in 1981 in New Jersey, were a team couple for many years, and were execs in San Diego, CA. I thank God every day that my parents were encountered - their relationship has been a shining example to me and my siblings of what a marriage should be. They have been dialoguing daily for well over 10 years, and this communication has sustained them through many difficult times. A Marriage Encounter Weekend was the greatest gift my parents ever gave their children. Thanks ME!
Jeff & Lee Annitz - Murphysboro, Illinois (United States)
Our ME weekend has been the most wonderful anniversary gift we could have ever given each other. Our busy schedules with work, children and outside activities were taking a large toll on our marriage. It seemed we were letting our marriage happen- and not making an effort to be involved in it ourselves. Since the ME weekend, we feel more in control of our family. We are making a more concentrated effort to maintain a much higher level of communication than ever before. Before the weekend, our communication level hovered at the Neanderthal level. We were living in the Land of the Lost. Now our love is rekindled, rejuvenated and energized. We are communicating on a much higher level and we actually like to listen to one another. At times we feel almost giddy with excitement for our new found friend- our note book! We look forward everyday to our evening dialogue, and the new discoveries we will make about each other.
Kevin & Joan Ankrom - Boise, Idaho (United States)
Kevin and I recently attended a Marriage Encounter Weekend and I must say first of all that I am glad that I listened to God calling me to fill out the form to attend the weekend. After 21 years of marriage, Marriage Encounter has been another blessing in our life together. I believe this ministry is a valuable resource for married couples. The information and knowledge that Marriage Encounter provides is another tool that God leaves laying in our paths on our daily faith walks in life. Being aware and taking the time to reach for that tool is another wonderful opportunity and gift from the love of God. I encourage all couples to reach out hand in hand, together, for the gift that God has left for you.
Angelica & Robert DiNiro - Miami, Florida (United States)
My husband and I had our weekend about two years ago and I must say that it was the best decision we had ever made. We learned so much about each other, and we learned about the different tools we needed in order to better communicate with each other. We are also attending the circle meeting each month and we continue learning. We have now been married for 4 years, we have a 5 month old baby boy and we are more in love than we have ever been. I would recommend the weekend to everyone from the bottom of my heart, it really works!!!!
Travis & Denise Wiese - McCook, Nebraska (United States)
My husband and I had our weekend recently. We've been married for 5 years. and at the time I thought we had a good marriage, I never dreamed that we would have a great marriage until after our weekend. We fell in love all over again and learned a new way of being intimate. We are so grateful and feel truly blessed to be a part of WWME.
Mike & Stacy Burri - Troy, Missouri (United States)
What a great weekend. It has been almost two weeks since we have been to our weekend and we are still dialoguing and it has been a wonderful experience. We recommend it to everyone. You always think your marriage is perfect, or you don't need to learn how to communicate with each other because you already know how, but there is always room for improvement and lessons to learn. What a blessing to bring something like this to your marriage. Thank you for everything you did for us.
Dave & Rosie Goss - Lancaster, Pennsylvania (United States)
It has been four years since we attended our original weekend. That Marriage Encounter weekend changed our lives and our relationship with each other. Our faith in God has never been stronger. Many times God blesses us in ways we never anticipated. Marriage Encounter was truly a blessing in disguise. It has become our personal ministry. Our Marriage Encounter community is comprised of many couples who have become our closest friends. In June 2005, we celebrated 32 years of marriage and our relationship with each other continues to grow. Many thanks to all the couples and priests who are part of this ministry. God is great in all of you!
David & Jackie Scott - Edmonton, Alberta (Canada)
Well, it's Monday and we just finished our Marriage Encounter Weekend in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Let me tell you it was the most exciting and emotional weekend we have experienced in our 13 years of marriage. We are all taught how to balance a cheque book from our parents, or how to fix things around the house, but no one ever teaches us how to talk and listen to our spouses. This weekend I finally learned how to communicate with my wife for the first time in 13 years and what a relief. I cannot thank you enough for this program and the opportunity that you presented to us this weekend THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.
Dan & Vikki Schultz - Antrim, New Hampshire (United States)
Every married couple, young or old needs this marriage encounter. It was amazing!
