====================================================================== "LOVE AT FIRST BYTE"

Deaf Match International, a website bringing together deaf and hard of hearing people from all over the world, is a success according to a happy couple, who is to be wed on October 5th, 2002.

Christian DeNight and Suzanne Russell gave Deaf Match International a try after some prodding by friends. "At first, I didn't want to advertise myself on the website, but my friends said it was a good place to try, so I did", admitted Christian. Added Suzy, "I was encouraged to post on the website when my friend told me she met some nice people on the website. I felt it was safe to try".

The love story started when Christian first surfed the site in August of 2001. Finding Suzy's profile, he e-mailed her, as she had registered earlier in July, along with a number of other women. After waiting and wondering if Suzy was interested, Christian finally received an e-mail from Suzy after a week.

After two months of emailing each other on a friendship basis, they decided it was time to meet. Major butterflies flew in their stomaches as they made arrangements for Suzy to fly to Florida on October 11, 2001.

"I was feeling very nervous. I did not know how it would be", Christian shared when Suzy jumped in, "Me too! But once I laid eyes on you, I fell in love". It was love at first sight, and as the saying goes, the rest is history.

Suzy and Christian added, "Give this website a try, it is worth your time ! It's a fun experience".

This excerpt was re-printed with permission from the Silent News (March 2002 issue). Article written by Jennifer Nasukiewicz.

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December 31, 2002

To Deaf Match International:

Here is my jubilant testimony to share how Mark "Tony" Worley and I met: verily, we would have never ever met; however, by the power of the Lord, our God whom has brought us together in His peculiar way. The Lord shepherded us to access Deaf Match International internet that conducted us into the godly love connection. In the preceding proposal of marriage, I shared my vision with Mark, "Walk in the Truth" ministry to the deaf. Mark uttered to me from his heart, "Let's team up together in this future ministry!" Definitely yes, he is the man I had been praying for a partner to do this future ministry. Indeed, we are meant for each other. I am telling you, I am deeply in love with him enough to marry Mark! He fits in my heart just right. FINALLY, my soul longing has arrived. Praise the Lord!

Interestingly, back in 1974, Mark and I had been resided in the same dormitory at Florida School for the Deaf; he was on the first floor, whereas I was on the second floor. We both attended the same Middle School department. We were in same vocational class for several weeks in the spring of 1975. I had watched all FSDB home games of varsity wrestling which he was on the team. Yet, we never noticed each other nor knew each other's name at all. He left FSDB in the end of school year of 1975.

We both astounded that we received Jesus Christ as our Savior on the same month and the same year of July 1976 at our discrete destinations. Also, Mark & his two sons moved back to Florida from Tennessee four years ago, whereas I moved back to Miami from Knoxville, Tennessee two years ago. We have had our own pilgrimages for 27 years asunder.

After 8 months together through email correspondence and visitation, Mark is truly a godly man. He anchors his heart out of obedience to abide by God's Word steadfastly. We both are suitable to walk in the same path of the Truth together. 'Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?' (2Corinthians 6:14). I see Jesus in Mark's heart and his spirit. I admire Mark's love for the Lord, our God. Indeed, Mark is an unspeakable gift to me from God.

In His Amazingly Grace,

Elsa Lopez-Worley ("Aletheia39")

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September 4, 2002

Dear Friends at Deaf Match International:

Here is another success story for you to share with other readers.

Rodney Navratil (DeafMan4U) and Elaine Woody (Lady Fiona) are announcing their engagement as of July 17, 2002 and marriage on Friday, October 25th, 2002 in Thornton, Colorado.

Rod and Elaine met via Deaf Match International last May 16th and immediately "clicked" after the first night of chatting on IM.. then we spent hours daily - 2- 3 hours or 5 hours on weekends chatting and getting to know each other and found we had a million things in common! Both of us are in our 50's but feel like we are in our 20's! Goes to show that Love has a wonderful effect on anyone at any age!

Elaine was widowed in January 1998 and Rod was previously married and has 4 grown adult children and one granddaughter and another grandbaby on the way. Elaine has 4 grown adult stepsons and is a stepgrandma of 8 kids all spread out over the Midwest and Hawaii !

Both of us have degrees in Social Work - Elaine has a MSW - from U. of Denver (1994) and Rod has a BS in Social Work from U. of North Dakota (1984)... both of us were at Gallaudet during the late 1960's .. Elaine attended Gally from 1964 to 1968 - graduating in '68 with a BA in Biology.. Rod was a student during prep and freshman years in 1967-68.. Rod remembers seeing Elaine around campus as a busy student leader (Secretary of SBG), Senior Editor at Tower Clock, etc.. and didn't get up the nerve to say "Hello" until 34 yrs later via DeafMatch! Rod lives in Spokane, Washington - and has been working for the U.S.Postal Service for 15 yrs. Elaine has been living in Colorado since 1971 and has worked the past 15 yrs as a Mental Health Therapist in Denver with Deaf Counseling Services ! Rod has flown to Denver 3 times to visit Elaine and proposed on Wed. July 17th after Elaine cooked a homemade dinner of stuffed bell peppers and mashed potatoes ! (goes to prove the way to a guy's heart is through his stomach- Ha!) We decided on an October wedding so that Elaine can make plans to move to Spokane after the wedding. This will be a Scottish/Irish wedding and Rod and his son Aaron who is Best Man, will wear real Scottish Kilts and Elaine will be wearing her family's Tartan Sash - MacDougall clan.. Elaine was born in Boston - Elaine McHowell and Rod is originally from Butte, Montana.. so East meets West and the two shall live happily ever after !!

Submitted by Elaine Woody

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May 24, 2003

Deaf Match International,

I posted my profile last August 2001 and then Samuel found me on Deaf Match International last October 2001. He sent me first e mail and after that we connected right away with beginning of the friendship and relationship. We wrote the longest email messages to each other everyday and then used AIM to chat all night, every night. We fall in love rightaway because we had so much in common. Finally we decided to use the web cam to see each other and we signed to each other. It was fun to see him on web cam and learned that we had different style of sign language. I was from Minnesota and he was from New Mexico.

Finally on January 2002, I went over to New Mexico and met Samuel. We fall in love and it was true love. I decided to move to New Mexico and lived with him last Feb. 2002. He asked me to marry him and I said "yes". From the beginning, I got his first e mail and I knew that he is the one. I could tell from my heart. We got married last August 2002 and we were very happy. Our families were so happy for us all.

Before getting married, we were so surprised that I got pregnant last June 2002 and then we had a beautiful daughter Marissa Rose who arrived on March 2003. We are all happy and we have a wonderful life together. It is the best place to meet someone on Deaf Match International. It is so amazing and now I am a wife and mother.

Thank you very much,

Melissa Murrah ====================================================================

September 14, 2003

Dear Deaf Match International:

True love strikes!

About two years ago, I posted a profile (Elizabeth) on Deaf Match International with almost no information. I couldn't figure out how to delete the profile, and so just left it there. I never expected..

On my birthday, August 3, 2002, I received an email from a Michael Morgan (NICEDEAFGUY) who lived in Tennessee explaining that he would be visiting my area (southwest Washington) and wondering if we would like to get together to meet while he was here. I don't usually take risks, but thought it would be nice to give this a try. We exchanged several emails after he arrived in town on August 10, and agreed to meet in person on August 14.

I knew from the moment that I met him that he was a special man. He was kind, sweet and smart. We talked for quite awhile and then arranged our second date for the upcoming weekend.

It was a whirlwind romance. Sixteen days after we met, Michael proposed, and I accepted. He returned to Tennessee, collected his things, and moved to this area in October of last year. We were married on December 22, 2002, and have been living a wonderful life since that time.

We are expecting our first child, a boy, in late September or early October. God, through Deaf Match International, has answered my prayers. Michael is a dream come true for me, someone whom I will love and cherish for the rest of my life. Thank you so much for this site. We have sent you a picture below.

Elizabeth (Shuey) Morgan

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September 11, 2005

This is our story.

I am a hard of hearing man. I placed profiles in a few deaf dating sites, hoping to find true love. I was not in a hurry, just waiting for the one that would change my life. After a few months, I received an e-mail from DMI that forwarded a reply to my profile from a "LadyPenguin" . I looked up her profile, and was intrigued by what I saw. I sent off a quick reply and went about my life for a few days. Then I received another email from LadyPenguin; she wanted to go to regular emails and use our real names. I learned her name was Kate, and she was deaf from birth. We exchanged emails for a month or so. We got webcams and started chatting on instant messenger. When I saw her move, I was hooked! We kept up the webcam chats for about 3 months. Then, we decided to meet.

As fate would have it, I was laid off from my job at the end of September 2004. I loaded up the car for the drive from Minnesota to Maryland. It was hard to stay under the speed limit as I drove solo. Would she fit in my arms? Would she have that smell? As I parked my car, my heart raced even faster. When I saw her, she slid into my arms and fit perfectly!!! She smelled like wife material!!!

After 3 weeks, I returned to Minnesota to mull over what had been a wonderful time. At that point, I knew what I had to do. I loaded up the car again, and this time I had a proposal. After a nice holiday season, we went for a cabin on the eastern shore of Maryland where I popped the question, and without hesitation, she said "Yes !". Now we are happily married, and I cannot imagine life without her. Thanks, DMI !!!

from "Saywhatkid"

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September 12, 2005

Hi all !

Karen Chriest's version:

In January 2002, my friend informed me about this website so I decided to give it a try. I opened the website in early January and put in my profile. Then I browsed other profiles and saw this man, Samuel Stueland, and contacted him through this website.

He responded after I waited a bit (he was slow at responding!) The reason I decided to check him out is because he likes quiet time and have a son. He was hesitating at first because Im on the west coast and hes on the east coast and didn't want to be far from his son. I don't blame him. But then he became curious about me and decided to be more open with me after about a month or two. I told him Im going to Washington DC anyway for Deaf Way to interpret for Deaf-blind ppl so we agreed that he would meet me at the airport in July 2002. I was nervous!

He turned out to be a nice guy and has great sense of humor and is a good communicator when we have conflicts so hes great. But I was still not ready to be committed to him and poor guy, I kept him on his toes or kept him in limbo alot of times.

After ups and downs, I finally felt ready to be committed to him. My family and friends really like him and felt hes the right guy for me! That is important to me that they like him so Im relieved. Samuel moved to Seattle. Luckily he likes Seattle very much and his son also likes Seattle so that helps!

We finally got married on August 21, 2004 thanks to you all!

Karen Chriest and Samuel Stueland

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If you have a DMI Success Story to share, please e-mail us at success@deafmatchinternational.com