When Merilyn Miller came to Kenya for missionary work in 2019, she did not expect to find the love of her life in the streets of Nairobi.
What was initially a charitable cause blossomed into a love affair that later turned into marriage.
Speaking to Afrimax English, the couple narrated how the love story between Miller and Elvis Aluzimbi began.
Humble background
Born and bred in Western Kenya, Aluzimbi grew up in poverty as his family lived in economic hardships. He relocated to Nairobi to acquire job opportunities for a better lifestyle.
The situation, however, did not fare well as he failed to get any form of employment. As his frustrations grew, Aluzimbi engaged in drugs and alcohol addiction as his solace.
In 2015, Aluzimbi decided to give his life to Christ and change his ways. Months later, he got a chance to do several casual jobs including construction work.
As he strove to earn a better living, he decided to volunteer as a chef at a local company as part of missionary work to help the less fortunate. He noted that he would at times earn a small stipend for his hard work.
Meeting Merilyn
In 2019, Aluzimbi arrived at work and began his shift just as he normally did. However, that particular day, he met up with Merilyn Miller, who hailed from Ohio, United States.
The two instantly bonded over their passion for missionary work. This grew into a personal bond outside of work.
"I found him working in the organisation as a chef. We were conversing as friends. I would help him in cooking," Miller stated.
"The thing that attracted me to her is that she used to assist me in the kitchen. I thought she would make a good wife. We began meeting at social events," Aluzimbi remarked.
Despite working as a casual labourer by day and volunteer work at night, Aluzimbi envisioned starting a family with Miller.
"One day while heading for missionary work, I decided to propose to her inside a bus, and she said yes," he noted.
Following the news, Miller flew back to the US to inform her family of the decision. The news was, however, received with mixed reactions owing to different cultural backgrounds.
However, Miller defied the family's opinion and decided to relocate to Kenya and spend the rest of her life with her fiancee.
In October 2021, she decided to sell her personal belongings including a Jeep to fly to Nairobi. Two months later, the two got married.
