A woman from the United States travelled a very long distance to a small village in Andhra Pradesh, India, to marry a man she met on Instagram. The woman, named Jaclyn Forero, is a photographer. She saw Chandan’s Instagram profile and liked how simple, kind, and religious he was. He follows the Christian faith strongly, and that made her feel connected to him.

What started with a simple “Hi” turned into daily conversations. Over the next 14 months, Jaclyn and Chandan built a deep emotional bond through online chats. They are now preparing to get married and begin a new life together.

“I messaged Chandan first,” says Jaclyn

In an Instagram post, Jaclyn shared their journey, saying, “14 months together and ready for a BIG new chapter.” She also posted a 45-second video that captured special moments from their time together.

Jaclyn wrote, “I messaged Chandan first. From his profile, I noticed that he was a passionate Christian man who knew theology.” She felt connected to his interests, which included music, art, and photography – the same passions she holds close to her heart.

After eight months of dating online and receiving strong support from her mother, Jaclyn and her mom flew to India to meet Chandan in person. She described the trip as “the trip of a lifetime”.

Facing judgement but staying strong

Jaclyn opened up about the reactions they received from others. “People have been everything from judgemental to supportive to rude to very positive, awkwardly silent and everything in between. And let’s not forget the age difference,” she wrote. Jaclyn is nine years older than Chandan.

Even with all odds, she says their faith kept them strong. “The odds were stacked against us, but God has been miraculously opening doors and providing for us each step of the way. Because he [Jesus] brought us together, and he'll see us through,” she said.

Their story has touched many hearts online. One person wrote, “9 years is nothing. My husband and I have a 10.7 age difference... So happy for you both!” Another user shared, “Me and my husband are also an international couple... It's been 9 years already. I hope the best for you both in your romantic love story.”

The couple also runs a YouTube channel, where they describe themselves as “a divorced Christian mother struggling to find love centred on faith meets a younger man on Instagram living in a remote village in Andhra Pradesh”.

Jaclyn and Chandan are now applying for his visa so they can start a new chapter together in the US. She said they are excited and hopeful for the future, ready to take on the adventures that lie ahead.

 

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