Ten years into their marriage, she is still waiting for him to pop the question. As I close the interview he asks to pray for him to get the courage to do it.

"We became such great friends; we planned our wedding without me proposing. It is funny. Margaret and I are still dating," Sam says. His word of wisdom: "Don't marry somebody you will be ashamed to present before your friends and in public."
Hers: “Don’t set standards that are too high. If he only has a diploma, see his potential for a degree. It is who, not what he is that matters.”

So how did you meet?
Sam: I first saw Margaret at a friend’s wedding in Soroti in 1995. She was singing in the choir. The moment I saw this girl, I was attracted to her. I could not do much to pursue her though, because I was due to leave for the US for two years to study. Besides, I found it hard to approach her because I was in Church of Uganda while she was a member of  PAG (Pentecostal Assemblies of God).
I did not see her again until at a leaver’s ball fellowship overnight at The Uganda College of Commerce, Soroti. But I still found it difficult to approach her, so I left without letting her know how I felt.
While abroad, I embarked on writing letters to her. In the letters I  introduced myself and told her that I wanted to be friends with her. Margaret never wrote back but I kept writing anyway.
With time I sort of gave up because I was not sure she was receiving any of my letters.
Then there came an opportunity to return to Uganda for two weeks in the middle of my study. But even when I tried talking with her, I did not achieve much. 
With my first masters out of the way, I returned for one- and- a-half years. During that period we got to know eachother a little better; so that by the time I was due for a second masters we had become great friends. We communicated back and forth.
When I was left with six months to finish with my studies, an opportunity came for me to return briefly for the consecration Bishop Charles Obaikol. I managed to meet her brother who was also her guardian. I declared my intentions to marry his sister before I left. Three months later I was back for our wedding. Up to now we are still getting to know one another.
Margaret:  I only got to know later that he had been a guest at the ball. Then I was a student and a member of the Christian Union committee.
A friend at church told me that he had a success card for me but I did not know from who it was. For some reason the card did not reach me and I did not insist. The card had been from Sam.
Not so long afterwards I started receiving airmail from the US. Interestingly there was no hint that he had a hidden intentions or that he had any romantic feelings toward me. I received all the letters he sent me but I just never wrote back. I was not into the whole pen pal stuff. Then there was this particular letter in which he mentioned that he would be in the country for two weeks. I did not pay much attention to it though. I even forgot all about it.
On a Sunday after I had just led praise and worship, somebody tapped me on the shoulder. It was an elderly woman in the church who told me that there was somebody who wanted to meet me. I saw him and recognised him from a picture in one of the letters.  The woman later left us to talk.
From then on we started to get to know each other. He would pass by my place of work just to say hallo and call to check on me occasionally. After one and a half years, he went back for his second masters. We kept communicating through email and fax and became such great friends we started planning our wedding without even realizing it. Sam never proposed yet we got married. I am still waiting for him to get on his knees and do the honours.

What attracted you to  eachother? 
Sam: When I saw Margaret, it was like a bell just went off: There was just something about her that drew me. And the more I got to know her the more I discovered this sense of mystery about her that up to now am still discovering. There were times in our relationship I wondered if it would end into marriage. But the thought of another man discovering her just made me cringe.
Margaret: When I look back now, the thing that made me stop and think of this man was his patience and persistence. It took him such a long time pursuing me. Any other man could have given up on me. And he did not have a fake personality. My friends and some relatives tried to talk me out of the relationship because then Sam was a parish priest. They said priests did not have much and that I could get married to a professional. I could have listened to them but I saw something in him that no body else could. For me he offered a certain sense of security. I knew he was somebody with whom I could build a future.

What do you respect most about your spouse?
Margaret: Sam is very charming; he is a talented footballer and whenever I saw him play I just could not help but say “that’s my Sam”. He also plays the guitar, which I love to hear him do. He is focused, hard working and a planner even without resources. In most cases resources come when there already is a plan in place.
Another thing about him is that he is a peacemaker and tolerant. Sam never keeps a grudge and because of this, he ministers to me as a mentor and pastor. He is a principled man. I am glad he did not give up on me because I would have missed a great man.
Sam: What I respect most about Margaret is her godliness, respect and personal charm. Margaret draws people to herself. She is a hard worker and a good mother to our children. I could not have gotten a better mother for them.

A word of wisdom
Sam: When you are choosing someone for a lifetime commitment, you need to focus on three areas: Brains, beauty and godliness. The beauty should be one that never fades, based on character. And be realistic. You can never get 100% but if you have three quarters, it is just enough. And be sure to choose somebody you will not be ashamed to present before friends and in public.
Also be patient. There are very many uncertainties about life and the future in general but you have to be sure about the person and the timing.
Margaret: It is never too early to pray for a spouse, and what you want in them. God listens and he will attract the right kind of people toward you. Also, do not set standards that are too high; it is not fair because even you could not meet some of them. Focus on who the person is, not what they have. If he only has a diploma, look at his potential for growth. And respect yourself; do not get carried away by the global pressure but focus on your inner beauty. No honourable man wants to marry a dishonourable woman. It is important to build great friendships, especially with a potential spouse because even in marriage you will need a relationship built on friendship.
The Opols got married on 19th Agust, 2000.