God Uses Cyberspace to Unite
Crash Victim and Soul Mate

(Article from the Sunday Times)

A South African man whose life was shattered when he was paralyzed from the waist down in a car accident has found love and happiness through the Internet.

Life changed dramatically in 1980 for Gregory Murray, of Sun Valley near Cape Town, when he drove into a tree on Chapman's Peak drive and lost the use of his legs. Confined to a wheelchair, he was unable to return to his job as a pattern maker in the Simonstown Naval Dockyard. He continued to work for the South African Navy as a Lithographic Draughtsman until 1990 when he was laid off due to Navy cutbacks. With little prospect of finding another job in his trade, he turned to his computer and compiled cricket statistics as a hobby.

While surfing the Internet in February of 1997, Greg came across a pen pal website. Although actually seeking for something else, he stayed on the site long enough to choose three Christian women with whom to correspond. After a time, one of these women, Jenny Likins from America, and Greg developed a close relationship via email, and the following February Jenny traveled to Cape Town to meet him for the first time.

For years the couple talked about marriage but neither was prepared to give up their home country. Finally, after much prayer Greg decided to ask for Jenny’s hand in marriage. They became officially engaged on New Year’s Eve 1999. Jenny happily said yes and the 6-month long process of immigration began.

Separation was hard on the loving couple. Jenny visited Cape Town again in February of 2000, and at last Greg arrived in Denver on July 8, 2000. Arrangements were made for the wedding, which was held on August 13 in Canon City, Colorado.

Greg's sister, Melody Poilly, said: "Greg's life has changed dramatically since he met Jenny. He went from feeling sorry for himself to being a vibrant and independent personality."

Jenny bought a suitable house prior to Greg’s arrival - one that is accessible for Greg's wheelchair. Jenny who is a chiropractor, has her own practice, and Greg has honed his web design skills and opened his own website designer agency, Lighthouse Web-Designs.

"The Internet can be quite a dangerous playground but it is a wonderful place to meet people from all walks of life We know that God used the Internet in bringing the two of us together," the couple said.