God Used a Cigarette

As the e-mails continued to flow, the two increasingly shared information about themselves. Jim learned a great deal about Maria's extensive family, her three children, and how she spent many years raising them alone. Maria learned of Jim's troubled past, his addiction to alcohol, and his ongoing addiction to cigarettes. Every e-mail contained references to God as they shared their growing faith with each other, and interspersed in all their communications were small clues that the infatuation Jim had for Maria was not all one way. Jim first sees Maria singing in her church choir. Entranced by her beauty and ardent worship, Jim muses about meeting her but dismisses the thought as he must return home to the United Kingdom. On a subsequent trip to San Antonio, Jim's friend Steve sets him up on a blind date; his date is with Maria! Their date is awkward, and Jim again returns to the UK, but soon Jim and Maria e-mail each other on a daily basis. They share their faith in God and their lives. Little by little, what started as a clumsy first date turns into something more. Their love blooms, but there are numerous obstacles to overcome. Can their relationship endure over a long distance? What will their families think? Will Jim give up all of his vices for Maria? Will Jim's past prevent him from obtaining a green card? They address these problems the only way they know how: they raise them up to God. Find out how God helps people find love in mysterious ways, and in Jim and Maria's case, how GOD Used a Cigarette.