Wayne Lynne Anema, Jr was born in Chicago Heights, IL to Wayne and Donna Anema on November 11, 1983. Die Hard Chicago Sports Fans, who raised their son accordingly!He enlisted in the Air Force on September 25, 2001.
He served his first five years in Tucson, AZ at Davis-Monthan AFB.
Sara Beth Illikainen was born a Packer Fan in Green Bay, WI to Robert and Ann Illikainen on September 26, 1972. She grew up in Hartland, WI; went to College in Upland, IN; and enlisted in Milwaukee on March 27, 1996. She served in Florida at Tyndall AFB, in Italy at Aviano AB, then in Arizona at Luke AFB, before meeting Wayne in Korea.
Apparently, even the designer of garbage pail Kids trading cards thought we belong together!
This is the Front and Back of a card that someone Sara works with had given her after they heard that we were getting married.
We met in Songtan, Republic of Korea at a Chapel ministry. We both were in the worship team for the Contemporary Service on Sunday evenings. Wayne played the drums and Sara lead worship as a vocalist. We would spend countless hours on Friday and Saturday nights singing worship songs together. Wayne would play his guitar and Sara would sing along with him. We eventually started singing songs together and we lead worship a couple of times for a worship service off base.
Our first unofficial date was to Nanta, a theatrical play with percussion, downtown Seoul.
Sara drove a car full of people apart of a caravan. With the Friday e
vening traffic it took us several hours. Even though the trip took a long time, the people in the car were great. We laughed the entire trip. Despite our every effort, the caravan started with three and arrived with two. And we missed all but 20 minutes, but it was memorable in itself. Sara almost Peed her mants that night we were laughing so hard during the drive! On this trip 
we passed a resturaunt that depicted the trip o' so poetically...
vening traffic it took us several hours. Even though the trip took a long time, the people in the car were great. We laughed the entire trip. Despite our every effort, the caravan started with three and arrived with two. And we missed all but 20 minutes, but it was memorable in itself. Sara almost Peed her mants that night we were laughing so hard during the drive! On this trip 
we passed a resturaunt that depicted the trip o' so poetically...Our second date was to Seoul. Wayne, Sara and Gabriella ventured out on the train to the COEX mall. 
We shopped and ate Korean food. Ella loves Korean noodles and ate very well. Wayne even was adventurous and tried the food. He did quite well. It was a definite cultural experience! We walked around the huge mall; I think it has at least nine floors. There is a cinema with too many choices to include an IMAX.
We ended up in the music section of one department store; needless to say, Wayne showed Ella how to drum. 
It was quite a sight. Even some onlookers started taking pictures. Sure wish we had the video camera that day. Oh well.
We shopped and ate Korean food. Ella loves Korean noodles and ate very well. Wayne even was adventurous and tried the food. He did quite well. It was a definite cultural experience! We walked around the huge mall; I think it has at least nine floors. There is a cinema with too many choices to include an IMAX.
We ended up in the music section of one department store; needless to say, Wayne showed Ella how to drum. 
It was quite a sight. Even some onlookers started taking pictures. Sure wish we had the video camera that day. Oh well.Grammy (Ann Illikainen, Sara’s Mom) slipped down some slick marble steps and broke her leg. Being Gabriella’s daycare, Sara needed some help. A couple of guys from church volunteered to help get Ann out of the car and up three flights of stairs to our apartment (no elevator). And Wayne volunteered to stay and assist wherever he was needed. Sara was working day shift during that time and Wayne happened to be working swing shift. So, while Sara was at work during the day, Wayne tended to Gabriella and Ann. Then when Sara returned from work, Wayne would go to work and then return after to ensure that someone would be there around the clock to assist Ann in case she fell. Sara was unable to lift Grammy alone if she had fallen. Her recovery was slow, but steady. She was on some pretty hefty pain killers for the first week or so. Wayne was a life saver!
He camped out on the couch and helped out tremendously. Needless to say, I was definitely gaining more interest in this man as he was willing to help out with my mom and truly being caring. He would play with Ella and straighten up the apartment. It was amazing.
We put together a song to sing for the offertory at the Chapel, David Crowder Band’s “Only You Lord.”
We really enjoyed ministering on the worship team, but due to some conflict of opinion, we were asked to step down from our leadership position. It was a difficult decision, but we decided that we would rather remove ourselves from a position of leadership and not cause others to not be able to serve where they needed. The real deal of the conflict was Wayne was at the end of a very bad marriage, the divorce papers were already in progress. The relationship had been over for more than a year, but they stayed together because Wayne did not believe in divorce. He tried to make it work. However, right after he arrived in Korea, his ex-wife committed adultery within weeks of Wayne’s departure. He forgave her and said they could work on it, but then she did it again twice. So, he absolved himself from the relationship and prayed and fasted for more than three weeks.
We put together a song to sing for the offertory at the Chapel, David Crowder Band’s “Only You Lord.”
We really enjoyed ministering on the worship team, but due to some conflict of opinion, we were asked to step down from our leadership position. It was a difficult decision, but we decided that we would rather remove ourselves from a position of leadership and not cause others to not be able to serve where they needed. The real deal of the conflict was Wayne was at the end of a very bad marriage, the divorce papers were already in progress. The relationship had been over for more than a year, but they stayed together because Wayne did not believe in divorce. He tried to make it work. However, right after he arrived in Korea, his ex-wife committed adultery within weeks of Wayne’s departure. He forgave her and said they could work on it, but then she did it again twice. So, he absolved himself from the relationship and prayed and fasted for more than three weeks.
Prior to starting our relationship we were very good friends. We sang on the worship team together. We talked at length about his relationship; he tried asking me for advice. I refered him to the godly men of the chapel and told him I wished him the best, but I was not the one to talk to, it was just not appropriate.ANYWAYS!!!!
Then there was the Air Force Ball at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul. We dressed up, Wayne in his Service Dress and Sara in her mess dress. 
It was a lovely evening. Dinner was great, even though Wayne’s stomach did not agree on the way home…rough bus ride in the far back seat...(He threw up on the bus)…..
Sara’s Birthday was great. Wayne took her to Puffin. It was very romantic. We purchased some movies and went to Jack and Simcha Gilbert’s apartment to watch the movie and hang out.
It was a lovely evening. Dinner was great, even though Wayne’s stomach did not agree on the way home…rough bus ride in the far back seat...(He threw up on the bus)…..Sara’s Birthday was great. Wayne took her to Puffin. It was very romantic. We purchased some movies and went to Jack and Simcha Gilbert’s apartment to watch the movie and hang out.
September 29th, Sara was able to accomplish one of her goal's by running a half marathon.
She prepared for six months with two friends from church, Amber Divers and Jeanne (Hartman) Zuniga. The marathon took place in Yangyang, a small coastal town in the northeast corner of South Korea, during the annual Songii mushroom festival. 
There were six of us who traveled the day before race to camp out so the girls could be there in plenty of time to scout out the area in preparation. Even though the race was long, Amber, Jeanne and Sara all finished. 
Next significant event was Gabriella’s 3rd birthday. 
We threw her a huge 
party with lots of friends and presents. She got her first car. It was very exciting. 
Wayne went TDY to Texas for a couple weeks and surprised both Gabriella and Sara
with
new wardrobes for Christmas. He is so thoughtful.
We threw her a huge 
party with lots of friends and presents. She got her first car. It was very exciting. 
Wayne went TDY to Texas for a couple weeks and surprised both Gabriella and Sara
with
new wardrobes for Christmas. He is so thoughtful.We are extreemly excited about our lives together. We truly know that we have been blessed to have found one another 1/2 way around the world yet such a perfect match.
