Our Story  

             Woodrina and I were married in May 1991 in Chesapeake, VA during which I was in the United States Navy stationed aboard the USS John F Kennedy CV-67.  We were both 20 years old and had no idea what the future of marriage would bring us.  We had been together 2 years prior to getting married and we both knew that we wanted to build a family and a future together.  We both had committed our lives to Christ prior to getting married.  Four days after our wedding our daughter Marissa was conceived.  The following year we had a beautiful baby girl and this was the start of our young family.  We were both madly in love and enjoying the marital bliss.  Woodrina was the apple of my eye and my goal was to be the best husband and father I could be to her and my child.  We were both active in ministry and I was already being groomed to be a minister, I had preached my first sermon at the age of 19.   To many people we were the example of a happy christian family.  Three years after we had been married I received orders to go the Republic of Panama.  During this time, Woodrina was also pregnant with our son DaVee'.  As I prepared to go overseas, Woodrina and our daughter were preparing to go to my home in Birmingham, AL.  Woodrina was not able to come overseas until our son, DaVee', was able to fly.  Woodrina and I both were so excited about our new addition to the family.  I had always prayed for a son and a daughter.

              I was in Panama making all of the arrangements to be prepared for my family.  While I was there I was also looking for a good church for my family and I to attend.  Meanwhile, I was staying in the single barracks with a roommate waiting for my family to come.  This is where I begin to slip away from the principles and values that I knew were mandatory to have a good marriage.  My mother left my father when I was about 3 yrs old because he was cheating on her.  So, I knew the pain of cheating or having an affair.  In spite of my relationship with Jesus and all the love I had for my wife and children, I begin to have an affair.  The affair only lasted over a period of weeks because I knew I had to stop because my wife and children were soon coming to Panama.  I asked to be moved to another room where I could be by myself, and during this time I went back to what my mother had taught me which was repenting unto God and fasting and praying.  I asked God to forgive me and to please not allow me to lose my family.  During this time, God taught me several things about forgiveness, grace and mercy.  So, I hid the affair from everyone, except my old roommate, as if it never happened.  Woodrina would tell you when she came to Panama these were the 3 best years of our marriage.  This was another lesson about grace that God taught me.

               There are several details that I am not going to get into, however when the book "A Blessed Affair" hits the shelves be sure to pick up a copy to find out more. Thirteen years later, after my affair that I hid  from Woodrina, she had an affair.  Although she was emotionally, spiritually, financially and mentally broken I never thought for an instance Woodrina would cheat on me. She disclosed her affair after about 3 months, along with she also stated to me, "she loved me but was no longer in love with me".  God had prepared me to fight for my marriage.  The spirit of the Lord had told me to be careful what you curse because your curse could be your blessing.  I knew Woodrina was my destiny partner and I had to do everything possible to save my marriage.  During this time God spoke to me and said, "Life Coach" I had never heard of a Life Coach, but I did some research and the rest is history.  God placed this passion for couples in our hearts, and he allowed us to go through the greatest test of love in a marriage to become an example for others.  We know the pains and all of the dark days that come after trust has been broken.  But for those who are destined to be together we also know the joy of restoring the breach and bringing order back to your destiny.  Woodrina and I are committed to saving lives, restoring marriages and building dreams.  We both understand that all marriages cannot be restored, but we both know that changing perspectives and forgiveness must happen.  Woodrina and I today would most definitely be divorced if the affairs in our lives did not happen.  But God chose to strengthen and bless our marriage through the most painful emotion any person could have to face.  We are not only trained and experienced in helping and supporting you to overcome infidelity, but we are also gifted in the area of emotional healing.

              P.O. Box 65487 . Virginia Beach. VA 23467 . 757 404 9200 . Email: martez@overcomingaffairs.com