Both shared their reflections during the Young Leaders Prayer Breakfast, held at Kigali Convention Center, on Sunday, August 31, 2025. This impactful event brought together over 600 attendees, including Rwanda's First Lady Jeannette Kagame, young leaders, and new families.
Ange Tricia: “I wanted to show him he’s the king of the home”
Ange expressed that when she married Tom Close, she quickly realized that their family might face challenges due to her husband’s demanding work schedule and multiple projects.
She shared, "I told him, 'Even though you have a lot of responsibilities and work hard for the family, you are also the king. There’s a throne for the king to sit on, with a queen beside him; there are needs to be met—yours, mine, and those of our kids.’”
According to Ange, finding ways to connect and spend time together at home had a significant impact, helping Tom Close relax emotionally while strengthening bonds with their children.
She added, "Things improved, and it also eased his mind. I wanted him to understand that even dedicating a few moments to playtime at home makes a difference. Doing this brought him peace and allowed him to unwind." These small gestures, she emphasized, promote harmony and refreshment.
Ange shared their home principles, such as prioritizing children and safeguarding restful family time.
She said, “We agreed that by 8 PM, the children should be asleep. This ensured we had private time to bond, and helped my husband see better results at work the next day.”
The wife revealed their evening routine, where Tom Close spent meaningful time with their kids, joined family prayer, and adhered to their agreement of ensuring the kids slept by 8 PM.
While Ange enjoys watching movies in her free time, she disclosed that Tom Close prefers sports events featuring Manchester United. Understanding these differing preferences, Ange explained, reduced tension and reinforced their connection. She remarked, "His productivity at work has significantly increased—something no one can deny."
In a personal discovery, Ange shared her husband’s unique habits, stating, “Last week, God enlightened me on how to support my husband during car rides. He mentioned, ‘News relaxes me, while you’re relaxed by music.’ It amazed me how long it took me to ask him this during our 12 years together [...]”
From her perspective, Ange believes that meaningful conversations with a spouse don’t need special surroundings. They can occur anytime, anywhere, as long as decisions taken are based on mutual agreement and understanding.
Tom Close: “Rumors came, but we dealt with them”
On the other hand, Tom Close reflected on their 12-year marriage journey, recounting profound lessons including the importance of ignoring harmful social media rumors.
He recalled, "In our early days as a couple, rumors spread that we had a white child. Such claims implied the child was from outside our union. Later, stories surfaced about us separating, with accusations that my wife had left with all our property. But I dismissed it all [...]”
Tom revealed that while these false allegations caused distress among their friends and family, they learned that a successful marriage should be rooted in mutual respect and understanding rather than external opinions.
Furthermore, he admitted that challenges involving time management initially strained their relationship, but over time, he grasped the importance of prioritizing his wife and allocating dedicated moments for her.
Their marriage story is a testament to resilience and unity. Despite challenges like unfounded rumors and other hardships, Tom and Ange strongly emphasized the need for consistent communication and unwavering support. Together, they affirmed, “The peace found in a healthy, loving home stems from trust, mutual understanding, and standing by each other.”
Tom Close reiterated that 12 years of marriage taught him to ignore rumors and focus on building his family with respect and mutual understanding. 
Ange Tricia highlighted her reliance on prayers to better align with her husband’s goals and responsibilities.
The couple confirmed that open communication and shared understanding strengthened their marriage—helping them overcome trials like false internet rumors.
First Lady Jeannette Kagame graced the prayer breakfast by joining young leaders in prayers for the nation. The event, a hallmark gathering, is known as the Young Leaders Prayer Breakfast.