我们第一次见面是在2021/11/19，在MIT团契小羊组的周五团契聚会。这是新锐第一次来团契，当时坐在第二排，参加完小组讨论后回到座位，发现座位上多了一件羽绒服，你猜猜是谁的——是姗姗来迟的知恩的～原来知恩坐在第一排，顺手就把衣服放在第二排的桌子上，这也是我们第一次相遇和交流。 后来在MIT附近学习工作的弟兄姐妹们经常中午一起吃饭，我们有机会在中午吃饭的小组中认识彼此。新锐最开始注意到知恩，是因为交流中了解到知恩的父母在国内做牧师和师母，对新锐留下了很深的印象，特别是知道在国内做牧者面临很多的挑战。当时新锐还在慕道，很希望可以深入认识神、祂的教会和基督徒们，所以对知恩和她的家庭很好奇，也希望更多了解和认识她们。之后我们在群体的交流中不断了解认识彼此，但是也一直没有单独的约会和交流。 转折出现在2022年复活节前后，当时新锐在信仰上一直在寻求，也上了教会的受洗班，在基要真理上有了比较全面的认识，也在情感和理智上很认同，但是当时新锐还是特别希望可以亲身真实经历神的信实。记得是2022/4/7凌晨，当时新锐做了生命中的第一个祷告，祷告内容是希望可以在和知恩的关系中经历神的带领，更深明白神在我们关系中的心意。神奇的事情发生在那个周末，教会两对夫妻不约而同地约新锐单独聊聊，当时新锐和他们交流中也提到这个祷告，他们都建议新锐可以和知恩坦诚交流一下，新锐2022/4/12中午就约知恩一起在MIT学生中心吃午餐，这也是我们第一次约会，在约会的过程中，新锐就向知恩表白了，感谢神，知恩同意了，我们就开始正式交往了。也正是在因着在这个祷告中经历神信实的同在和回应，新锐决志信主，2022/7/31在波士顿郊区华人圣经教会城区事工（城光堂）受洗归主。 在交往的过程中，有很多一起的学习和成长，特别感谢教会的牧者、辅导们的支持和关心，特别感谢冀荣阿姨做我们的知心妈妈和救火队长。感谢神一路的带领和帮助，保守我们走过高山和低谷。 转眼就到了在MIT的最后一年，当时新锐一直在祷告是否以及何时向知恩求婚，但是总是无法下定决心。在参加2024年NEWSCAMP前，新锐做了一个祷告，希望可以在营会中，更深明白神的心意，经历神的带领。感谢神，在营会的最后一个晚上，一个未曾设想过的对话中，新锐在和萧民牧师和晓燕师母的交流中，得到了一直寻求的答案，最终决定向知恩求婚。感谢神的保守和带领，2025/7/31，新锐在MIT学生中心门前的草坪上求婚，感谢神，知恩同意了！ 现在知恩在Portland, Oregon工作，新锐在New Haven, Connecticut做博士后，求主带领保守新锐可以早日到西海岸去，和知恩团聚。

We first met on November 19, 2021, at a Friday fellowship gathering of the Lamb Group of the MIT Fellowship. It was Xinrui’s very first time attending. He sat in the second row, and after the small group discussion, when he returned to his seat, he noticed a down jacket had appeared there. Can you guess whose it was? It belonged to Zhien, who had arrived a little late. She had been sitting in the front row and, without thinking much, placed her coat on the desk in the second row. That simple moment became our very first meeting and conversation. Later, brothers and sisters who studied and worked near MIT often gathered for lunch together, and through those noontime meals we gradually came to know one another. Xinrui first took special notice of Zhien when he learned that her parents serve as pastors and pastor’s wife in China. This left a deep impression on him, especially knowing the many challenges faced by those in ministry there. At the time, Xinrui was still seeking the faith, longing to know God more deeply—His church and His people. He became curious about Zhien and her family and hoped to understand them more. Though we continued to grow in acquaintance within the group, we had not yet spent time alone or had personal conversations. A turning point came around Easter in 2022. Xinrui had been earnestly seeking in his faith, even attending baptism classes at church. He had come to understand the foundational truths of the gospel more fully and found himself agreeing both intellectually and emotionally. Yet he still longed to personally and truly experience God’s faithfulness. At the midnight of April 7, 2022, he prayed his very first prayer—asking the Lord to reveal His guidance through his relationship with Zhien and to help him better understand God’s will for them. Then, something remarkable happened that very weekend. Two couples from church, independently of each other, reached out to meet with Xinrui. During those conversations, he shared about his prayer, and both couples encouraged him to speak openly and honestly with Zhien. So, on April 12, 2022, at lunchtime, Xinrui invited Zhien to meet at the MIT Student Center. This became our first date. During that meeting, Xinrui expressed his feelings to Zhien—and by God’s grace, she said yes. From that day on, we began our relationship. It was also through experiencing God’s faithful presence and answer to that prayer that Xinrui decided to follow Christ. On July 31, 2022, he was baptized at the Chinese Bible Church of Greater Boston City Outreach Ministry (Citylight Ministry), entrusting his life to the Lord. Throughout our relationship, we have shared much growth and learning together. We are deeply grateful for the care and support of our church pastors and mentors, and especially thankful for Aunt Jirong, who has been like a spiritual mother and a faithful supporter in times of need. We thank the Lord for His guidance and protection through both mountaintops and valleys. Before we knew it, Xinrui’s final year at MIT arrived. During that time, he continually prayed about whether—and when—should he propose to Zhien, yet found himself unable to make a firm decision. Before attending NEWSCAMP 2024, he prayed again, asking God to make His will clearer and to lead him during the retreat. Praise God, on the final evening of the camp, through an unexpected conversation with Pastor Xiaomin and his wife Xiaoyan, Xinrui got the answer he had been seeking. With a heart at peace, he resolved to propose. By God’s gracious leading, on July 31, 2025, on the lawn in front of the MIT Student Center, Xinrui asked Zhien to marry him—and thanks be to God, she said yes! Today, Zhien is working in Portland, Oregon, while Xinrui is doing his postdoctoral research in New Haven, Connecticut. We pray that the Lord will continue to guide and provide, making a way for Xinrui to move to the West Coast soon, so that we may be reunited and walk together in His calling.