Benjamin and Kalai first met at YWAM in Lakeside, Montana, where a shared passion for Jesus and missions sparked a connection between them. Just two weeks before Ben’s time in Lakeside ended, they began dating. From there, life took them on separate journeys—Kalai continued her work with YWAM in Montana and Taiwan, while Ben traveled to Mexico and Taiwan for missions before heading to California for work. Despite the distance, their commitment to each other only grew stronger. Countless phone calls, FaceTime chats, texts, prayers, and visits whenever their schedules allowed, strengthened their relationship and confirmed that their hearts were on the same path. On March 8th, Ben proposed while visiting Kalai and her family in Washington, and they began planning a new chapter of life together. This summer, Kalai has been wrapping up her commitment with YWAM in Montana, while Ben has been working at a summer camp in Northern California. With their schedules packed and communication limited, long-distance wedding planning became a challenge, leaving them feeling stressed and overwhelmed. After much thought, they realized that a simpler, more intimate wedding would bring back the peace and joy they had envisioned for their special day. So, trusting their loved ones would understand, they decided to pivot from their original plan of having a large wedding in Lynden, WA, on September 27th. Instead, they’ll be having a small, intimate ceremony near Lakeside, Montana, on August 23rd—where their story first began. They are excited to celebrate with friends and family at receptions in Battle Mountain, Nevada on August 31st and in Lynden, Washington, on September 27th