When Eleanor, then a freshman at Hillsdale College, decided to stay in Hillsdale for the spring break of March 2023, she expected to spend her free time serving the Hillsdale community on a local mission trip. She expected to forge new friendships through the struggles of evangelism and she expected to grow in her knowledge and relationship with the Lord. These all came true—she never expected, on that spring break, to meet her future spouse. Lewis entered her life when they were put on the same service team during that mission trip. A senior at the time, Lewis decided the mission trip was a good thing to do while he taught math classes in the morning at a local charter school. Eleanor and Lewis quickly formed a friendship through bantery conversations and their common interests: their presbyterian backgrounds and love of science and math. During that week, many car rides, 3 a.m. conversations, snowball fights, and theological discussions made Lewis realize he had a special fondness towards Eleanor. Eleanor found herself enjoying Lewis’ company, but didn’t admit to herself she liked him until a few days after the mission trip through the prompting of a friend. After spring break finished, both Lewis and Eleanor simultaneously contrived plans to ride with the other to a church Bible study, plans which ultimately ended with Lewis driving Eleanor home, asking her out on a date, and Eleanor wholeheartedly saying yes! Only one Texas Roadhouse dinner later, both Eleanor and Lewis felt a connection that they thought was unlikely to ever come apart. After thousands of long-distance phone calls and board games and adventure dates, Lewis proposed to Eleanor on a park bridge when she least expected it, giving her likely the best surprise of her life. Now, after over two years together, Lewis and Eleanor praise God for the gift of each other, and hope to give back all the glory to Him on their wedding day. Only a good, loving God could have ever brought them together and blessed them with the love they have for each other.

Whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. – Ecclesiastes π