We met in January 2019 in Morelia, Mexico. He was on staff with the Youth With A Mission (YWAM) base there, and my team from YWAM Madison, Wisconsin, had come down for a Bible Education and Leadership Training outreach. We both really enjoyed hanging out for the few days we had together! He translated for my team while we were at the base. The first day we toured the city with him and I sent a picture of him to my mom. Her response was, "He's cute! You should marry him."

We didn't talk again until April a year later, when Covid-19 came. He offered to teach me Spanish over zoom every Wednesday. We instantly reconnected and spent most of the first class updating each other on our lives. Every class after that was long- sometimes 3 hours long! Most of it was just laughing and talking, getting to know each other, and falling in love;) ! In July, after 4 months of "classes" and many encouragements from family and friends, we started dating!

Both Felipe and I are YWAM Missionaries, and are able to live through the support of others. When we first started dating in July, we weren't sure when we would be able to see each other because of finances. When I prayed and asked God what to do, I felt Him say to me, "Wait and see what will happen in the next few days." Well, the very next day, one of Felipe's supporters gifted him money for me to come visit - and that same day, out of the blue, my parents gifted me the rest and told me to use it to go to Mexico. WOW! The love and provision of God through amazing people in our lives blew us away! I went to visit him three weeks later, and we both said that the time together was like a dream! It reminded us of Psalm 126:1-3... When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them." The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad."

The third time I came for a visit was March 2021. I was only coming to Morelia for one week, and had been wondering...will this be THE trip? Felipe knew the answer to that! He had been talking to my parents, his parents, my friends, his friends, and I had no idea! It was the third day of the trip. We went to church, went to a mall, and went shopping for a later picnic on the roof of his apartment. That evening after the picnic he proposed on the roof! And of course, I said "YES!" It was just us, and he'd set up an automatic camera to capture the moment. It was really beautiful to have such a private moment together! After that, we went down to his apartment - and his living room had been set up with lights and flowers, and my family and closest friends were waiting on zoom to congratulate us! It was so thoughtful and sweet! Then we went back up to the roof, and all of Felipe's friends were there waiting! There was also a mariachi band, a fire, and snacks. They encouraged us and prayed for us, and the whole night felt like a movie! It was incredible! Felipe planned everything, down to the last detail, and to have both of our communities involved was really amazing.