On a night in late June of 2024, a masquerade ball held by St. Michael the Archangel drew to a close and the classical music was replaced by “Party in the USA” and other cheesy songs played at every school dance of our childhoods. Lindsay was amidst a sea of dancing friends when Gabe came over, grooving to the music with that smile we all love him for. They danced a while longer before exchanging numbers and parting ways for the evening. A few days later they decided to take a stroll around Mt. Tabor park, and for the rest of that Summer found themselves hanging out daily. Gabe had just returned from about a year of traveling the world, and Lindsay was preparing to begin the Mercy Mission year with St. Michael. They made the most of those few months kayaking, enjoying live music, camping, and eating good food. The summer wound down and Lindsay moved into the mission house, facetiming Gabe as she unpacked. The first few months were a whirlwind, but very quickly she found herself missing Gabe. He began showing up weekly to help serve lunches for our friends on the street, and eventually he was asked to join the mercy mission himself. He said yes to this invitation, and he and Lindsay were assigned to be mission partners. On this mission to bring God’s love out to the streets of NW Portland, an even deeper friendship was formed. They came to know and pray consistently for the precious people they met out there. There were moments of pain but also so much hope, joy, and love. The mission year ended, and they reverted into spending quite a bit of time together, only this time the summer days also included continuing to mission to the friends on the street they had come to know throughout the past months. Gabe had discerned he was called to a second mission year, and it wasn’t until a couple of weeks until it started that they began to ponder the possibility that they were more than just friends. They decided to say yes to this possibility and see what God may have in store. It seems that love had been blossoming all along, and that brings us to today. Gabriel and Lindsay are filled with joy to have the opportunity to celebrate their love and the rest of their lives together with you.