We're Getting Married!

Our Story In 2022, Sydney attended her first year of Pioneer School. One of the brothers serving in the audio and video department was responsible for compiling the Pioneer School photos, this was Hunter Soza. Although they only spoke briefly at the time, neither of them knew that four years later they would find themselves working together in the ministry at a mutual friend's goodbye gathering. From there, the rest is history... Sydney's Perspective: "When I first met Hunter, I wasn't looking to date. I was genuinely content being single and focused on giving my best to Jehovah. But from the very beginning, there was something different about him. After seeing him at a few gatherings and getting to know him a little better, I remember thinking, 'He's a really good brother.' His kindness, humility, and gentlemanly nature stood out to me. I made it my mission to set him up and introduce him to some of my friends of mine who were looking to date since I thought he was such a catch. Funny enough, I started listing all the qualities that made him such an exceptional person, I realized that ironically those were the very same qualities I had been praying for in a future partner for years. So from there I wanted to get to know him myself. We first became friends and talked about our goals and where we see ourselves in the future. Call me delusional but I knew deep down he was different than anyone I knew and I was gonna marry him. He is one of the most loving, thoughtful, tentative and generous people I know. I can't wait to marry him and see where our life and Jehovah takes us. I'm especially excited to attend Pioneer School with him next year and to eventually start our family one day *with a dog*. -Sydney Hunter's Perspective: The evening Sydney and I officially met, I was running late to a friend's going-away gathering and service day. As soon as I walked in, I saw this BEAUTIFUL sister sitting in the corner, and my first thought was, "Who is that?!" When it came time to be assigned to a field service group, my next thought was that I hoped she'd be assigned to mine and thankfully she was. You might assume that, like a normal person, I would simply walk over and introduce myself... You would be mistaken. It wasn't until a friend came up to me and said, "Hey man, you're staring," that I realized something was truly different about her. As the evening went on, I noticed that this beautiful and modest sister stood out for so much more than her appearance. The joy she had when talking about the truth, her kindness toward everyone, to her absolutely crazy sense of humor, I knew I had to know her better. So I did what any nervous and shy guy would do and I gave my number to her friend and hoped she would text me first. She did. One conversation, one joke, and one movie invitation later, our friendship began to grow into something even I didn’t expect to happen. This sister who I was convinced was either married or at least dating someone wanted to get to know me too! I prayed and prayed looking past her beautiful eyes and seeing the person she was behind it all, and sure enough she was everything I had ever prayed to Jehovah for and checked off every box I had written years ago. For those who don’t know, I wrote a list down of qualities I wanted to find, not just in a wife but in a partner. I told Jehovah that the woman who checks every box I would know was the one who he chose for me, and 5 years to the day later, I met the woman who would become my partner, best friend, pioneer partner, and wife. From helping me through some of the most difficult times in my life, to supporting my family, laughing at all my stupid jokes, patiently waiting through my explanations when I need five extra seconds to figure out what I actually mean, and even making me a playlist for my flight to Rwanda; meeting together in service that wonderful night, has given me the greatest blessing I could have ever received” -Hunter