Serving as the Relief Society Secretary for her ward and recently called as the YSA Representative for her Tongan Stake, Lositika found herself working closely with her Stake President, President Latu. Over time, they built a good rapport. About a month earlier, President Latu casually mentioned he had a nephew he thought might be a good match for her—but Tika didn’t think much of it. Then came April 12, 2025. At the gym of all places, President Latu ran into his nephew, Maʻafu. After a quick chat, he told Maʻafu about "a girl from my stake" and asked if he’d be open to a setup. Maʻafu said yes—and that’s when the matchmaking began. At that very moment, President Latu called Tika under the guise of talking about her new calling. Somewhere between updates and small talk, he dropped the real reason: “Would it be okay if my nephew reached out to you?” Surprised but curious—and honestly, how do you say no to your Stake President?—she agreed. That evening, a message from Maʻafu popped up. What followed was hours of texting, sharing, and laughter that eventually led to a late-night phone call neither of them wanted to end. And that’s how it all began…

On their very first call, Tika and Maʻafu set their first official date for April 18, 2025. The plan? Bowling. But that plan didn’t last long. While Tika was telling her parents about the Stake President’s matchmaking efforts, the topic of Maʻafu naturally came up. And—as every Tongan with strict parents knows—it didn’t take long before the classic line made its appearance: "Talaʻange kiai ke haʻu ki lotofale." (“Tell him to come to the living room.”) Just like that, bowling was out—and the living room was in. So yes, their very first date didn’t happen at the bowling alley, but in the cozy comfort of Tika’s grandmother’s living room—surrounded by love, tradition, and (let’s be honest) probably a few curious glances. They ended up talking all night and—believe it or not—made it official that very same evening.

Don’t worry—the bowling date did happen! But their time together wasn’t limited to just strikes and spares. Their dates quickly expanded to temple visits, movie nights, church gatherings, gym sessions, shopping runs, and countless other adventures. They were inseparable, spending every free moment together—whether out on a date or simply talking on the phone. In no time at all, they knew they wanted to spend eternity side by side. And just like that, the wedding planning began.