Ma’akes Last Forever

On May 6, 2022, a girl in Southern California woke up and said a prayer, including one of her most intimate and righteous desires, without knowing what would happen or when. Later, she and her sister celebrated an early Mother's Day lunch at a local restaurant. Upon arrival, they were seated by a nice gentleman who struck up a conversation with them almost instantly. This man was friendly and mentioned that he was traveling for work and had come into town the day before from visiting a friend who lives in the Bay. He described his friend as a returned missionary, faithful priesthood holder, pursuing his education, a student-athlete, a "big boy," rooted in his Tongan culture, and a gentle giant, among other positive qualities that matched the young woman's preferences. He even shared a picture of his friend and offered to get them in touch if she was interested. After some thought, the girl wrote down her phone number and name, taking it as a sign that her prayer had been heard. Meanwhile, 420 miles away, on May 6, 2022, a young man in his first year of JUCO was getting out of football practice when he received a message from a friend that included a new contact and some background information about a girl in SoCal named Giolena. She was described as a returned missionary, someone who seemed like his type, which was all he needed to trust that his friend was onto something. Without wasting time, the young man mustered up his courage and sent out the first text message that would change his life, "Hey, this is David! My friend told me about you..." Fast forward a few weeks, David, also known as "Vita," drove 6 hours to meet Gio for the first time. They became inseparable regardless of the distance that kept them apart. Many hours of phone calls, FaceTime, and texts held them over until the next time they would meet throughout the 3 years they dated, proving that "distance makes the heart grow fonder" with every passing day. Now, just a few months away from their forever, it's incredible to think that 1,162 days, numerous flights for visits, and countless calls and texts later, the two strangers who became the best of friends and most fierce lovers will be sealed for all time and eternity surrounded by the people they love. It's beyond what they could have imagined, but they are grateful it happened. So, remember to say that prayer that includes your deepest and most righteous desires, be the friend that speaks highly of others, dare to initiate a conversation, and most importantly, let God lead the way and recognize Him in the details.