We met at a 5:30 am bible study while attending the Merchant Marine Academy. Mayte was a plebe, a freshman, and Micah was a 3rd classmen, a sophomore. There was no "fratting", friendship or relationship, allowed between plebes and upperclassmen. Then a month later we both attended the Officers Christian Fellowship retreat. That weekend at the retreat we got to know each other more. After almost 2 years apart due to the Academy's sailing requirements, we rekindled our friendship through Christian Fellowship Club. Micah was starting his senior year and Mayte her junior year. The Lord reconnected them at the same place they had met 2 years before, 5:30am bible study. A couple days walking back from bible study together Micah asked Mayte on their first date. As God began to write our love story we grew in our relationship with each other and with the Lord, together.

Micah's family was spending thanksgiving in Raleigh, North Carolina. Only living a couple hours away, my family and I drove down from Virginia to go and see them. We arrived, greeted everyone, and had lunch together. Afterwards Micah asked if I wanted to go on a coffee date and go visit the Duke chapel. We were about to leave when all of the women of the family gathered around me chatting and giggling. I should have realized that something was about to happen but it went right over my head. We left and drove to a nearby coffee shop, only to find out it was closed. I really wanted coffee but Micah was adamant that we needed to head to the chapel. We arrived and started walking into the chapel. Micah leads me down the aisle of the chapel up to the front. He positions his phone on the first row of the pews. I didn't think anything of it but assumed it was self timer pictures. As I started smiling to the camera I noticed a guy with a huge Canon camera clicking in our direction. I thought we were ruining this guys shot so I mentioned to Micah to walk away from the area. As I turned to Micah he was getting on a knee. Completely in shock, I turned away from Micah thinking that he was joking. It wasn't until he grabbed my hand and slowly pulled me towards him that I realized that this was real. A dream come true.