Spencer and Olivia both moved to Hawai‘i right after high school to do a six-month DTS (Discipleship Training School) with YWAM (Youth with a Mission). What brought them there was a shared love for Jesus and a desire to grow in their faith and serve wherever He led. What they didn’t know was that he was quietly writing a much bigger story. During those six months, they knew each other, but not all that well. They were part of the same season of life; jumping off waterfalls, exploring the island, soaking up late nights with friends, but their story was still in the background. After DTS ended, they both moved back and joined staff with YWAM. That’s when things really began to change. Over the next two years, a simple friendship slowly and steadily grew into something deeper. Coffee runs turned into long conversations about life, faith, and dreams. Adventures kept lining up like camping, sailing, diving, and chasing waterfalls. Somehow they kept choosing the same ones. What started as “just friends” became a foundation neither of them realized they were building. Everything shifted when they led a team together in Peru. Between serving in youth centers, hiking the mountains, staying in remote villages, and attempting to “surf” down sand dunes, something changed. Serving side by side, Spencer’s eyes were finally opened to how incredible Olivia truly was (even though he was rocking a questionable blonde buzz cut at the time, Liv still fell for him). In the middle of ministry and mountains, their friendship became something more. That summer, Liv already had a trip planned to visit Spencer in Alaska. Their first official date? Driving around looking for moose, very on brand. Somewhere between mountain views and wildlife spotting, they made it official. Spencer taught Olivia how to drive a stick shift, and after three summers of practice, she’s now absolutely crushing it. Since then, their shared love for adventure has taken them far beyond Hawai‘i, Peru, and Alaska, even living in Europe for six weeks. They discovered that no matter the country, the mountains, or the language, home feels a lot like wherever they’re side by side. Looking back, it’s clear that what began as a shared yes to Jesus slowly turned into a shared life. Built on years of deep friendship, faith, laughter, and choosing each other again and again, their relationship feels steady, joyful, and full of purpose. Two years later, they got engaged, still traveling, still adventuring, still best friends, and still grateful that the God who brought them to an island after high school was writing a forever story all along.