We're getting married!

Some of life's greatest love stories begin in unexpected places. For Rafael and Evelina, it started on a Friday evening after a young adult service at church. When their friend suggested the group head to Millers Ale House, Eva had no idea she was about to meet her future husband. As she climbed into the car with her best friend Cecily, she declared: "We are NEVER hanging out with them again." Little did Eva know that the guy she was determined to avoid would become the person she couldn't imagine her life without. Despite Eva's reluctance, the group continued to hang out. And somewhere in those gatherings, something shifted between Raf and Eva. It started subtly—a shared joke, a meaningful glance. Raf was drawn to Eva's laugh and spirit. Eva noticed Raf's genuineness, his boldness, his faith, the way he listened. Their friends noticed too. "When are you two just going to admit you like each other?" The shift happened gradually. It began with texts, then phone calls that stretched for hours. They discussed their childhoods, families, hopes for the future. "I should probably let you go," one would say, then they'd talk for another hour. They discovered their favorite parks where they could talk for hours, walking until sunset and beyond. They talked about marriage, family, and the future they wanted. They were falling in love, and everyone could see it—including them. That moment came on a late night in an empty parking lot. They had been together for hours, reluctant to say goodnight. They talked about what they meant to each other. How friendship had bloomed into something deeper. How days felt incomplete without each other. Then Raf asked: "Will you be my girlfriend?" The answer was already written in Eva's eyes. But hearing herself say "yes" made it real. In that parking lot, they officially became a couple. It was real, honest, and perfectly them. The seven months that followed were filled with joy. Long walks hand in hand. Working together at church. Meeting each other's families. Their friends loved to remind them of that first night. "Look at you now." Raf and Eva dreamed about the future—the house, the children, the ministry they'd build together. Somewhere in those seven months, Raf knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Eva. Seven months after that parking lot conversation, Raf asked Eva the biggest question of his life. Her answer: YES. Yes to forever. Yes to building a life together. Yes to serving God together. Yes to raising a family. Yes to choosing each other, every day. Looking back, Raf and Eva can see God's hand in every moment. In their friend bringing them together. In Eva's initial reluctance. In every conversation that drew them closer. What started with "We are NEVER hanging out with them again" has transformed into a promise to never spend another day apart. Their love story is about friendship that blossomed into romance. About two people who took the time to really know each other. From an empty parking lot where they first said "I love you" to an aisle where they'll say "I do," Raf and Eva's story is a testament to genuine connection, patient friendship, and a love rooted in faith. The best part of their story is still to come—the lifetime they'll spend writing it together. Thank you for being part of our story. With all our love, Raf & Eva