We're getting married!

It all started one afternoon at Brazil Cafe; an unassuming mom and pop cafe located in southwest London's Battersea neighborhood just south of the river Thames. it was 3pm on a Monday and the cafe was completely full so Franco and I had to wait for a table. However, for some reason the owner decided to seat us a table where a young gentleman was sitting to himself. There was Welingthon, a native brazilian from Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul eating his food and minding his own business, he didn't even look up once! At least not until he heard me give my food order to the young waitress in Portuguese. He raised his head and at that moment our eyes met and he said "Are you brazilian? how do you know portuguese?" and for a brief moment, time seemed to slow down. It was that kind of moment, the one you read about in stories, where something as simple as a glance could change everything. We spent 2 hours at the Cafe chatting until we got kicked out because they were closing. we exchanged social medias and said our goodbyes. I got on London's double decker bus back to Chelsea where my hotel was and on the walk back, I came across a Catholic Church named Our Lady of Dolours Servite Parish. I went inside because I saw that they had first class relics of St. Carlo Acutis who is the patron Saint of the internet and the first millenial Saint. I learned that Our Lady of Doulours is also the Church where St. Carlo Acutis was baptized.- I stayed for daily Mass and went to my room. I messaged Welingthon to thank him for his time and mentioned I saw a relic of St. Carlo Acutis, and he was so intrigued because he told me that St. Carlo Acutis is loved and well-known in Campo Grande for the miracle of healing a young boy who had been ill since birth, through Acutis' intercession. I knew then that this wasn’t just any chance encounter, that God had placed us two ordinary people at a time and place to cross paths. I came back to Houston, Texas while he remained in London and we quickly became friends! At first, it was just messages here and there, little updates about our lives, sharing experiences, laughs, thoughts, sharing our Catholic faith, talking about how Mass went, and sharing small moments. Despite the distance, something drew us together that neither of us could explain. But as time went on, we realized that the distance wasn’t a barrier—it was simply another test for our love. We started planning video calls, sending UberEats and finding ways to share our everyday lives across the screen, making every moment count. There were times when the distance felt heavy but those challenges only made us stronger. We learned how to appreciate the smallest things—hearing each other’s voice after a long day, the excitement of a surprise gift in the mail. Our bond grew deeper with every passing mile, and even though we were apart, we always felt connected. Our love story has been one of resilience, patience, and trust through God's grace. And today I am in awe of how far we’ve come, how love truly can conquer distance. Every moment we spent apart was just another chapter of the beautiful story that led us here, to the moment we no longer have to say goodbye at the end of the day. Now, we are finally able to say “hello” to forever, side by side. From a long-distance love story to a lifelong love story. I hope you all can celebrate with us God Bless!