Ryan and Liliana met through the missionary program at Annunciation Heights Catholic Youth and Family camp in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. They worked together for 15 months, as Outdoor Lab instructors, summer camp leaders, and all the other random tasks needed to support camp. The missionaries are on a dating fast while they work together, so they had to wait (patiently some days, less patiently other days) until the end of their mission year together to date.

August 1st, 2024 was the end of our mission year together, so our first date was a long time coming. I decided to stay in Estes Park while Liliana served a second mission year at Annunciation Heights. For our first date, I took her on a bushwacking sunrise hike and it was epic. We dated for 6 months, visiting both hometowns, birding, and going on many other adventures.

Let's just say, I had no idea what was coming when Ryan took me to the lake on camp with the telescope. It was a perfect (cold) night to stargaze, and a beautiful night to get engaged. I was so excited that I did not even believe it was real! Once I could finally say yes, we went to where our parents were waiting to surprise me, with everyone else on camp. It was the sweetest night ever!