Joe’s POV: I met Sarah at da beach and the first thought I had when I saw her was Haole gurl! What impressed me though that day was her attempts to boogie board. Watching dis haole gurl trying for rip waves was hilarious. As she struggled on a few attempts I went in to help her catch one wave. She was eager and unafraid as I pushed her into a wave, as I watched her catch that wave a little spark gave way to thoughts about dis pretty litto wahine. Thoughts turned into talks, talks turned into serious conversation and the more I got to know her the more I started to fall for her. Now da ony waves she riding is dis bois pu’uwai. ❤️🌊 Sarah’s POV: Meeting Joseph for the first time. His first impression he gave off was moody. I was initially intimidated. As the day went on he seemed like a genuinely relaxed and laid back guy. I enjoyed his presence. He was super funny and very care free but I was more so drawn to the kindness he showed that day to everyone as well as his honest personality. Although that day there was not romantic interest I was genuinely curious about Joe. The more we hung out there was no denying Joe had feelings for me and I for him. I appreciated so much how honest he was in his feelings I didn’t have to guess with him. It allowed me to trust him initially. He asked to make me dinner a few weeks after we met and I accepted.

Joe’s POV: Weeks leading up to our first date we kept inviting each other to thing. She had invited me over for a movie night at her place, we went to the beach again, and I had invited her over for Watchtower and sailing. At each function I made an effort to observe and get to know a little bit about her. One thing that stood out to me was when she related her trip to Israel. This trip was no vacation, instead it was a spiritual campaign to find Spanish speaking individuals who would be interested in learning the Bible. I was amazed that this single 19 year old girl went to a foreign land with who knows what dangers to search out interested ones who want to learn the Bible’s message. From then on I knew this woman would put our God, Jehovah before me and anyone else. A few days afterwards I had asked Sarah to join me at the F-Res rooftop dressed up and with something to bring. When I had met up with her in the commissary I saw her dead center of the dining room door way and it was like everything went into slow motion when I called her and turned around with her beaming smile and curly lush hair, it felt like a movie scene turn that I get to replay in my head as much as I would like. Long story short, we had our Musubi and Wine that evening and commemorated Jul. 25th as our first date in our courtship. Sarah’s POV: After that first beach day Joseph and I would invite eachother to different group activities. It wasn’t until he invited my friends and I to go sailing that I realized he had clear feelings for me. It gave me something’s to pray and think about. Then a brother in my congregation had a group over to his room at Wallkill and invited Joseph. That night we had the opportunity to talk to each other one-on-one and we talked the whole night. We shared how we each found the truth and our goals. Joseph obviously cared about my spirituality, what I’ve been able to do for Jehovah while pioneering and that drew me more to him. What impressed me too was Joseph’s story of how he came into the truth and how quickly he began in the full time service. That conversation made me see that this man loves Jehovah and the full time service just as much as I do. In that moment I realized I had genuine feelings for Joseph so when he asked me to have dinner at Wallkill after we got off work I was ecstatic. However the day of our first date, although I was so excited, I got extremely anxious beforehand. All these questions and doubts about what if it doesn’t go well? I ended up calling one of my friends 30 mins before our date and needing to say a prayer. After that I felt super relaxed when i finally with Joseph that night he was the most handsome man I’d ever seen. He had dressed up so nice and seeing him smile at me gave me butterflies. We didn’t even talk about anything too serious that night but we did and laugh and talk for hours on that roof and the weather was so perfect. At the end of the night we walked through the courtyard outside the Wallkill dining room and stood by the pond where so many fireflies were out that night. I thank Jehovah for giving me the most perfect first date. That night is one of the happiest nights of my life and marked the beginning of our relationship.

Joseph’s POV: After 3 months of fun in the sun it was starting to cool off into fall. As the season was changing so were my feelings, they kept growing for Sarah and it wasn’t until I left for my Europe trip that it became apparent how much l wanted a partner to travel the world with. Everyday of that trip I just wanted Sarah there to experience moments with like, enjoying a drink at Sky Gardens or riding the river Seine while drifting away from the Eiffel and touring the ancient castles in Sintra. After my trip, I saw Sarah one day being my travel companion for life who I can share special moments with. Sarah’s POV: Early into dating Joseph and I had so much fun together. Never a dull moment with him. When Joe told me that he was going to Europe. I was super excited for him to travel outside the country for the first time and because we were newly dating, I thought it would be good for us to have that space. However, during that time apart I realized how much I missed him. Even while he was away, he made an effort to call me every day. He also would send me what he enjoyed about the daily text in the mornings. He proved to me how much I mattered to him. After those to those 2 weeks apart when I saw him and was able to hug him again it felt like I was home. I had realized in that moment I had fallen in love with Joseph

Sarah’s POV: Overtime I began to see qualities in Joseph that I wanted in a partner forever. Joseph’s humility and kindness was incomparable. Viewing how he treated the older friends in his congregation and how he takes an interest in his friends impressed me. His patience and tenderness when we communicate makes me feel seen and cared for. I tend to ramble and yap on and on but he listens to me and would continue to reassure me how much he enjoys listening to me and seeing me express myself. I even noticed how much those who were close to Joe loved him which emphasized how valued he is and reassured my view of him. What I especially appreciate is the consistency of our spiritual routine because it’s hard being a single sister and now bringing in a man to potentially be your spiritual head. Joseph though always gave me peace of mind. He takes charge in organizing our family worships, our morning text comments, praying during our difficult times, and even engaging in informal witnessing. Seeing his example in those ways reaffirmed my surety in my feelings of wanting to marry him. Once he proposed to me 8 months into our courtship it was the easiest yes of my life. Joe’s POV: After 8 joyful months of courting Sarah I cannot see anyone else to spend the rest of my life with. We have meshed so well together in many ways and her support has been invaluable to me. My Sarah is always there and ready to help or contribute in anyway, I know I can always count on her. I can see Sarah beside me when we have to cook, clean, to basically manage a household but more than just caring for a place of residence she has shown me that I have a spiritual partner to pursue full-time service. Her joy as part time commuter makes me excited to start our adventure serving Jehovah together forever. So it became a no brainer when I asked this beautiful spiritual woman before me for her hand in marriage.