Joel and Susannah both grew up as MKs (missionary kids) and both our parents were sent by WGM—the Spriegels to Kenya and the Searls to Hungary. Our paths did not cross, however, until January of 2020 at an annual gathering of college-age MKs in the southern part of Michigan. A month later Joel drove from Michigan to Kentucky to come see some high school friends who were finishing up at Asbury University. While he was visiting, Joel was invited to a pancake breakfast at the Searls home. It was during that breakfast that Joel and Susannah had their first real conversation and recognized quality in one another. After a nice visit, Joel returned home to Grand Rapids and that was that. Fast-forward to the Summer of 2021. Susannah took a summer position working for the Bible camp where our paths first crossed so she headed up to Michigan, and Joel happened to live only an hour and a half away in Grand Rapids. Thanks to a mutual friend we got each other's phone numbers and decided to meet up for ice cream. Susannah was grateful to have a fellow TCK (third culture kid) to connect with and to get away from camp, but she had no intention of being more than friends. So, when Joel offered to buy her ice cream (already hoping there might be something more there), Susannah turned him down. But, thanks to Jesus and His timing, it just so happened that our first meet-up was right before the 4th of July and a group of our mutual friends were getting together in Pennsylvania for the weekend. Joel offered and figured out a plan to drive with Susannah to the friend get-together. Six hours in the car and non-stop conversation did a lot to change Susannah’s heart. After that trip, we met up most weekends throughout the summer. In the fall, Susannah accepted an internship with the camp and moved up to Michigan. Not long after, we officially started dating. Slowly our worlds began to mesh. Joel got to visit the Searls family for Thanksgiving and Susannah attended a family wedding with the Spriegels around Christmas time. One special treat was serving together in Joel’s church for Sunday night youth group (a trip Susannah made EVERY Sunday which was a huge blessing to Joel). In March, Susannah moved back down to Wilmore, KY, and we began to figure out what long-distance dating looks like for us. In April, we got to go to Kenya together and be with Joel's mom and dad for two weeks which was so special. But parting ways after two weeks together was especially difficult. Joel soon realized that he wanted to give Susannah a reason to move back up to Michigan. On July 15, 2022, he and a friend flew into the Atlanta airport to spend the weekend at the Searls family's summer camp—Indian Springs Holiness Camp meeting. Joel had been planning and didn’t wait long to pop the question. He proposed that Friday night down by the lake at sunset. Susannah was so surprised and absolutely delighted to say yes! Our sweet family had a whole party for us when we got back to the cabin! Since then, we’ve been mostly floating on air and busily prepping for our big day. We’re so excited to see family and friends! After we get married, Susannah will move up to Grand Rapids where Joel works as a stormwater civil engineer, and he is pretty happy about having her up there again. :)