Val's Side of the Story: Our story began at the start of 2019. I had no idea God was composing our story then. I attended a youth service in Grand Prairie, and I was introduced to Gabriel. I gave him a “Hi! God bless you” handshake, I didn’t think much of it at all. Quick forward months later, Micah my friend, and I hung out. In our talk, she brings up her friend Gabriel and proceeds on how he thinks I’m cute and what I think of him, what she should tell him, etc. She was attempting to play cupid, and I wasn't going to fall for it so I changed the subject lol. After a month, I received a FB message from Gabriel - it was spam. His account was hacked, and I knowingly decided to be a decent human and let him know. Then he hits me with "your Micah friends right?" Though he knew the realities already. After exchanging a few virtual words, we discovered we would be attending the same youth conference (NAYC) that summer in St. Louis. We met at the conference (thanks to Micah again) and Gabriel was soon going to become a familiar face although I didn't know it then. On the last night of NAYC, he asked me out on a date and I accepted. Our first date was spontaneous. 1. I was late 2. I told him to meet me at a restaurant that was closed btw I had no idea 3. I was going to tell him if we should do a rain check, but with his last-minute contingency plan, he saved the day and I'm so glad he did. And it made me realize from that date that no one has ever treated me as he has. It was genuinely a time of us getting to know each other. We opened up to one another a great deal from our past to now and talked for hours. Let's just say on our next date I was actually on time :) I knew God had orchestrated our lives gradually to meet up. Gabriel pursued me from the very beginning and he still does even now. I fell quickly in love with him and his devotion to God. He has love and cherish me so well. He's my best friend and I can't wait to do life together as one.

Gabe's Side of the Story: They say the best relationships are those you never expected to have in the first place. I met Valeria at a Youth Service near the outskirt of Grand Prairie. I noticed her from afar and left our eventual, “Hello God Bless you” to nothing more than a formal greeting. Skip over a few months and moments before I enter a Mexican food cuisine, Facebook Messenger pings. To my delight, a message from my future betrothed. Apparently, I had been hacked, and the culprit never to be found sent a spam message to Val. I initiated to continue the conversation by asking her interpersonal questions that went on and off for the next few days. Eventually, she gained a tiny bit of interest and began to respond more frequently. Then thanks to a giant youth congress, a faraway state, and the help of the perfect wing-woman we finally met again. She was very shy at first and didn’t really show much interest in me as a suitor. Although this troubled me, it did not slow down my efforts. This woman was going to be mine. Come to the end of an amazing experience at NAYC 2019, and it was time to take a leap of faith. I asked Valeria out for coffee, and she expressed a grateful, “yes, I’d like that.” We eventually had our date that became an unorganized, unplanned, and amazing experience. She was lovely from start to finish, and her presence brought me joyous peace. When the end came to our very long first date, I could already visualize the extravagance of our beautiful future. Doing everything in the appropriate manner, I eventually asked Val’s father to pursue her as more than an average friend. We have since then guided and taught one another that which the other lacks. I have learned to love her, appreciate her, and become her best friend, as she is mine. Fast- forward a few months later, and we are now engaged and leading towards a harmonious life. Separately for now, but soon together as one.