About five years ago, Madeline and Junior were two strangers in different countries. In 2018, Junior served as staff at YWAM San Pedro while Madeline juggled post high school options and opportunities. Madeline knew she wanted to continue studying- but didn’t know where, when, how, or even what. Through lots of question asking, prayer, and conversations, she felt God leading her to a “gap year”, before college. She waded through dozens of different programs until findingYWAM (Youth With A Mission), leading her to the base in San Pedro, Dominican Republic

Three months after the school had ended, Madeline came back to the DR as temporary staff for the summer. It was during these couple months that their relationship officially began. Over the past four years, they have made hundreds of video calls, bought lots of flight tickets, and learned to maneuver the joys and challenges that come with long distance relationships. The past couple years have included long, difficult months of diagnosis and treatment, awaiting a slow-moving visa (it took 20 months!), loss of a brother, and discovering how hard it is to be away from someone so special in the difficult, mundane, and happy. However, we have also learned the importance of being intentional in our communication, finding unique ways to love each other over the distance, and the blessing it is to do life with someone you love.