Madeline & Junior

August 12th • Stanardsville, VA

Our Story

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

Junior had been serving at the base since 2016 in a variety of different roles- media, technology support, helping and leading kids’ camps, assisting with teams and house builds, and became a DTS leader the year Madeline came as a student in September of 2018. The school was six months, where the team of eight studied Scripture and later went to Colombia to challenge and apply the first couple months of learning. During this period in Colombia, Junior and Madeline noticed a mutual interest and pull towards one another, beginning to voice that to each other and pray for clarity and guidance.

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.

We are not sure what our future holds- where we will be living, what we will be doing; we do know that we will be doing it together. For now, we are looking forward to settling down in Harrisonburg. We are thankful for health, an approved visa, a supporting, loving, and present family and community, and this special season of celebrating our commitment with others. God is so good, and we are so blessed. Thank you all for your messages, prayers, concern, and love over the years.

Let 's start the adventure!

15 days until the wedding!

{"name":"Madeline and Junior Wedding", "description":"Madeline and Junior are starting their lives together.", "startDate":"2023-04-23", "endDate":"2023-08-12", "startTime":"13:05", "endTime":"18:00", "location":"STANARDSVILLE, VA", "label":"Add to Calendar", "options":[ "Apple", "Google", "iCal", "Microsoft365", "MicrosoftTeams", "Outlook.com", "Yahoo" ], "timeZone":"EST", "trigger":"click", "inline":true, "listStyle":"modal", "iCalFileName":"Reminder-Event"}

We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.

Psalm 33:20-22