On October 7th 2021, Charis climbed into the back of a stranger’s blue mini van in Kona, Hawaii. Despite the #1 rule of street smarts, this ended up being one of the greatest decisions she made in her life. The driver of this mini van was none other than Gabriel Küsel.

Charis had just begun a discipleship training school, and Gabe was working on a boat. A relationship was the last thing on either of their minds at the time, but an unexpected friendship grew quicker than they could keep up with. As they spent more time together, they inevitably fell hard for each other (although Gabe was in denial of his feelings longer). They individually became quietly convinced in their hearts that if circumstances aligned for them to begin a relationship, the rest would be history.

Three months flew by and Charis was off to South Africa and Gabe prepared to return to Norway. Before they parted ways, they found themselves sitting in the blue mini van as they confessed their feelings for the first time, holding hands and crying. A lot. They prayed the words, “God, we don’t know what’s going to happen, but we know You are really good”.

Three months later, circumstances were in fact not aligning for a relationship to begin. Charis was committed to leadership training in Kona, and Gabe was still rooted overseas. With broken hearts they laid down their hopes for a relationship. They felt as if they had met the right one at the wrong time, and did their best to bury the dream of being together, and move on. That didn’t work very well for either of them.

After months of radio silence, prayer, and wondering if they would ever see each other again, they reconnected over the phone and things began to shift. Gabe was bound for Hawaii again. As they embraced one another at the Kona International Airport after 1 year apart, it wasn’t a question of if they would get married—but when. Their relationship grew richer with each day.

On a coffee plantation, September 3rd 2023, Gabe asked Charis to marry him—and it was the easiest yes. Gabe and Charis chose one another in their hearts before they ever had the chance to be together.

In the uncertainty of praying the words “we don’t know what’s going to happen, but we know You are really good” they experienced God’s goodness in their lives as He brought their paths back together. Stepping into marriage is a fulfillment to their hopes and dreams that were hidden in their hearts before it was ever possible to become their living reality. They are beyond excited to share their wedding day with the people who love them most, and begin a life together laid on the foundation of God’s goodness!!!