Dylan and Emma find it impossible to tell their story without first recognizing the fact that it was entirely written, and still being written, by God. Although they were born in the same hospital, raised in the same small town, brought up in the same home church, they didn't really know each other until 2020. Yes, they had times when they were in the same room, maybe they exchanged a few hellos and goodbyes over the years, but knowing each other? That came years later.


Emma moved away from their hometown, Colfax, WA, to Maui when she was nine years old. End of the story right? On the contrary. God opened many different doors and shut some in the process as well and Dylan ended up at the same spot, only eight years later, working as an intern at a little church called Puka Naz. This must be where they fall in love right? Wrong. Dylan completed his internship, and although both Emma and Dylan had crushes on each other, nothing came of it. Both felt as if they had just missed out on something that didn't seem likely to come at them again.


But God had different plans. Over a year later Dylan came back to Maui full time to work at Puka Naz. Although both Emma and Dylan just expected to collaborate in a working environment, they saw quickly that the little flame never went away and had a real chance to catch. Through many Target runs, ice cream celebrations, Twilight movie nights, parking lot roller skating, late night drives, and meetings that never seem to end, the two of them became inseparable. This is where they fall in love. In the middle of planning mission trips, notes scribbled during staff meetings, chicken coops being made, endless photos of the sky. This is where God meant for them to find each other.