"Benscheley has been my best friend for about 6 years now. We are very open with each other. So we talk about everything. When he first talked to me about Joanna, I saw how important she was to him. As a brother, I didn’t want him to get hurt so I dug to see who Joanna really was. I realized how smart, loving, caring, and respectful she was, and most importantly, she is a servant of God. She loves the Lord and lets Him use her.

I remember on their first date how excited Benscheley was, he tried so hard to make it an unforgettable date. It was the first time I saw him that excited, he was ready 2 hours early and asked me about five times, “How do I look brother." 😁 And now honestly, they are the best couple I’ve ever seen, the way they act, talk, play, and respect each other, they’re the best I’ve seen.

The greatest thing about their relationship is they put God first in everything. I like that about them. This couple makes me jealous 😁. Now they’re about to get married and build a family. I’m sure you guys will have a great family. Joanna stole my brother’s heart, and I’m okay with her as long as she makes him happy 😃 . You guys keep trusting God and you’ll see what He has in store for you.

Pssst, they’re also the funniest couple I know." 😁

“The perspective we have of Joanna and Benscheley’s relationship, from here in the States, is of course different, mainly because we weren’t present to witness the beginning of their friendship and the growth of their romantic relationship. But even from afar, what we have been able to witness, limited as it may be, has been incredibly special and exciting.

From my perspective, one of the sweetest things I’ve seen is how Benscheley truly loves and cares for Joanna in a way that brings out a new side of her, one we hadn’t really seen before. Watching her go from being reserved and uncertain about her relationship with Benscheley to being unabashedly in love has been so moving. The way Benscheley supports and encourages her, making her feel deeply loved and cherished, is a true testament to his character and his love for her. I’ve had the joy of hearing Joanna go from nervously telling me about “a certain guy in Haiti” she was talking to, to sharing stories of their first date, dancing in the rain with her “amazing and dreamy” boyfriend, special surprises and romantic outings—then an incredible proposal—and now, planning a wedding. It’s been such a joy to witness. Benscheley has brought out a part of Joanna that only a truly amazing man, with care and love, could reveal.

We are all so excited for them and their future together.

May God bless their marriage and their new life in Haiti.”

Hi! I’m Hannah, one of Joanna’s lifelong friends.

I’ve known Joanna since we were 10 years old—but we’re not going to talk about how long ago that was. We were homeschooled together, grew up side by side, spent countless hours in coffee shops and bookstores, and talked about everything under the sun. Joanna has always been strong, caring, loyal—and let’s be honest, not exactly the mushy type. So when she went to Haiti and sent me a cryptic message saying, “Met someone…” I knew something big was happening.

That someone turned out to be Benscheley. From the way she lit up just talking about him, I knew she was falling hard. She confided in me early on about how cautiously excited she was—sharing how Benscheley was kind, funny, deeply rooted in his faith, and someone who truly values her. Since then, I’ve watched Joanna become this wonderfully cheesy, hopeless romantic version of herself—and honestly, I love it.

I especially loved getting all the text messages with pictures and updates about what they’d done that week. In every single photo, they both just looked so happy. Joanna’s smile lit up her whole face in a way I had never seen before.

Although I’ve only met Benscheley over FaceTime, it’s clear how much he adores her. He seems like exactly the person Joanna has been waiting for—and he’s completely head over heels for her. It’s been such a joy to see Joanna this happy, and I can’t wait to see what the Lord has in store for them in their next chapter of life.