Madelyn set out on a girl's trip to the Dominican in January 2023. She arrived at the swim up bar after a half day catamaran excursion, where she would find herself spending the rest of the afternoon chatting with her new bartender friend, Kelvin.

Two days later was their travel day home. As Madelyn was walking to the lobby, her friend Katie said, "Hey Kelvin is over there, do you want to say goodbye?" Madelyn, not thinking anything of it, replied "No, it's fine. I don't really feel a need to. I guess if it is meant to be it will be."

While Madelyn was waiting in the upper level of the lobby for a couple of her other friends, Kelvin appeared in the lobby down below. He looked up and she looked down. Some lip reading and hand gestures were exchanged, and later that evening Kelvin texted her while she was on the plane and their friendship began to grow. (I guess I have Katie to thank for making me give out my number;). This friendship was prayed over and eventually turned into a relationship.

A lot of texts, video calls, and prayers have led them to where they are today, along with Madelyn visiting any chance she can. Her mom met Kelvin for the first time in April 2023 and her dad met Kelvin for the first time during their January 2024 trip. Lynn and Leland were finally glad to not be seeing Kelvin through a phone!

Five days into the January 2024 trip, they spent the day at Kelvin's house with his family. His Mom made lunch and then Kelvin gave a tour of his property and the different foods they grow (you can imagine how interesting this was for Leland)!

Once back from visiting his neighbors/friends, everyone was just standing around chatting. Kelvin turned around, looked at Madelyn, and said, "Well babe, in front of God and our families, I have a very important question to ask you." And in that moment, Madelyn knew it was truly "meant to be" and God had answered their prayers.

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