David and Mackenzie met in October of 2019, right after David moved to Minneapolis to serve as the RUF Intern at the University of Minnesota. At the time, Mackenzie was wrapping up her undergrad degree and preparing to onboard as an intern for RUF the following summer. During the spring of 2020, Mackenzie, David, and each of their roommates spent a lot of time hiking, gardening, and biking together. When one roommate found a job, and the other moved home to work, David and Mackenzie realized they still really liked spending time together! Through the summer and fall, they grew in friendship, worked together by supporting students, and waited for the end of an RUF dating policy. They officially began dating in January of 2021 and knew very quickly that they had found a beautiful gift in the other person. 2021 was full of trips to meet/see family in Ohio, Indiana, Colorado, and Minnesota, making way too much tomato soup from our gardens, biking to the lakes in Minneapolis, and talking more and more about what a life spent together might look like. There was a strong sense of God’s provision, guidance, and love for celebration when David got down on one knee on April 30th, 2022.