Mayra and Daniel’s story is nothing but proof that God’s will and His timing is always right.

During the pandemic, when most church services were being hosted online, Daniel felt in need to be physically in church and he wanted to rekindle his relationship with God. As Daniel shared these feelings with a close friend named Darrick, he invited Daniel to attend his church at The Bridge where they were having limited in person services.

As Daniel attended The Bridge Church, he went to a youth service. From afar, this was where he took an interest in Mayra and he developed a crush for her. He thought of her every day, and Daniel confesses he had never felt such feelings for someone before. That's how Daniel quickly realized this ment it was time to pray for the will of God.

In the year 2021, Daniel began his pursuit for Mayra with prayer, and he even fasted with the hope that one day Mayra would learn his name. One Sunday, the Pastor felt the need to ask the church members for 10 people to give a love offering of one hundred dollars for the church’s Hope Alive outreach event . Pastor followed his statement by asking them to prepare their offerings for the following Sunday and to check in with Mayra so she could make note of all the participants. Daniel saw this as an opportunity to approach her for the first time. That following Sunday, like the Pastor had asked, Daniel had prepared his one hundred dollar offering. After the service, he approached her with the help of the pastor's daughter. Mayra simply looked up at him with a smile, and asked politely, “What's your name?” and so Daniel replied. As simple as it was, this encounter was Daniel’s answered prayer. That Sunday he left the church so happy he was skipping across the parking lot. Once in his car, he couldn't help lowering down his window and he shouted "woooh!!" as he drove away.

Daniel continued to pray, and stalk Mayra- as we all do with our crushes. He learned on social media Mayra's birthday was coming up, and he was inspired to write her a card. The following Sunday Daniel wrote her a lovely and encouraging letter quoting Psalms 61:2-3 and as an extra loving touch, he sprayed some of his mom's perfume on it! When the day came, Daniel was nervous but with the help of his friend, he handed it to her. That same day Daniel was invited to play mini golf with some of the church’s youth. To Daniel’s surprise Mayra was there also! At this point, Mayra was aware of Daniel’s intentions and she was intrigued by Daniel. Mayra confesses to having attended that day and many youth outings after because she knew Daniel would also be there. Later the youth group would go to Handel’s for ice cream where Daniel and Mayra conversed for the first time. This would mark the beginning of many beautiful conversations and moments they would share together.

As they spent more time getting to know each other, Daniel took the next step and introduced himself to her parents. He asked their permission to formally pursue a closer friendship with her. After a few dates Daniel shared a verse with her found in Proverbs 16:3 and he followed up by saying that if they kept God first in their relationship, all of their plans and uncertainties would be established. That night, in August he asked her to be his girlfriend and she happily said yes!

Daniel couldn’t have come into Mayra’s life at a better time. During a difficult and lonesome time of her life, her prayer was for a person that loved God first, and who then would love and care for her before anything else. Through this entire process of meeting Daniel, Mayra learned to trust God and to leave everything in His hands. As Daniel pursued her, and as she got to know him better; what she saw in him was the Lord’s answered prayers to everything she had ever asked for.

Mayra and Daniel’s love story is a testament to God’s divine will and perfect timing. Amidst the uncertainty of the pandemic, they found each other not through their own efforts, but through their shared devotion to God.