Raj and I met at Seven Mile Road in Houston, TX, which is the Church that we both call home. We met in April of 2022 on a Wednesday night during our monthly prayer meeting gathering.

His Perspective: Just read her perspective below, the end. Just kidding! I remember like it was yesterday… (insert piano transition) I was just a young man in spring 2022 trying and failing at the Hinge life (good for you if it worked out). I was (and still) also an active member of Seven Mile Road and involved in the small group community there, but somehow for 2-2.5 years, I’ve never attended prayer night. I am usually busy during the weekdays, so I never gotten the chance to attend until one faithful day on the week prior to Easter. On prayer night, we’d have time allocated where microphones are passed around to people who would want to pray for something. Think she was the last person, and I overheard her name and her prayer request. She wanted prayers so that people who are close to her in her life gets to know Jesus. I remember waving my hand crazily because I can heavily relate with her as I am the only person in my Indian community who knows Jesus. I did not get a glimpse of her as she was far away, and the Pastor didn’t pick me to pray for her also because I was far away. Sooo I decided to try meeting her before she leaves at prayer night and pray for her. I did, and also noticed how beautiful she looked. Soo at that moment, I’d try to devise a plan to get her number. Didn’t want to do it in that moment as I felt PTSD from trying to move quickly in my Hinge life, and also I’d want her to get to know a bit about my character so that I have a higher change of her saying “yes.” Welp God is the ultimate matchmaker and we were able to cross paths in just a few days and I tried to get Hayley (our mutual friend) to see if she and Priya would want to join a post-Good Friday service gathering at a friends house. Hayley knew what’s up and she gave only me her number and wanted me to reach out “iN cASe AnY0NE In tHe GrOuP wAnTEd t0 rEaCH hER”. We both know what she meant there and I (on behalf of the group of course) reached out to her individually. Eventually I asked to see if she wanted to go on a walk (as a semi date at this point). And then asked her to go on a real date that evening after chatting till around midnight. Yes Priya stayed up that late. And I didn’t know how much she enjoyed our time until I realized that she passes out by 9-10 every night, including off days. Anyways, I can’t help but think Gods will in all of this. He certainly generated the right time, place, and situation so that the two of us can meet and we’re incredibly thankful.

Her Perspective: I shared a prayer request that night with all of those present at prayer meeting that people close to me in my life would come to know Jesus. And after prayer meeting was over, I was approached by Raj and Matt. I was really encouraged by them both that night and Raj took time to hear some of my story and pray over me since he had a similar experience. I remember thinking it was kind for him to pray over me and as we departed I told him that maybe I'd see him around, thinking to myself that it was just a random encounter. Little did I know that I would run into him that Friday at the Good Friday service and Easter service. We would muster up the words to say hi and bye but nothing more. I was highly encouraged by a few friends that Raj was a great guy who really loved the Lord but didn't see much potential at the rate things were going. However, Raj was able to get my phone number from a friend (thank you Hayley!) and he began to text me, asking me different questions, and trying to get to know me. And soon enough, he asked to go on a walk to hear more of my story and soon enough, we spent almost 5 hours together that evening. As we walked back to our cars, he said "Would you want to get coffee sometime soon? And would you be okay if I called it a date?" And I said yes. And I think you can guess what happened a year and a half later! I know these circumstances were not by sheer coincidence but see the Lord's hand in us coming together!

Registry