We first met roughly 8 years ago when Helen was in college with my oldest sister, Alana. They became friends at Houghton College, and Helen spent a few weekends at the Meyers’ house when Alana would come home and bring friends with her.

We were really only acquainted for the majority of that time, until late June, 2023, when Helen moved to the Jamestown area from Hilton near Rochester, where she grew up.

She began working in the kitchen at the Chautauqua Institution and house sitting with Sarah Ritson, another college friend. She also started attending Levant Wesleyan Church, where Sarah was working as the Worship Coordinator and where my dad currently pastors. Through church, friend groups, and the fact that Helen already had a relationship with the Meyers’ family through Alana, we naturally started spending time around each other in various contexts.

I soon realized that I really enjoyed Helen’s company. I loved being around her, talking with her, and found through conversation that we had similar positions on a few different important topics, and I could see that she truly loves Jesus and wants to follow Him. So, as my interest grew, I began praying and asking the Lord for wisdom and clarity about the relationship.

Helen had plans to move back to Rochester in the fall after the Institution closed for the season, and I knew that time was drawing closer. My interest was continuing to grow, and I had a strong feeling that it was now or never. So, on August 18th, 2023, I sent Helen a message expressing my enjoyment of her presence over the summer, my interest in the possibility of a deeper relationship than just friends, and my desire to have a conversation regarding that possibility. I left it fairly open-ended, and asked her to think and pray on it and get back to me as she felt comfortable. It so happened that she already had plans to come to my house that evening, and she was open to having the conversation. We went on a long walk that evening, and determined mutual interest. So started our “talking-phase” where we agreed to be in prayer and community, and to be intentional about growing our friendship. A little less than a month later, on September 11, I asked Helen to be my girlfriend!

Fast-forward to Christmas weekend in December, Helen and I traveled to Harrisburg, PA, to spend a night and a day with Helen’s parents at an AirBnB they had rented. We had a wonderful time playing games and eating charcuterie, and over the course of the visit, I had a few moments with just Dennis and Pattie while Helen was occupied with something else. I took that opportunity to tell them how much I cared about Helen, and that I wanted to marry her, and they approved. On January 26th, in the driveway of the house she was staying at, I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me. She said yes, and now here we are! Excited for the future, and excited to celebrate it with you!