Zac: While we originally met through a dating app, I noticed before anything else that she was preparing to serve a full-time mission for our church. After a couple of months of talking, we had our first date on Dec. 4, 2022. We decided to go to our church’s Christmas devotional for a fun, uplifting, and casual date.

What wasn’t expected was how quickly I realized I wanted to ask her out again and again. (That’s kind of hard to realize when you love someone but know they’re going to be leaving for 18 months soon). We filled most of the next couple weeks going on more dates. The end of the semester was a bittersweet moment for us. We weren’t going to see each other in person again for the next year and a half! I honestly sat and asked myself if I wanted to wait. Over the 78 weekly emails, a few letters, and some care packages sent to her, I fell more in love with building our relationship even if we weren’t seeing each other always. I knew without a doubt when she got home, I wanted to spend eternity with her as soon as possible!

Audrey: I wasn't really expecting to date anyone before I went on a mission. I had already gotten my call before I started talking to and dating Zac. We actually were in the same stake and I had seen him play the organ at stake conference, I just didn't know him at the time. I also wasn't expecting anything to go anywhere with Zac and I. I didn't want to make him wait for me and I knew he'd probably get snatched while I was on my mission, so I tried not to get too attached. However, I did remember thinking how sweet he was and how he didn't want to keep me from going on a mission, because he knew how important that was for me. Deep down I really hoped that he'd want to wait for me. I think that was the moment when I knew that maybe this could actually work. It just goes to show that when we put God first in our lives, everything will work out the way that it's supposed to.

Throughout my mission, I got beautiful handwritten in cursive and wax-stamped letters from Zac that always put a smile on my face. He sent me a couple of packages that had a bunch of Hershey kisses in them and I would eat them while I was stuck in my apartment during the Vermont snow storms.

It's been really great to be back at school and be able to take more time to get to know Zac and go on so many lots of fun dates that we didn't get to go on before. I've fallen in love with him more and more as I've seen him care for me, show his love for me and protect me. I can't wait to spend eternity with him!

If you would like to Venmo us, you can reach our accounts @Zachary-Burnett-12