Sara and Michael met for the first time in 2021. Michael was on a two-month mission trip to Costa Rica, during which time fate had Michael visit Sara's Church in Cartago.

Michael preached and then gave an altar call. Instead of responding to the altar call, Sara hid in a corner of the Church and prayed that Michael would not come to pray with her. However, Michael DID go and pray for Sara! After the service, Sara (who was beginning to speak English confidently) approached Michael and encouraged him. To this day, Michael remembers what Sara said and the exact tile square on which it was said and claims that as their tile. He also recalled that Sara misspoke and said she was earning her master's degree in English. Perhaps this was a "prophetic word" for her future.

Michael was back in Costa Rica two years later, this time for a year-long mission. Again, fate would intervene; this time, Sara would visit a church where Michael was preaching to the youth. Legend has it that without knowing that Michael would be there, she remarked to her friends before the service that she was dressed elegantly to meet her future American husband. This WOULD prove to be a "prophetic word."

This time, instead of hiding in the back of the Church during the altar call, Sara responded, and Michael once again went to pray for her. As Michael began to speak to her during this prayer time with the help of an interpreter, Sara boldly proclaimed that she could speak English.

Months passed, and their paths rarely crossed until one day when Michael was asked to preach in Cartago and needed a translator. Sara was the obvious choice, of course.

Sara was very nervous but accepted the job right away. By the way, Sara's boldness in the face of fear is the very first thing that attracted Micahel to her.

After the service in Cartago, Sara and Michael continued to work together. One service that was very key in developing their relationship was in Jaco on April 6, 2023. Michael's father, Mike Sr, was there to visit Jr. Despite Jr's best attempts, he had never successfully taught a Bible study to his father. But when Sara was confronted with Sr's questions about baptism, she did not hesitate to open her Bible and give him a 20-minute on-the-spot Bible study from Genesis to Revelation. Her teaching proved effective as Mike Sr. was born again that night!

Eventually, Michael returned to the United States, and with time and distance, Sara and Michael realized that their friendship was becoming much more than that. When Michael returned in February of this year, he and Sara had been praying for direction from the Lord.

During this trip, they ministered together in 13 services over only 9 days and were amazed by what the Lord was doing not only through their ministry but also in their hearts for one another.

Michael returned to Costa Rica with his mother and an engagement ring two weeks later. After some careful planning and Sara's mother's help, he surprised her with a romantic dinner, the company of a few good friends, and a proposal.

Obviously, she said yes!