They met at SEEK 23, a huge Catholic conference for college students. The location of SEEK changes every year, but in 2023 it was in St. Louis, MO. Since their high school days, they both had radical conversions toward Christ. Justin was a FOCUS missionary who dedicated his life to leading college students to Jesus. Maria was finishing up her second semester of her junior year of college after a 6-month deployment to Kuwait. When she attended SEEK 23, she wanted to meet a missionary who was also in the military. She didn't know if it was possible to be a missionary while also serving in the Armed Forces. While attending a talk, she started talking to student from another college. He described how he just met a missionary who serves in the Army Reserves. Immediately, she asked if she could have this missionary's number. Justin received a text from a young women named Maria who was interested in mission work. He at first thought she was Latina but was thrown off by the fact she was from North Dakota. He replied and said he would meet with her. They decided to meet at a military lunch panel dedicated to those in the Armed Forces at SEEK 23 and trying to live out their faith while serving. Once Justin and Maria met, he was surprised she wasn't Latina, and she was thrown off by his large red mustache which was clearly out of military regulations. They spoke for an hour or two all about mission work but also life. They both felt seen by each other, especially by how they both started their faith journey in college. The time seemed to pass by quickly. Fast forward a few months, Maria found out she was going to Knoxville, TN to attend Airman Leadership School. The military wanted her to become a sergeant and of all the schools in the country decided to send her there. Once she arrived, Justin asked her out on a first date and the rest is history. God clearly had a plan, and his plan involved Justin and Maria finding one another. There are many details not mentioned that make the couple's story such a beautiful example of God's plan. Justin and Maria hope to live out their faith in their marriage and bring God into every aspect of their relationship. "For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope." - Jeremiah 29:11