Nathan is originally from Washington state and Bethany is from Indiana. Nathan and Bethany were married January 26, 2002. They met at the YWAM University of the Nations-Kona base in 1999, then reunited there in 2000 while both were pursuing training in missions. Bethany was in Primary Health Care school and Nathan studied Permaculture. After outreaches in the Philippines, Thailand, and Cambodia between 2000-2001, they were married and lived in Bethany's hometown of Bloomfield, Indiana for 14 months. Then they spent three months at the YWAM Colorado Springs Strategic Frontiers base to prepare to come to Thailand long-term. In July 2003, they moved to Chiang Rai in the northernmost province of Thailand. During the rest of 2003-2004 they completed Thai language study and internship, and worked with Eden House, a home for girls rescued from extreme, at-risk situations.