My Family's Story
About My Family
Chelsea and I met at a potluck in 2010 at Canadian University College (now Burman University). We started dating on December 23rd, 2011. After graduating in June 2013, Chelsea and I dated long-distance until our wedding on August 7th, 2017. Chelsea taught math and science at Parkview Adventist Academy while I pastored in Winnipeg, Manitoba. While in Winnipeg, I served as a church planter, lead pastor of Lighthouse of Hope, and chaplain of RRVJA.
After our wedding, we moved to Southbend, Indiana, where I started my Master's in Divinity at Andrews University, and Chelsea began her career as an online teacher at PACeS. While in Southbend, we adopted our dog Nimbus Thor Portillo.
In the spring of 2020, we moved to Vancouver, Washington, where I served as youth and young adult pastor of Meadowglade SDA Church. In the spring of 2022, I was reassigned to be the lead pastor of a small rural church in Brush Prarie, Washington, where I serve now.
On May 6th, we welcomed our son Ismael Alexander Portillo into the world.
We love to travel, play board games, drink coffee, and have fun. Many wouldn't guess it, but both Chelsea and I are big introverts; it takes time for us to become comfortable with others.
We love our immediate families but we are somewhat of the black sheep of our families. We believe that is largely due to our travels, education, and curiosity. Since we have moved a lot in the last 15 years of our lives, friends have become an important part of our lives. For this reason, we love our friends and consider many of them family.