Friendships develop in all sorts of unexpected ways in this modern, technology-driven world that we live in today.

So, developing a new friendship (or relationship) on an app like Tinder, Match, or eHarmony might not seem that out of the ordinary.

But making a real connection through a gaming app like ‘Words With Friends’? Now that doesn’t happen every day – especially between two individuals with more than fifty-years difference in age!

Words with Friends Takes on a Whole New Meaning

Spencer Sleyon, 22, an aspiring rapper from Harlem and Rosalind “Roz” Guttman, 81, a West Palm Beach retirement community resident, couldn’t be more different in just about every way.

That is, except for their utter love of words.

The obvious differences between these two wordsmiths didn’t stop the unlikely pair from battling each other in over 300 games of Words With Friends since the app randomly paired them as opponents over a year ago.

In their time spent slinging words back and forth, Sleyton and Guttman managed to develop a real camaraderie and much more than just a virtual connection via the apps chat feature.

Amidst the friendly competition and competitive banter, Sleyton and Guttman began to confide in each other and actually grew to be quite close – so close in fact that Sleyton shared the story of his unlikely friendship with his pastor, Amy Butler.

After including Sleyton’s story in her sermon, using it as the perfect platform to discuss how life-changing certain relationships can be, Butler felt inspired to help this friendship move from virtual to reality.

Words Really Do Take You Places

After working out the details, Sleyton and his pastor booked plane tickets and headed down to Florida to meet his Words with Friends opponent in the flesh.

Upon arrival, Butler acted as the pairs personal photographer, snapping photos and posting them to social media, to which the Words With Friends Twitter responded, “We can’t get enough of this! Amazing. Thank you for sharing your story with us.”

And the Words With Friends Twitter account wasn’t the only one who couldn’t get enough – the internet erupted with an outpouring of emotion at the sweet images of this unlikely pair meeting in person.

Sleyton himself tweeted a picture with the caption, “Life is…crazy, I’ve never [even] been to Florida, y’all.”

Friendships like this one are living proof that words truly are our most powerful device, able to bridge the gaps between culture, age, demographics, and so much more.

Have you made any friends or connections through apps? What do you think about the unlikely friendship between these two word-lovers? What is your favorite gaming app to play? Join the conversation below!