Hannah Herrera worked as an RUF International intern for two years in Texas and now works with RUF Global in Rionegro, Colombia.
I met Madi like I met a lot of students: in the rush of the organization fair, shouting to be heard over the cacophony in the gym. She was from Germany and was eager to learn about American culture (specifically the intricacies of the fabled American football). We exchanged numbers, and I invited her to my home for dinner.Fast forward a few weeks, and Madi is attending every Reformed University Fellowship gathering. She said she remembered praying with her family as a child, but her connection to God had been dormant for years. In RUF, it came alive. She barraged me with questions, much to my delight. (Most memorably, she asked me why God allowed the Holocaust — a great question, but awkward in the middle of Rihanna’s Super Bowl halftime show).
Through more dinners in my home, our relationship deepened. Never have I seen a student so excited, and so curious, about the things of Christ. We read Tim Keller’s “The Songs of Jesus” together and texted about the daily prayers. We discussed how to treat difficult people with kindness. She shared her newfound love for Christ with her boyfriend, and they started reading the Bible together.