Staying Rooted
When Ranja first came to the University of New Mexico, she was a young woman full of ideas but unsure exactly where life would lead her. “I did my undergrad at UNM,” she said, “and then I moved to Georgia for my Master’s. Life just kind of takes you where you need to be.”
Before participating at Luther House/The Open Table, Ranja had grew up hearing about the ministry through her church. “Honestly,” she admitted with a laugh, “I didn’t have a lot of expectations. I thought it would just be like Sunday school for grown-ups.”
What she found instead was a home that shaped her faith, her friendships, and her future. “The thing I appreciate most,” she said, “is how much Luther House focused on young people, on keeping us connected.” She described the weekly rhythm of dinner and Bible study, recalling how “we’d start upstairs eating together, then move down to the chapel for worship and conversation. It was all in the span of an hour, but it felt like family.”
For Ranja, that community became a lifeline. “You know,” she said softly, “college can make you feel lost sometimes. You’re figuring out who you are. But being at Luther House kept me rooted, it reminded me what really mattered.” When she struggled with finances, the Luther House community stepped in. “I wanted to study abroad,” she explained, “but we didn’t have the means. Luther House hosted a yard sale and donated items, and they helped me raise the money. I got to go to Morocco because of them.” That act of generosity changed everything. “It wasn’t just about the money,” she said. “It was knowing people believed in me, that they saw potential and said, ‘Yes, you can do this.’ That kind of faith in you, it stays.”
Her memories of Luther House are woven with milestones: “My baby was baptized there,” she said, smiling. “I had my graduation party there, too. It’s where I met my good friends, people I still talk to years later.” When she reflects on those years, Ranja says what she carries most is the spirit of welcome. “Living there taught me that kindness is simple,” she said. “Just saying hello, opening a door, sharing a meal, it changes how you see the world.”
Now, as a mother and professional, Ranja still feels the imprint of that little house at UNM. “Luther House,” she said, pausing for a moment, “helped me grow into the person I am. It taught me how to stay grounded, even when life moves fast. It taught me that faith is community, and that community can change your life.”