As a young child, Rindra sometimes faced challenges. “I think I was mostly misunderstood,” he shared. As a middle child, he laughingly attributes some of those struggles to what he calls "middle child syndrome." “It was more than that, though,” Rindra explained, “It's hard when you don’t understand people. There was a language barrier for me as a child.”

Originally from Madagascar, Rindra grew up near Luther House in Albuquerque. His mother and siblings attended the University of New Mexico (UNM) and were active members of the Luther House community. Some of Rindra’s earliest memories, around the age of seven, involve large dinners in the chapel at Luther House. “It was a great place to sit down and have a meal together,” he recalls. As he got older, Rindra would visit his sister Ranja and brother Rado while they were living at Luther House. “I thought Luther House was a place for International Students, and in a way, it was. I didn’t know it went beyond housing and food for International Students."

Rindra moved into Luther House in 2019 when he began his own studies at UNM. “I quickly learned that there were multiple layers to Luther House. We have all kinds of people at Luther House and lots of activities.” He expressed appreciation for our community-building activities, including events like Dungeons & Dragons night, partnerships with other campus ministries, and movie nights.

Rindra continues to live at Luther House while pursuing his Master’s Degree in Public Administration. “I find community and comfort at Luther House. It’s nice to know that you can reach out to your community when you need help or a job. Just last year, I really needed help, and my community helped me a lot. It was a fork in the road for me. I could see what my path looked like without my community, and I didn’t like it. There’s comfort in having a place to go and having a community built in.”

Today, Rindra remains an integral part of the Luther House community. He is not only a resident but also a leader. He actively participates in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, serves on the Luther House Board of Directors, and is a member of the ELCA Churchwide Church Council. Looking ahead, Rindra hopes to continue serving within the ELCA. “This is where my community is and where I want to be.”

-Pastor Rhonda Newby-Torres