In 2023, Erica* arrived in Columbus from Spain to pursue her doctorate in Hispanic Linguistics. However, she felt extremely homesick upon arriving and was on the fence about accepting her scholarship offer at OSU because of it.
That notion quickly changed once Erica found IFI. She decided to attend their Welcome Picnic at the beginning of the year, and it was there that she was befriended by Fabi from Chile, an IFI staff worker at OSU who took her under her wing and helped her navigate culture shock.
These OSU Welcome Picnics usually have around 200 plus international students, so Erica meeting Fabi was no coincidence! The two quickly formed a bond, exchanging contact information and making plans to meet up again soon.
“Fabi is a great person who has helped me personally and spiritually,” Erica said. “She always offers help, whether it’s housing, connecting you to other students, driving you to the grocery store… she’s amazing!”
Despite the friendship, Erica was still struggling to adjust to life in the States, homesickness weighing heavily on her. Fabi, seeing her need, responded with prayer and gentle encouragement. Over dinner one day, Erica opened up about her spiritual journey, mentioning that although she had grown up praying every night with her grandma, she didn’t consider herself a follower of Jesus. She was also deeply scared of life after death.
This vulnerability sparked a deeper discussion— one spiritual conversation that touched on faith, purpose, and the search for truth. As the night continued, something shifted in Erica.
“If becoming a follower of Jesus and meeting IFI was the only reason I came to Columbus…” Erica said. “It was worth it!”
Her heart softened, and after much reflection, she made a life-changing decision in Fabi’s car before drop-off: she chose to put her faith in Jesus.
It was a moment of quiet celebration, full of gratitude for how God had worked in her life. Two days later, Erica was on her way home, as she had decided to return to Spain.
Erica stayed in Columbus for a total of 7 days, and boy, was it indeed worth it! God brought her to the ends of the earth to hear of Him and sent her home again with the message in her heart. Pray for her as she connects with other Christians back home in Spain and learns what it means to follow Jesus wholeheartedly!
**Student name changed to protect privacy
