Who am I? One of a foreign people or part of the privileged majority? Am I that different from lighter or darker skinned people? Do I need to be bilingual or can I just speak solo un lenguaje? Who are my brothers and sisters? I ask again, ¿Quien soy? These are some of the questions I ask myself as a member of the Latino community, living in the predominantly Anglo culture of college.

I’ve been to I-V conferences (both local and national), but never experienced the close bond felt with over 50 college students at the LaFe ’04 Conference in Oakland, California. On Friday evening we arrived as strangers; a few hours later, we were rejoicing with our long-lost siblings. This bond may have developed as a result of the hospitable environment of the conference; it would have been impossible without a common commitment to Jesus Christ.

Saturday began with a traditional Mexican breakfast—huevos, chorizo, tortillas. We spent the day discovering our Latino identity and learning how to be active agents for justice. We explored the relationship between Catholics and evangelicals. We share essentials of the faith: loving God and serving others in response to his love. Saturday evening, Pastor Alejandro Juarez challenged us to lay down our crowns before the King. In response, we placed our insecurities, relationships and identity at the feet of Christ. We came to realize that who we are is much deeper than our ethnic identity—it involves our membership in God’s family.

I came back to campus with a better understanding and love for my life as a Latino in the US. I’ve come to realize how Jesus desires to use me on my campus to help my Latino brothers and sisters understand their identity and culture through the eyes of God. I’m not sure what direction this commitment might take me, but I do know God is leading the way.