HUF allows students to explore ... Another World Cathedral bells resounded through the narrow streets of Florence, just as they had for centuries. Their rich texture reached Piazzale Michelangelo, where the 1995 spring, summer and fall HUF groups caught their first glimpse of the "City of Flowers." Here, students recognized the Duomo, its massive structure dominating the panorama, as the hallmark of their temporary home as they embarked on an adventure that changed their lives. Typical HUF students arrived for the first time at Harding's sixteenth-century villa with onlywhat they could carry. They learned to live solely on the essentials. Heidi Burkham recalls, ''While at HUF, I learned to be more compassionate because I encountered people who literally had nothing. It gave the scripture, 'If just a cup ofwater... ,' anew relevance," Burkham said. For many, HUF prompted a spiritual renewal. Whether by singing in the catacombs of Rome where our ancient brothers and sisters in Christ once worshipped or by retracing the steps of the apostle Paul in Greece, all felt the presence of the Lord. This eternal bond provided the avenue for developing existing relationships within the group, as well as forming new ones through fellowship and international worship with the Italian Christians. As students traveled throughout Italy and the rest ofEurope, they seized opportunities to interact with the local citizens. An Italian schoolboy eagerly exchanged one of his favorite soccer banners for one of newfound friend Michael Morris's American dollar bills. "I learned then that you don't need to speak the same language to communicate with someone of another nationality," Morris said. The HUF experience elevated students' perspectives to a level even greater than climbing the bell tower of San Gimignano or standing on a peak of the Swiss Alps. They saw Michelangelo's David, Da Vinci's Last Supper and Paris's Notre Dame firsthand and in a new light. Art was no longer viewed simply as famous objects bearing some remote significance to the past, but as collections of ideas and emotions, which continue to be driving forces in every facet of society. The language and customs, sometimes extraordinarily different from American life, equipped students with the ability to observe, appreciate and respect the values of others. This ability, essential for all aspects of the Christian life, did not terminate when boarding the plane for home. The HUF experience affected each group and each person differently. For some, charting travel plans fostered independence. For others, spending each day in a different country became the norm. But for all, HUF expanded their view of the world and its people. "Encountering once-in-a-lifetime experiences was an everyday occurrence at HUF," Angela Sholl explained. "It wasn't until I returned home and reflected on those experiences that I realized just how much HUF influenced and changed my life." - Tiffany Dawson The epicenter of the Renaissance, Florence, Italy, seroes as the backdrop for HUF. Many aspects of Florentine life have remained the same for centuries. Photo by Jimmy Brooks. International Studies 26 .,.;.------s-,---tu~d~en_t_L~it~e~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~---1 "While at HUF,/ learned to be more compassionate because I encountered people who literally had nothing. It gave the scripture, 'Ifjust a cup of water . .., ' anew relevance. " - Heidi Burkham
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==