Tears ran down Dani's round cheeks. She sat engulfed by students in the Multnomah Student Commons but felt as distant from them as from her native Germany 6,000 miles away.

Yet confusion, not miles, caused the hot tears to fall like tiny, salty comets onto her untouched lunch.

Uta, a Multnomah Bible College student and fellow German, sat with Dani, gently probing her about her German church experiences.

Uta's blue eyes caressed Dani with gentleness and peace. Dani had first seen that same peace and gentleness in an American soldier one year earlier in her hometown of Geissen.

In April, 1997, while singing in a German-American choir, Dani noticed Nevil Stites, a U.S. Army tanker stationed in Giessen. Nevil, silhouetted against a stained glass window, played a guitar. His calming countenance, which differed from other Americans and Germans, attracted her.

Several choir practices later, Dani invited Nevil out for coffee. Soon they started dating. Six months later, their initial attraction had blossomed into love. Even as Nevil hung up his rifle and left the Army to attend Multnomah Bible College, they knew a mere continent and ocean wouldn't impede their intimate relationship.

Weekly phone calls racked up $300 bills and daily e-mails wore the letters I, L, O, V, E, Y and U off their keyboards. Then one January morning, Nevil devastated Dani.

As a soldier in Germany, he said, he hadn't walked with God. But at Multnomah, he had repented and was renewing his relationship with the Lord. Now Nevil said he needed more time with the Lord.

Dani cried all day. She feared Nevil was choosing God over her.

She had known he was a Christian, but she wasn't sure what that meant.

Wasn't she a Christian? After all, she had been confirmed at age 14. She definitely believed in God. Yet the churches she attended felt dead. The Bible she had bought made no sense.

But Nevil also said she should visit him in April.

When spring came, they finally spoke face to face. Hours together touring and meeting friends only quickened their love.

Nevil's church friends embraced Dani, gave her a place to stay and shared dinners. They talked like family and said they'd pray for her.

Yet Dani grew disconcerted. She didn't grasp Nevil's faith, his hearty talks about Bible classes or his genuine prayers to his heavenly Father.

Nor did she understand his friends' love. Was this merely American Christianity?

Then she met Nevil's school friend, Uta. Dani's brown eyes jumped. Uta was gentle and peaceful, and she was a Christian. Yet Uta was also German.

How could this be? Dani wondered. She had never met a German believer.

Now sitting with Uta at lunch, Dani tearfully unloaded. Maybe this fellow countrywoman could calm her confusion, maybe even help her see.

"How do you know you're supposed to be in Portland? How do you know you became a Christian? How do you become a Christian?" Dani asked in German. Desperation vaulted her questions over the roaring conversations and clattering silverware. She glanced at the other students and wiped away her tears.

Uta silently prayed. Then she tried to answer Dani, but the surrounding conversations swallowed her words. She asked Dani if they could go on a walk the next day when they had more time.

The following day the two Germans strolled under gray clouds. Again, Dani pelted Uta with questions.

Uta explained the simplicity of becoming a Christian.

"You don't have to do any magic formula or study more?" Dani asked.

"No," Uta said and explained the gospel again.

"Uta," Dani asked, her eyes big with hope, "Can you pray with me?"

Uta obliged and Dani prayed to receive Jesus.

Suddenly, Dani felt a heavy weight fall from her. As she opened her eyes, the sun shined on Uta and Dani. They walked together laughing and at peace.

Back in Germany, Dani attended a church Uta had recommended and continued walking with God.

In May 1999, Dani and Nevil married. Today, Dani serves in their church office, sings in the choir and works full time. Nevil, a music major, attends Multnomah.