Encountering the God of Love
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Helping International Students Navigate Halloween
Every October, international students encounter one of the most visually striking and sometimes confusing cultural celebrations in the States: Halloween. Pumpkins appear on doorsteps, skeletons hang in windows, and people of all ages dress up as everything from superheroes to zombies. For many students, this season raises a lot of questions: “Why do Americans celebrate […]
Equipped by Faith
You may have heard the saying, “God doesn’t call the equipped— he equips the called.” What does this mean? It means that no matter how equipped someone might feel, God calls his people, ordinary as they may be, to faithfully serve and lead in extraordinary ways– just as He did with Paul*, an IFI volunteer […]
The Family He Didn’t Know He Needed
When Thomas* arrived in South Korea in August of 2023 from West Asia, the country felt like a complete mystery. Adjusting to the culture was hard. A once outgoing and community-oriented person, Thomas now struggled to connect. The isolation became a daily burden, as he cycled between the lab and his dorm. “I felt excluded,” […]
From Isolation to Inspiration
Johnny left his home in Asia in 2022 to pursue his master’s in electrical engineering at the University of Dayton. It was his first time flying by himself and his first time going to the US; he was nervous but eager. Once he landed, he took an Uber to the university. While driving along the […]
Growing in Grace
Kakeru’s journey from Japan to the U.S. began in August of 2023, as he’d decided on a study abroad program in Oregon. His dream of living in the States trumped his anxiety; but when the realities of moving sank in, Kakeru’s confidence quickly faded. “Things weren’t going well,” Kakeru shared. “I was filled with so […]
Welcomed into an Eternal Family
Amy* arrived in Florida from Asia in August of 2023. Although familiar with the culture in the U.S., as she’d done one year of undergrad in Michigan, she still experienced loneliness. “I often felt homesick,” Amy said. “It’s hard to connect with others in your second language, even more so when you’re an introvert. It […]
From Arizona to Home to Cali to Christ
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A Love Like No Other
In 2022, Jade* moved from Asia to the States for her master’s degree. She’d always been curious to travel and see the world, so when she got the opportunity to study in the US, she was thrilled. But there was sorrow in the joy, as it meant leaving her family and everything she ever knew […]
God of Many Chances
Mark’s* first time in the United States was in 2014 when he received an opportunity to do a one-year transfer program. He was the first in his family and small village in Asia to attend university. Not only that, but he was the first to encounter the love of God, to attend church, and to […]