Finally Living the Dream
Summer* had dreamed of living in the US since she was 14 years old. After years of watching American YouTubers and feeling a quiet connection with the culture, she finally arrived in January 2024 to pursue her master’s degree at Kent State. It wasn’t her first time in the country, as she had previously taken […]
Why Me, A Stranger?
Beatrice* was born and raised in South Asia, and from a young age, she carried a question: Which God is for me? Determined to find answers, she asked friends and family and even created a plan to follow a different god each month. After years of searching without any results, she gave up and began […]
How Can I Make Sure?
In the fall of 2024, Fiorella arrived in Columbus from Peru, stepping into a brand-new chapter of life at OSU. Just one day after landing, she stopped by an IFI table on campus, where she was warmly welcomed by students and staff from Latin America. It didn’t take long for her to find her place, […]
God-sent People
Coby* almost didn’t come to the United States. When a college recruiter from America showed up in South Asia during his undergrad, Coby assumed it was a scam. But his mom believed before he did; she bought all his winter gear before he was even accepted. That kind of faith runs in the family. Coby […]
Just the Beginning
When Nat arrived in Ohio from Thailand as an international student, he held excitement and nerves in both hands. Like many students new to the U.S., he wondered how he would adjust to life in a new country. “I was nervous about making friends and finding my way,” Nat remembered. Those worries began to ease […]
Leaning on Love
Priscilla* arrived in Cleveland from South Asia in August of 2024 to begin her master’s degree in Information Systems. While she had traveled internationally before, this move felt different. Those first days were hard. Most students hadn’t arrived yet, classes hadn’t started, and the loneliness set in quickly. “I remember calling my dad and crying,” […]
Accepting Being Chosen
In her final days in the U.S., international student Janet*, originally from a closed country, joined IFI staff members in the fall of 2025 to watch a showing of The Chosen: The Last Supper. But her questions about faith had actually begun long before that night. For months, she had been attending a small-group Bible […]
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 […]
Chased Down by Love
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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 […]