From 1 Student to 50: God’s Faithfulness in Lancaster
It can be scary to establish an IFI location from scratch. “Where does one even begin?” That’s what Kasey Smith, now IFI Lancaster Ministry Leader, was asking himself once he moved from Guatemala to Pennsylvania in January of 2023. Launching the location was little more than a dream– a hopeful prayer for a community that […]
A Family Welcome
“I really felt like I was another member of the family.” Leah, a Ph.D. Aerospace Engineering scholar from China, said this after staying with an IFI host family. Leah arrived in the US in August 2019, and although she lived with Chinese roommates, she felt increasingly lonely. This drove her to seek friends by joining […]
From a Thanksgiving Celebration to Giving Thanks
When Frank arrived in the US to pursue his masters in Public Administration and Politics, he immediately noticed cultural differences from his home in Ghana. “I saw the US was more individualistic and that one could be in an apartment and not know who their neighbors were,” he recalls. Besides his roommate, he really didn’t […]
A Korean Student’s Thanksgiving Among Friends
Myungjin, a Korean PhD student studying aerospace engineering, felt especially homesick last fall during “Chuseok,” also known as the Korean Thanksgiving. He knew his family in Korea were gathering to celebrate this big holiday and making rice cakes called songpyeon. It seemed a coincidence that his IFI Bible discussion group friends were gathering the same […]
“Dinner After Dark” – Serving Muslim Students During Ramadan
[fusion_alert type=”general” accent_color=”#808080″ background_color=”#ffffff” border_size=”” icon=”” text_align=”left” text_transform=”normal” dismissable=”no” box_shadow=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””] With the current situation of COVID-19, an in-person event like “Dinner After Dark” may not be possible. How could you support your Muslim friends during Ramadan online this year instead? [/fusion_alert] Location Update: Cleveland, Ohio Since 2014, IFI […]
Hosting a Halal Thanksgiving
Have you ever wondered how to share a holiday with international students in a culturally sensitive way? Some IFI volunteers in Columbus, Ohio took a step of faith last year and did just that by inviting some Muslim students to a halal Thanksgiving celebration in their home. Here are some tips that helped them create […]
3 Hints for Holiday Hosting
During school breaks and holidays, while their American peers go home to be with family, many international students will remain on campus. Being away from family and homeland can be hard enough for an international student. Breaks often serve as additional reminders that they are a foreigner in a foreign land. Leviticus 19:34 tells how […]
Include Internationals in an Easter Egg Hunt
The day before Easter, some IFI volunteers and their small groups host an Easter Egg Hunt and brunch for neighbors and their international friends. One volunteer, Nancy, says, “The Easter Egg Hunt and brunch is a great way to bring our home church together to serve and host others, including international students. It is a […]
Experiencing the Love of God Through the Love of a Family
Manman’s first experience with a local American family was a positive one, thanks to IFI volunteers Peter and Karen. “When I entered Peter’s house, his wife, Karen, welcomed me at the door, and prepared such delicious food!” Manman recalls. One of the food items was especially intriguing: “Karen made s’mores for us, which I had […]
Caroling, Cookies, and the Meaning of Christmas
Taozhen’s relationship with an IFI volunteer family, which continues to this day, had its roots in Christmas. “I first met my host family in Medina, Ohio, via an IFI Christmas trip, back in 2009,” says Taozhen. “I was their very first international student and the family welcomed me in with open arms. They took me […]