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 […]
Step by Step Transformation
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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 […]
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 […]
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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For This Very Reason
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Beyond the Bike Trail
When Luke, an enthusiastic IFI volunteer from Columbus, proposed a bike trip to three international students in the summer of 2023—Shane, Brandon, and Aaron*—it seemed like the perfect opportunity for adventure. “The plan was simple,” Luke said. “We’d ride from London to Loveland, Ohio, and back, covering about 150 miles over two days.” Each of […]
How to Teach International Students to Drive
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The Cross Unveiled
David* left his home in Central Asia to pursue his PhD in 2023. It was his first time in the US and he was excited to start his program. However, the newness of it all was overwhelming. David felt deep loneliness, so much so that he was admitted to a hospital. One week after he […]