Volunteers Share Maple Syrup Making with Students
Nine years ago, Tom and Jody Slemmer didn’t know how to make the maple syrup that now attracts groups of international students out to their farm. Originally, Tom and Jody lived in the suburbs, but they both loved the outdoors and wanted a place where they could watch things grow. With no “real” farm experience, […]
Perspectives from a Young Volunteer
We recently caught up with Sarah, one of our most active and passionate participants, to learn from her what being a young volunteer with IFI looks like and why it’s important to her. We love her challenge to all volunteers to think rightly about our relationships with international friends and to learn from them as […]
Years of Volunteering has not Cooled His Commitment
Eric has been involved in serving international students with his wife, Kristin, for over 25 years and has yet to exhaust his capacity to marvel at how God is working in it! He highlights how God uses it to bring about growth not only in the lives of the students he and Kristin work with […]
Rethinking Retirement
When deciding how to spend time after retiring from a career or working life, what comes to mind? There are expressions commonly shared with retirees, such as “You deserve to relax and enjoy life.” “You can enjoy more time with family, be your own boss, travel, and do what you’ve always wanted to do.” These […]
A Year in the Life of IFI Champaign-Urbana
Bill Erickson, director of IFI at the University of Illinois, and his wife Donna both attended the U of I as students. After graduation, they decided to make their college town their hometown based on a sense that God had some special purpose for them at U of I, one of the leading internationally-attended universities […]
Using Cooking to Build Bridges
Karen Mack pulls the steaming lasagna out of the oven. As she does so, she turns to Nora, the international student standing next to her, and explains how to tell if it’s done. This is Nora’s first time making lasagna, but she says it won’t be her last. “I first started cooking with internationals when […]
A Loving Community for International Wives and Moms
Isolation, loneliness, and feelings of low self-worth are common struggles faced by international women who have accompanied their families to the USA. Often, while their husbands or children are studying or working, international wives and moms find themselves at home without many opportunities to practice English or make friends. Thankfully, many American mom’s and wives […]
If God Says Go: Hosting Internationals in the Midst of COVID-19
Volunteers Gary and Silvia showed hospitality during COVID-19. The table was set and delicious smells wafted through the house as Silvia’s family sat down to share a table prayer with their new international friends. This dinner party probably looked very much like other IFI friendship dinners: two international students and three Americans sitting around a […]
Staff Story: From Jungle to City
Mike Burt and his wife, Jeanie, were unsure of their next step when they returned to Columbus, Ohio in June of 2000. They were home for the standard year of furlough from their service among tribal people in Venezuela. Mike grew up in a family who followed Jesus and had been exposed to many cross-cultural […]
“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 […]