The best thing we can do for returnee students is pray and trust God for their every need!
“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God,” 1 John 4:7 (NLT).
Making friends with international students comes easily for ministry staff and volunteers. The hardest part can be the reality that one day the deep bond they have formed with students will likely be interrupted by geography. Many international students return to their native countries after completing their studies in the US, and having to say goodbye can be one of the hardest things we must do!
Though we can keep in touch, we often wonder how our friends are doing. Have they adjusted back to their home countries? Have they found other Christians with whom they can fellowship? Are they moving toward their faith? One of our ministry friends shared about her experience with students who returned to their home countries. She writes:
“As we get to know our international friends, year after year, God knits our hearts together. He interweaves our stories, and we learn from each other. I am in constant awe at this gift of sharing our lives together. What beauty, pain and redemption unfold before our eyes. Still, our hope is in the One who is our Redeemer—the One who exchanges lies for truth and sorrow for a crown. As these students leave us, returning to their home countries, it continues to be difficult for me, even after 15 years of ministry! Though it feels like a loss, we trust it is not forever. 'God...You are in our comings and goings.' Recently, beneath a tree in Central Park, we said goodbye to good friends who were on their way back home to China. They shared that they had talked together about praying to accept Christ and being baptized before leaving. They are on the brink, recognizing that is this is the most important decision they will ever make. I believe that they will make that decision in due season. I trust God will continue His work in them.”
Friend, if you are in this situation and are missing a student who has returned home, I encourage you to lift that former student up in prayer. The best thing we can do is pray and trust God for their every need. We can also find ways to encourage them long-distance as much as possible. We do what we can do, and we turn our love to the next friendship and the next redemptive opportunity!
“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God,” 1 John 4:7 (NLT).
For More Information
Do you have a heart from international students? Learn how to become an ISI Friendship Partner!
“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God,” 1 John 4:7 (NLT).
Making friends with international students comes easily for ministry staff and volunteers. The hardest part can be the reality that one day the deep bond they have formed with students will likely be interrupted by geography. Many international students return to their native countries after completing their studies in the US, and having to say goodbye can be one of the hardest things we must do!
Though we can keep in touch, we often wonder how our friends are doing. Have they adjusted back to their home countries? Have they found other Christians with whom they can fellowship? Are they moving toward their faith? One of our ministry friends shared about her experience with students who returned to their home countries. She writes:
“As we get to know our international friends, year after year, God knits our hearts together. He interweaves our stories, and we learn from each other. I am in constant awe at this gift of sharing our lives together. What beauty, pain and redemption unfold before our eyes. Still, our hope is in the One who is our Redeemer—the One who exchanges lies for truth and sorrow for a crown. As these students leave us, returning to their home countries, it continues to be difficult for me, even after 15 years of ministry! Though it feels like a loss, we trust it is not forever. 'God...You are in our comings and goings.' Recently, beneath a tree in Central Park, we said goodbye to good friends who were on their way back home to China. They shared that they had talked together about praying to accept Christ and being baptized before leaving. They are on the brink, recognizing that is this is the most important decision they will ever make. I believe that they will make that decision in due season. I trust God will continue His work in them.”
Friend, if you are in this situation and are missing a student who has returned home, I encourage you to lift that former student up in prayer. The best thing we can do is pray and trust God for their every need. We can also find ways to encourage them long-distance as much as possible. We do what we can do, and we turn our love to the next friendship and the next redemptive opportunity!
“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God,” 1 John 4:7 (NLT).
For More Information
Do you have a heart from international students? Learn how to become an ISI Friendship Partner!
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