Neighbors
Internati nal
Calvary Church , Grand Rapids MI
Are you an Empty Nester wondering what the next stage of your life will look like ? Do you want to find a ministry that can put all your parenting skills to good use and truly make a difference ? Tim and Lori Schultze did just that last year by opening their hearts to several international college students . Read their story below .
With our youngest child heading off to college this past fall , my husband and I faced , for the first time , the eeriness of the empty nest settling in around us . After raising four children with four very active lives , this was a new feeling for both of us .
In the past , we had each noticed the announcement for Neighbors International ( N . I .) and the need for Friendship Families to embrace International College students , but we had never really given it any further thought . Upon this reading , however , we paused to consider this opportunity given that our schedules and our very busy family structure as we had once known it , had taken on a new face .
As we considered the thought of becoming a Friendship Family to an international student through N . I . at Calvary , I recalled my parents doing the same at Calvary some 20 years ago when they befriended Esther from Kenya . She remains to this day , a dear friend of our family . She now lives in the Grand Rapids area and has a family of her own . Esther still refers to my mother as “ Mama .” My mother delights in the Mother ’ s Day card she receives each year from Esther !!
After attending the September volunteer training , we were signed up for what has turned out to be yet another evidence of God ’ s work in the world and in our lives .
Every October after many months of prayer and preparation , the N . I . leadership team and many other volunteers , kick off the season with a sensational evening of love and welcome to a vast number of excited international students from area colleges . This fantastic event takes place at the Van Andel Museum in downtown Grand Rapids . Being a part of this evening is like attending a carnival of delight celebrating countries and cultures and God ’ s diverse created children . All were welcomed with love , smiles , food , and gifts to simply say , “ We are here for you ! Welcome !”. This event alone , evokes praise to God with joy and excitement for the blessing we received in having this opportunity to show the love of Christ to new friends .
Our “ student match-up ”, which was the result of much prayerful and logistical consideration , became three Cornerstone University students who have greatly enriched our lives . Two of our students , Jonita and Isaiah are “ missionary kids ” from Papua , New Guinea . Our third student , Julia , is a precious girl from Bangladesh whose family and friends sacrificed much to get her to Cornerstone University .
In our case , all three of our students are believers in Jesus Christ , but this is not at all the norm . We have shared our faith and witnessed the faith of these young people who have come so far from home to learn and prepare for their futures . Our times with them have included dinners in our home and dinners out . We have sipped coffee , eaten pizza (“ good pizza ”), gone to plays , shopped at Goodwill , attended concerts at our daughter ’ s college , worshiped , given rides to the airport , toured the Heritage Hill homes …….. simply become family , doing what families do for each other out of love and service to God and to one another . Every exchange we have with our students blesses all of us , but the most vital ingredient in these relationships is prayer !
Being a Friendship Family is yet another opportunity to be of service as we walk our walk and talk our talk . Some are called to go . Others are called to welcome . All of us are called to be imitators of Jesus Christ . As you pray about how you will imitate Jesus , consider opening your arms as you open your heart to Him and to the international students he has sent our way . Blessings , as in all cases , will follow .
If you want to find out how you can be a Friendship Family for next fall , please contact Sonja ( neighbors _ international @ calvarygr . org ) at 340-2568 .
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