Neighbors
Internati nal
Calvary Church's international college student ministry is looking
for new Friendship Families for students arriving this fall. Don and
Darlene Dykstra would like to share what this first year of being a
Friendship Family was like for them and for their students.
Serendipity is a word that means the occurrence and
development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial
way. This definition was coined by Horace Walpole adapted
from a fairy tale in which the heroes were always making
discoveries...of things they were not in quest of.
Our serendipitous adventure began two years ago when
Don and I were invited to a Thanksgiving dinner where
there was a large group of international college students
involved in Neighbors International, Calvary church's
international college student ministry. We were a bit
nervous about being the "old folks" among such a young
crowd but were delighted to find that we were welcomed
with enthusiasm by each of them. What certainly seemed
to be a “chance” encounter (“God-incident” would be more
appropriate), was God planting a seed in our hearts for a
new area of ministry. Over the next several months, we had
the opportunity to help several of the students we had met
and we really enjoyed our interaction with them.
Then, one Sunday, we were challenged by Pastor Samra
to ask ourselves what we were being called to sacrifice in
order to serve others. Don and I each felt God was leading
us to be a Friendship Family with Neighbors International.
We attended the training session the following September
to learn more.
In October, we served as greeters for the International
Student Dinner that Neighbors International hosts at the
Grand Rapids Public Museum. We met three students from
Europe that evening and they were eventually assigned
to us. Although, they were only here for one semester, we
had wonderful times together during Christmas, birthdays,
game nights, shopping trips, conversations, coffee visits
and much more. I was amazed at how our friendships
deepened in so short a time, and that we could be used
to make such an impact in their lives. They love coming
to our house for dinner, playing games and just talking!
One student, who has since gone back to her country,
calls me her “American mom, ” telling me that no one had
ever shared such deep conversations with her! She is even
recommending that a new friend call us when she comes
to the States this summer, telling her “you have to call my
‘adoptive family,’ they will take care of you as well.”
Another student from Africa has enjoyed dinners at our
home and expressed his thankfulness over and over. He
has told us he feels blessed that we would share our food
and time with him. It doesn’t take much to make them feel
welcomed and appreciated. One of the students, upon
visiting our home, said “Oh, this is so exciting! This is
exactly what I had imagined a home looked like in the U.S.
and I was hoping I’d be able to see one.” These kids are here
in a foreign land with many experiencing their first taste of
living abroad, and it can be a lonely place. They long to have
an “American experience” and you can be an important part
of their time here!
Has the Lord ever called you out of your comfort zone to
serve Him? Actually, you don’t have to answer that because
I know he has! Growth cannot happen unless He moves
us where we otherwise might not think to go. Find out
how you can be a blessing to an international student and
experience serendipitous blessings God has in store for
you. Taste and