You'll discover that it's a joy to serve the Lord by serving international students, who come to us from many countries of the world!

We hope these short notes will help you overcome any anxieties or fears you might have about befriending international students, especially if this is your first contact with international students.

If your opportunities to participate in friendship are limited, remember that no matter how small your part may seem, you are an invaluable link in the chain of friendship and caring which our international students need and long for. God will be honored as we share our lives with the students; these students will long remember the friendship you offer.

Perhaps you're wondering what small ways you might be able to give of yourself and of the blessings God has given you. The paper Building a Friendship With an International Student, and these simple and practical suggestions may give you an idea of a few of the things you could do.

You might encourage others from church to join you, from your small group or Sunday School class, or you may prefer to participate through a student ministry such as InterVarsity's, with a team of others who have a passion for ministry among international students.

One note of caution about a frequent area of difficulty: Because male/female relationships in other cultures are defined differently than our own culture's, international students can easily misunderstand your intentions, and the international student who is perceived by his or her countrymen as violating their cultural norms can suffer rejection and loss of cultural status. So please seek out international friends of your own sex.

• Pray for the international students you'll meet - in your devotions, family prayer and at church.
  
  
• Invite the students to your home for an informal picnic, barbecue, or just a snack or dessert. Kitchen table conversations are often the best ones. Or you could go out to eat together.
  
  
• Show practical love and concern for the international students' needs and concerns. By listening, seek to understand them and their culture.
  
  
• Be natural. Do things you normally do, and invite international students to join you in simple things like shopping, studying, or washing the car. Teach them how to use American gadgets, machines, telephones, etc.
  
  
• Cook or bake together. This can be an exciting time of discovering national dishes from different cultures.
  
  
• Share family photos; ask about their families and write to them, sharing what you've been doing together. Baby-sit for each other if you have young children. If your children are older, they might be interested in becoming pen-pals with the international student's brothers or sisters.
  
  
• Go to a play, art show, concert, or movie. Go for walks or hikes together. Have a cup of coffee together. Watch and discuss the news together - you'll discover new perspectives on the world.
  
  
• Offer to drive the students when they're looking for an apartment, moving, or looking for a job. Drive together to places they might not easily be able to visit: state parks, shopping malls, special events. Help the international student practice driving and get a driver's license.
  
  
• Share hobbies and skills together; there may be things the international would love to try out, and you might learn some new skills as well. Fly a kite. Build a snowman. Work on your house or garden together.
  
  
• Go to a football, basketball, or soccer game together; play a sport; learn a sport from their country.
  
  
• Visit the international students in their dorm rooms or apartments. Meet their friends and invite them to your home to meet your family or friends, or to church as appropriate.
  
  
• Attend one of their national cultural events, picnics, or group meetings with them, learning about their culture and values. Share about American customs. Learn songs from each other's countries.
  
  
• Help with English as needed. Simple conversation is often all that's needed.
  
  
• Celebrate holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, or a birthday together.
  
  
• Invite them to attend church with you. Attend a Bible study in a small group of other seekers together, such as during one of InterVarsity's monthly international dinners.
  
  
• Talk together about faith. Listen to their needs, concerns and questions. Having a Christian friend or family whose life they can observe and experience is a powerful witness.
  
  
• Open your home (perhaps once a year) for programs offered by InterVarsity's International Student Ministry. Provide some food for international dinners, picnics, or a hay ride, or consider donating financially.
  
  
• When the international students move back to their home countries, continue praying for them, and if appropriate, keep in touch and even visit!

In a word: Share your lives with each other!

"As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us."
1 Thessalonians 2:7,8