GFM Blog Series, Week 2: Laura Freeze!

GFM Blog Series: This spring semester we’re going to introduce what we hope will become a new GFM tradition—our blog is going to feature a short, open-topic reflection each Monday, written by graduate students & faculty members.  This week, we are so pleased to have Laura Freeze, Masters of Public Affairs '12, shares her mission & reflections on connecting with international students at IU. Thank you so much, Laura! 

We’re on the lookout for people willing to post, so if you’re interested, contact Kerilyn Harkaway-Krieger (kharkawa@indiana.edu).

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Seemingly a lifetime ago, I applied to grad school at IU. The unique part was that I applied while half a world away in the middle of remote central China. For two years I had been teaching English and serving with a Christian organization in a part of the world where millions of people have never even heard the name of Jesus. The need was and is still so great. However, I decided to jump at the opportunity to pursue my master’s degree in America, and packed my bags to return to a place and culture that had become rather foreign to me.

Upon returning to the U.S. and moving to a random part of the Midwest—Indiana—I seemed to have started at ground level again. I felt like an outsider leading a purposeless life. It was almost required to become consumed with self to do well in classes and survive grad school, or so I thought. After spinning my wheels a bit, I was reminded: “Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to the things going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from His perspective.” (Colossians 3:1-2, The Message).

Although I left Asia behind and grieved for that loss, once I looked up and became alert to the things going on around Christ, I soon realized that Asia had arrived at my doorstep. There are countless opportunities to love those who are different, lost, or marginalized right on the campus of Indiana University. God has truly brought the nations to us! I can’t get on the city bus without hearing people speak Chinese, sit in a class without noticing a fellow student who is Chinese, run into a neighbor who isn’t Chinese, or go grocery shopping without bumping into a Chinese person buying onions or eggplant.

I recently read, “Jesus has commanded each of us to make disciples, and this is the means by which we will impact the world.” (Radical, by David Platt). As Christians we impact the world through one relationship at a time. I can have fulfilling friendships here in America, too, especially with those students from China and other “closed” countries. These international students on the bus, in class, in our apartment complexes, and at the grocery store are the future leaders of their countries. Most of them long for meaning and relationship, and we have the amazing opportunity to share life with them. In my situation, I’ve been able to help international students with their English through a church ministry, host a Bible study at my apartment with Chinese grad students, and simply love my international friends.

Now I’ve nearly completed my journey here at IU and the inevitable question is, “what’s next?” I really don’t seem to have any idea. You may be faced with the same question, with a million different roads stretched out before you. However, no matter where we may be, no matter what the circumstances, no matter who God puts in our path, we should remember to look up and be alert! We can have an eternal perspective of God’s Kingdom and Christ’s love for all people that transcends every national border and culture. Most likely we’re only in grad school once (I hope!) with some of the top students from around the globe, so we should certainly make the most of it.

Looking for some practical steps in interacting with your international friends or classmates?

-Show that you care

-Have them over to your apartment for a meal

-Discuss your faith and ask them about theirs

-Ask about their family

-Pray for them and pray with them

-When in doubt, just smile

-Listen to their stories

-If you have the privilege to share about Jesus, be bold and gentle at the same time

-They’re watching what you do—you can display Christ’s love in how you interact with people and react to problems or stressful situations

-Above all, build a friendship and trust with them

-Remember that God is always planting seeds and working behind the scenes

-Learn from them

-Prepare to be amazed and blessed!

Laura Freeze

Master’s of Public Affairs ‘12

School of Public and Environmental Affairs