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STORIES OF LOVE, FRIENDSHIP, AND HOSPITALITY

如何在未知中拥有平安

7/9/2020

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7月6号ICE发布了对2020秋季上网课的国际学生的签证政策,其中提到对于全面网课的教学模式会影响学生们的合法身份,让许多学生不免吃了一惊。和几个在明尼的中国学生聊天之后感觉到他们的内心也被焦虑感灼烧一般。2020年自开始以来,已经有大大小小发生在中美两国的事情让留学生们觉得措手不及、百感交集。因此,我想把自己的故事写出来给留学生们一点鼓励和安慰。
 

2019年5月8日的早晨,公司移民律师电话通知我的H1B签证抽签落选了。仅有一年opt的我当时心里的感觉一言难尽:因未来不能如期进行的失望感,因这个结果对未来产生的不确定感,以及更清醒地看到自己在这个国家是一个漂泊的异乡人那种失落感都一时涌上心头。后面的事就先暂且不提,分享这个经历是想说我能理解和体会许多同学正在经历的心情。(也许你并没有很被这个事情影响,那让我们一起感恩这份平安。)那天早上我照常打开圣经app抄下每日经文,跳入眼里的是圣经以赛亚书48章17节:
 

“耶和华你的救赎主,以色列的圣者,这样说:‘我是耶和华你的神,是教导你,是你得益处的,是在你当行的道路上引导你的。” 
 

看到这句话,尽管当时情绪上很不稳定,但我记得心有平安。那一刻神让我知道不论将来去到哪里,祂都是要在我以后的人生道路上引导我的,因此我大可以勇敢地做出选择。

这个经历让我深刻认识到我们对人生中很多事情的控制都非常有限。今年的疫情以及后来世界上发生的种种也进一步证明了这个道理。不论后面世界上再发生什么,神都希望在你生命里给你平安。接下来的日子里你若任何时候感到焦虑或不安,不妨花几分钟来朗读下面几节经文:
  • “耶和华你的神在你中间,他是施行拯救的大能者,必因你欢欣快乐,必默然爱你,而且因你喜乐欢唱。” 西番亚书3:17 
  • “不要惧怕,因为我与你同在;不要四处张望,因为我是你的神,我必坚固你,我必帮助你;我必用公义的右手扶持你。” 以赛亚书41:10  
  • “我不是吩咐过你要坚强勇敢吗?所以,你不要惧怕,也不要惊慌;因为你无论到哪里去,耶和华你的神必与你同在。” 约书亚记1:9 
  • “因我自己知道我为你们所定的计划,是使你们得平安,而不是遭受灾祸的计划;要赐给你们美好的前程和盼望。这是耶和华的宣告。” 耶利米书29:11 
  • “你们要亲自体验,就知道耶和华是美善的;投靠他的人,都是有福的。” 诗篇34:8 
  • “你要把你的道路交托给耶和华,并倚靠他,他就必成全。” 诗篇37:3 
  •  “神是我们的避难所,是我们的力量,是我们在患难中随时都可得到的帮助。因此,地虽然震动,群山虽然崩塌入海洋的身处,我们也不害怕。虽然海浪翻腾澎湃,虽然山岳因波涛汹涌摇动,我们也不害怕。” 诗篇46:1-3

分享一首能让心平静的歌
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如果你想了解更多关于圣经的事情,欢迎你随时来找我!我的微信ID是ilazsai,邮箱是sai.wang@wayzatafree.org

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How to Have Peace in Uncertainty

7/9/2020

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(This article was written by an active member of our HCC community. This is the English version. The original Chinese version can be found in our July archive.)

On July 6th, ICE issued a visa policy for international students in online courses in the fall of 2020. It mentioned that the teaching mode of comprehensive online courses will affect the legal status of students, which surprised many students. 
After chatting with a few Chinese students in Minnesota, they felt that their hearts were burning with anxiety. 

Since the beginning of 2020, there have been things happening in both China and the United States that have made foreign students feel caught off guard and mixed feelings. Therefore, I want to write my own story to encourage and comfort international students. 


On the morning of May 8, 2020, the company immigration lawyer notified me by phone that my H1B visa lottery was unsuccessful. With only a year of opt, my feelings at that time was hard to describe: disappointment because the future could not be carried out as scheduled, the uncertainty about the future caused by this result, and the more sober sight of seeing myself as a wandering stranger in this country. The sense of loss came to my mind for a moment. I will not mention the latter thing for the time being. Sharing this experience is to say that I can understand and appreciate the feelings that many students are experiencing. (Maybe you are not very affected by this thing, let us be grateful for this peace together.)

That morning I opened the Bible app as usual and copied the daily scriptures. What jumped into my eyes was the Bible Isaiah 48:17 : 
"The Lord your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, says this:'I am the Lord your God, I teach you, you benefit, and I guide you on the way you should go."  After reading this, although emotionally unstable at the time, I remember peace of mind. At that moment God let me know that no matter where he went in the future, He wanted to guide me in the path of my future life, so I could make a brave choice. 

This experience made me realize that we have very limited control over many things in life. This year's pandemic and what happened later in the world have further proved this truth. No matter what happens next , God wants to give you peace in your life . If you feel anxious or upset at any time in the following days, you may wish to take a few minutes to read the following verses aloud:
  • "The Lord your God is among you. He is the mighty one who performs salvation. He will rejoice and be happy because of you. He will love you silently and sing because of your joy." Zephaniah 3:17 
  • "Don't be afraid, because I am with you; do not look around, because I am your God, I will strengthen you, I will help you; I will support you with the right hand of righteousness." Isaiah 41:10  
  • "Don't I tell you to be strong and brave? So, don't be afraid or panic; for wherever you go, the Lord your God will be with you." Joshua 1:9 
  • "Because I know that the plan I made for you is to make you safe, not a plan to suffer disaster; to give you a bright future and hope. This is the declaration of the Lord." Jeremiah 29:11 
  • "You have to experience it for yourself and you will know that Jehovah is good; those who trust him are blessed." Psalm 34:8 
  • "You must entrust your way to Jehovah and trust him, and he will do it." Psalm 37:3 
  •  "God is our refuge, our strength, and the help we can always receive in times of trouble. Therefore, although the earth vibrates and the mountains collapse into the ocean, we are not afraid. Although the waves are surging , Although the mountains shake because of the rough waves, we are not afraid." Psalm 46:1-3​​
If you want to learn more about the Bible, you are welcome to come to me anytime! 

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Open Your Front Door

6/26/2020

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Earlier this week I had the privilege of talking with a student from China. Leo came to Minnesota last year, and when I asked how he decided on this state he told me it was because of the American sitcom, How I Met Your Mother. I haven’t seen it, but apparently one of the characters is from Minnesota and that was enough to peak his interest. 

Leo loves America; he says the culture is exotic. He’s adventurous and he wants to try everything. He even tried ice fishing which he says was the worst experience of his life. His Chinese friends tease him saying he’s more American than Chinese, and Leo is okay with that.

Leo reached out to me because he wants to live with an American family. He came to America to learn about American culture; he doesn’t want to spend his time here living with Chinese people—that’s what he’s done his whole life! 

He wants to cook for an American family and share his culture, and he wants an American family to cook for him and share their culture. He wants to explore Minnesota and build meaningful relationships. He wants to look back on his time here and know he got the most out of it that he could!

There are so many international students just like Leo who come to Minnesota and never see the inside of an American’s home. They’re curious about our culture, and they want to make friends with Americans. They chose to come to America for a reason!

HCC has a long-term hosting program for students who want to truly dive into our culture and experience the American life. This program requires a three-month minimum commitment, but it often lasts longer as the family and the student become good friends. (The family receives a monthly stipend.)

HCC also offers short-term hosting (a couple days to a week), hosting for holidays like Thanksgiving and Easter, and a program called Friendship Match that pairs Americans and international students for the purpose of learning each other’s cultures and helping students feel welcome. 
​

We have an amazing ministry opportunity right here in front of us. Chinese and other international students have come to us ready to learn more, all we need to do is open our front doors. 
Name has been changed for safety reasons.

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