Once again euFOCUS has been welcoming new students from all over the world this year!

Our FOCUS team are very delighted to have international students around the campus this year. This is extremely different from the past two years. The opening of borders brought the international students back to the campus in Australia. Besides that, the new policy of the Immigration Department brings a significant number of Hong Kong students over as the government provide a migration pathway for them.

Most of our students in euFOCUS are new to this country. They travelled all the way from their hometown, left their parents and friends and came to a country without knowing anyone. Many of them come to study with their second language. Some of them bear the expectations of their parents as they spend a massive amount of money to support them to study overseas. Most of them had been spoiled at home but now they have to look after themselves, doing things such as buying groceries and cooking. Many of them do not know how to make friends in a new environment. Some of them are already a Christian before they come to Australia, and have to start the process of church hunting, which is not easy.

All of these scenarios are quite familiar with me as I used to be an international student in Tokyo and Sydney. Yes, it was exciting when I had that opportunity to go overseas to learn and explore. Nevertheless, there are so many things to catch up on and learn in a new environment. And it is not always fun!

I am looking forward to seeing the Christian local students at Sydney University begin to have an awareness of how to love the international students and ‘live out love’.

Therefore, can I encourage you to pray for our international students please?

Praise

Praise God that we have many non-believers joining our Come Home Dinner and small groups every week.

Praise God that we had a student become a Christian two months ago. He used to be my student when I was a teacher in Hong Kong. He has changed a lot since he joined our FOCUS events.

Pray

Please pray for international students to come to faith and grow as believers during their time in Sydney.

Please pray that Christian students can find a suitable church and settle in well there.

Please pray for the new students that are coming to our campus. Pray that they feel welcome and loved. You can pray that the Lord would lead international students to us to love and share the gospel with. I am connecting with a non-believer who is in China and coming to Sydney in two weeks.

Please pray for those who have graduated to be bold when they return to their home countries.

I am looking forward to seeing the Christian local students at Sydney University begin to have an awareness of how to love the international students and ‘live out love’. (This is the song with three languages that we always sing in Come Home Dinner).

We love because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19)

Chim Ho
euFOCUS Senior Staff