Feeling overwhelmed or discouraged?
Sometimes we all need someone to hear our troubles. IFI's volunteers are genuinely concerned for your welfare and are available to confidentially talk and pray with you.
Call or Text our International Student Prayerline
1-800-372-1013
Simin arrived in the US happy and excited to spend time pursuing her Ph.D. program, having no suspicion of the struggle that lay ahead.
When Covid hit, anxiety and depression led her to feel trapped in negative feelings and lies she told herself. Isolated and with few real connections, Simin began to believe that she was unworthy of help from any of her friends and that to even ask for help would be a burden to them. When living through a nightmare like this, Simin says, “You can’t wake up yourself, you need someone to help you.” Watch her story to see where she found relief!
Our Goal
We want to be available to any international student who seeks comfort, encouragement, or resources when they are going through something hard.
FAQs
International students often struggle with culture shock, stress, and loneliness when leaving their homes to study in the US. International Friendships, Inc. (IFI) is a national organization partnering with local churches, universities, and volunteers to provide life-changing hospitality and friendship to international students. We work strategically to make the world feel at home and extend God’s love globally — right where we are. IFI is in many locations across the US, and each location offers a variety of activities for students. Popular activities include airport pickup, temporary housing with a local American volunteer, trips across America, group discussions of the Bible, English conversation partners and much more. To learn more, click here.
- If you call during our hours, our caring volunteer will talk with you and listen to your concerns.
- They will then ask your permission to bless you through prayer.
- Afterwards, you will have the option to be connected to an IFI staff person locally or online.
- If you reach our voicemail, please leave a message or text your concerns to the prayerline number and someone will get back with you within 24 hours.
One of our caring volunteers will answer the phone when you call or text. Prayerline volunteers have completed International Friendships' volunteer training.
We believe prayer is simply talking with God. We would be honored to bring your concerns before God and ask for His blessing on your life.