Staying Connected Beyond Graduation
One of the challenges of international student ministry is staying in contact with students after they graduate. Many stay in the US and work, often moving to different cities. It is easy to lose track of them. However, this is also the time when many face life’s biggest transitions—jobs, relationships, parenting. I have found one unexpected but meaningful place to reconnect with former students: Chick-fil-A!
One evening, I noticed a young Chinese woman come into Chick-fil-A to pick up an order for UberEats. I greeted her, and she smiled. We engaged in a brief conversation. She said her name was Ying. I could tell by Ying’s English that she had likely been in the US for a few years, so I asked if she had come to the US as a student. She smiled again and told me that she had come to New York City from China as a student six years ago, then moved to the Los Angeles area last year.
I told Ying about my daughters and son, and showed her a photo of my family on my phone. She was surprised to see that I have adopted children from China. Like many of our Chinese friends, she was more surprised that Sandy and I have five children than that we have Chinese children!
A Single Mom, a Sticker, and a Sunday School Door
Ying told me that she has a four-year-old daughter. When I asked where her daughter was, she replied, “In my car.” Concerned, I asked if she was left alone in the car. Ying reassured me—her mother was with her. I told Ying I’d love to meet her daughter.
When the UberEats order that Ying was picking up was ready, I walked out with her, held the door open, and met her daughter, Mary, and Ying’s mother. I gave Mary a sticker and tried to chat, but she only understood Chinese.
Ying came to pick up orders five more times over the next few weeks, and our conversation continued. One time she kindly brought me some Chinese tea. I learned that Ying is a single mom and had recently experienced some challenges. She moved to the Los Angeles area for a “fresh start.”
During one conversation in the pick-up area, Ying said, “Andy, there’s something I can’t figure out. My daughter sometimes behaves terribly! What can I do?”
I replied, “I am sorry to hear that, but I have a suggestion. She could really benefit from kind, patient Sunday school teachers at church.” Ying had heard of churches, but had never been to one. Now, she was genuinely interested.
I showed Ying the website of a local Chinese church with a wonderful children’s program and pointed out the Sunday school times. That weekend, Ying sent me a photo of the classroom door. Later, she told me, “I’ll take her there every Sunday!” She also sent a photo of the Mandarin service she attended while Mary was in class.
The Joy of Watching a Family Take Root
Even though the Apostle John was referring to his spiritual children when he wrote “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (3 John 1:4), it can be true of earthly parents as well. As Mary is learning to walk in the truth of the Bible, Ying is experiencing great joy and learning as well.
