It’s all new for Thanh Nhu – adventures of a Vietnamese girl in London
There are just under half a million of International Students at University in the UK. That's nearly a quarter of all University students! Paul from Friends International wrote this article about Thanh Nhu. Here he writes about the challenges she faced and an example of how the church reacted.
In November 2008 an 18-year-old girl arrived in London. Back home in Hai Duong, northern Vietnam, her Mum, whose firm turns local vegetables into tasty spices, wanted her to benefit from a British degree. Studying English in Hammersmith, Thanh Nhu Nguyen recalls being “lonely, homesick and too shy to open my mouth.”
She grew in confidence as she travelled around London and especially with the help of many Christians in SHBC (south Hanwell Baptist church) who were very kind and friendly and trying to chat with her which helped her English to improve much quicker. Here a Vietnamese colleague invited her to a church. “For the first time I found British people friendly and asking how I am.
"I felt really welcomed.”
At South Hanwell Baptist Church Thanh Nhu went to Life Group where international students enjoy lunches and trips out as well as studying the bible. For years she believed in God and prayed but felt “I don’t want to be a Christian if that makes me different from my family.” Encouraged and challenged by the group, Thanh Nhu saw that she could trust in God’s goodness and “live as a Christian among non-Christian family and friends” – a thought that now inspires her. She was baptised two years ago, shortly before Roehampton University awarded her Business degree. She felt “so blessed” to have “the opportunity to grow as a Christian.”
At Word Alive she met a Friends International (FI) “Reach” volunteer and decided to seek this path herself. Placed in Canterbury, Thanh Nhu has helped befriend international students and run FI events including the Global Café, CSIO and bible studies.
After two years with us, Thanh Nhu is now preparing to return home. She has the love and support of her family who know she has become a Christian. She will take part in her local church, a short ride away by the motor-scooter that all Vietnamese use to get around. There are challenges for returning Christians in adapting to the local situation where faithful gospel churches have their own culture and history – making the “re-entry” can be demanding. Pray for Thanh Nhu as she adapts and learns to use her tremendous gifts for love and leadership.
Written by Paul Lusk, Friends International, Canterbury
To find out how you can get involved with Friends International have a look at their Summer Teams of getting trained and doing outreach.
Paul was speaking to Sam.
