“Friendship House has provided us with a unique opportunity to acquire knowledge in a foreign country. Their team is consistently friendly and attentive. As international students, the Friendship House has been instrumental in assisting us with our settlement, offering free and engaging English lessons and activities. We are truly delighted and immensely grateful for the existence of the Friendship House, where individuals from all over the world can find a warm and welcoming community.”
“I discovered FH that it was not only a place where you can learn English but a real community where each one cares for the wellbeing of others. On top of that, having a conversation partner allowed me to feel more comfortable and learn so many things about American culture. Now every time I meet international families, I do not hesitate to tell them about the Friendship House because there are not Americans or foreigners but only a community where people spend time together, share stories or meals, and learn about new things.”
“We trust our friends and Friendship House even more, which not only authenticates our improvement in learning and using English, but more importantly, love is deeply entrusted to both of us and affects our lives and future. We enjoy this amazing and wonderful experience here, and with our hearts full of thanks to all the people we met, especially to Dan and Jinsook. Love you guys.”
“My name is Tia, and I am from Indonesia. I moved from Ohio to East Lansing, Michigan, to accompany my husband who is studying there, along with our three children. I am thrilled to have joined the sewing class because the sewing instructor is very passionate about sewing, patient in teaching, and excellent in guiding me. I also have the opportunity to listen to and speak English with the sewing instructor, as well as international friends from different countries. My sewing ability was zero, but now I can sew pillowcases, coasters, placemats, and even clothes. I gained both sewing skills and English language skills simultaneously.”
“I came to Friendship House initially to just improve my English. Now I go there because I just like being there. There is a friendly and trustworthy atmosphere here. Respect for each other is elevated to the rank of absolute value! The extremely useful language classes are complemented by very thoughtful and interesting outside activities. I’d like to express my deep gratitude to the wonderful teachers and administration of Friendship House for creating such a positive environment.”
“Coming to the United States as an international student from Russia during this difficult political climate was an incredibly challenging transition. I was filled with fear and uncertainty, which took a major toll on my mental health. I was on the verge of a breakdown when I fortunately learned about the Friendship House. Thanks to the phenomenal support and community provided by Dan and Friendship House, I regained my confidence and sense of belonging.”
“My three friends and I are all visiting scholars of the VIPP project at MSU. Soon after we came to the United States, we learned there is a “white house” where we can improve our English. We visited together and learned that this house is called the Friendship House. We quickly joined the classes, and all the teachers were very kind, helpful, and attentive to each student. Thank you for your selfless dedication to us, because your selfless love has made us feel warm in a distant country.”
” No matter your culture, your religion, your personality, or your goals, everyone at the Friendship House is an equal piece of this fabulous melting pot. I’m very grateful to Dan, Jinsook, and all the actors of this place for making me feel part of this community. Few sentences are not enough to describe how much the Friendship House brings to me, my family, and certainly to all the international members.”
“I found a safe harbor at the Friendship House upon my arrival in East Lasing. Like all my foreign colleagues, I had a very warm reception for the adaptation into the country, with all care and charity, which deserves my gratitude and admiration for all my life.”
“We are a group of people from Kazakhstan who would like to express our deep gratitude to Friendship House for their warm and friendly attitude. In the classes we felt like a significant part of one global family, where we heard from people from different countries, thus opening our hearts toward each other. Thank you for your Friendship and God bless you!”
“I joined the Friendship House with the aim of improving my English. I achieved much more than that, I found people who care and support us, and whose work transforms lives. Here I made friends for life.”
“Thanks for the help of Friendship House in our English learning and cultural integration. I felt strong support in all English classes, especially the teachers’ explanation of many good proverbs about God and the Bible, which made me have great power in integrating into MSU campus life, and I became more outgoing and confident.”
I came to MSU in September as a family member of a Ph.D. student and found the Friendship House where I study English and meet classmates from all over the world. The friendship house is a haven for my soul, a window for me to make friends and understand the United States, it’s the warmest place for me.
“Being a member of friendship house was my first encounter with an American community. I feel lucky for the past year, these classes have helped me improve my English and my self-confidence to speak…we are like a family. I have never been to the US in person, but the Friendship House has connected us from all over the world. We talk together, we laugh together, we cook together, and we learn from each other.”
”I am extremely grateful for being an international student at the Friendship House. I’m not only meeting wonderful teachers and fun classes, but also great friends that feel like a family. It’s such a blessing and an amazing experience to be a part of this lovely community.”
“My name is YoonHee and during the pandemic, I felt so isolated from friends and in speaking English, having lived in the United States for a long time. So, I started looking for something to connect me to the outside world which led me to the Friendship House where I joined some English classes where I met friends from all over the world. …it is a place to feel God’s, endless love. I pray for the Friendship House’s prosperity for future friends.”
“My name is Estefania, and I would like to register the reception that I have had since the first day at the Friendship House was essential for my life in the US. I am very grateful for everything that the Friendship House offers, the teachers are very kind and patient to teach English to people with different languages, the different experiences are very nice to know about Michigan culture and to feel that you are part of a community. Thank you very much to all the people who make friendship house a cozy home and open to the world.”
I came to East Lansing to improve my English but did not know about Friendship House. I went to the Public Library searching for information about English courses and the person who spoke with me told me about the Friendship House. I met Dan who warmly welcomed me and explained the courses to me. I immediately started attending classes and in the three months that I have been there I have improved my English with each class and met wonderful people to spend time with.
“The Friendship House is a place where true friendship and relationships thrive. I cannot always attend classes because of my busy schedule, but opening Zoom and seeing the friendly and helpful teachers makes me smile. Sometimes I just want to reach out through my computer and hug everyone. Thank you so much for helping us out and really fulfilling the meaning of the house of friendship. God Bless, all of you.”
“I have no doubt that the Friendship House was a turning point during my stay in East Lansing. Dan, Jinsook, and all the teachers are always looking for opportunities to serve, welcoming everyone to be part of the local community. It is exciting to have a place where foreigners share experiences and learn from the best. I sincerely thank the blessed people and families who support this project.”
“There’s a word in Korean,”in-yeon” and the dictionary says it means “relationship”. However, this definition does not fully explain its true meaning. We believe some people are destined to meet and help each other and in-yeon is the relationship between them.
When I arrived here in Michigan, I had no one but my family. I couldn’t help thinking that I was a prisoner in my new house. At that moment, I was led to Friendship House and since then it has become my only route to the outside world. Here, I meet other people and share daily life…People who warmly greet me and pray for me. The teachers are willing to be my speaking partner.
How was it possible for me to build relationships in the USA? Now, I realize that it is God–made “in-yeon” and the blessing is ongoing.”
“I am a woman and I am from Iran. My family and I arrived in the United States for the first time in late May 2021.
Friendship House has diverse and informative classes that are taught by experienced teachers. Classes I attend include conversational English, grammar and writing practice, news and views, the parables of Jesus, and who is Jesus. They have many other classes. I would like to attend all of them, but I don’t have enough time.
Some of the teachers have special activities, like short trips around Michigan, games, and conversation in the church, visiting the garden, picking fruit, etc. Also, Friendship House provided me with a partner to practice English with her, and I can learn many things about the U.S. and its culture.
One of the other things that Friendship House does is providing bicycles for students and their families, and now my husband, son, and I have bicycles.
I am Muslim, but in Friendship House I learned a lot about Jesus and find that the Christians are very kind and helpful. I have a good sense of them, and for me who came from a different country and different culture, Friendship House was perfect.
I appreciate Friendship House and its lovely teachers, and special thanks to Dan Winter and Jinsook.”
“When I came to the United States and to Michigan I was spending a lot of time alone and disconnected from American society while staying home as a wife and a mother. I joined Friendship house MSU this fall and with the positive influence of classroom teachers, other international students, Dan, and Jinsook. I was able to receive warmth and comfort. I believe it was God’s calling that I connect with the Friendship house MSU, and I want to be a person who reflects this positive influence when I return home to Korea. I will pray for the Friendship House MSU and bless them all in the name of the Lord.”
“I came to the United States very excited, but also with the uncertainty of knowing that I was in a country with a different language and where I did not know anyone. During my first week in Lansing, I found out about the Friendship House through what seemed like a random coincidence. I came to the Friendship House with the intention of improving my English skills, but it became more than that. They opened the doors of their house to me in such a kind way, that I felt safe, like at home. Since then, it has become my support network, where I have met wonderful people, whom I can call friends, that is why I know it was not fortuitous, but God who made it happen.
In a few weeks, I will return to Colombia, grateful to God for this great experience, and with my heart full of joy for all the wonderful people I met in the Friendship House.”
“My name is Amanda, I’m 30 years old and I’m Brazilian. I arrived in East Lansing in August to accompany my husband, who is pursuing a master’s degree at MSU. Still in Brazil, I researched a lot about what I could do, where I could start my English studies, and I found Friendship House.
Moving to a different country and leaving my whole family in my homeland is an extremely challenging process. Additionally, coming to a country where no one speaks your native language and not meeting anyone to talk to is also very challenging. So, I was extremely eager to start classes at Friendship House, and I got positively surprised when I started attending classes. The teachers are extremely kind; Dan makes us feel part of his family. I only have good things to say about this place. I felt safe and welcome! Thank you, Friendship House, for everything you did for me in this new moment of my life.
At Friendship House I found friends, fun, and learned a lot about American culture. They also helped me with any questions I had. I am extremely grateful to have found this place and to be a part of this family.”
“For me, who had few opportunities to meet people and learn English in the era of severe Corona, I am able to learn various and high-quilty English lectures for almost free. And here, I can find diverse information about living in Okemos. So I recommend MSU Friendship House to people who want to learn English who live near MSU. At last, I always thank all teachers and volunteers.”