Anchor
MC

Good morning, Mei

Sticky Rice Crew · Beijing

Wk 3

TODAY'S REFLECTION

The first few weeks have a way of feeling both full and empty at the same time. What's something that surprised you about being home — good or bad?

or just tap

😁 😊 😐 😢 😖
"He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion." — Philippians 1:6. The transition is hard, but you are not forgotten.
Only Daniel & Jia see this

YOUR GROUP THIS WEEK

MC
Mei Chen · Wk 3
2d ago

What surprised you in week 1? · 😞

How loud everything is. Not noise exactly — just how much everyone needs from me already. I'm not even unpacked.

AT
Alex Tran · Wk 3
2d ago

What surprised you in week 1? · 😞

My old friends feel like strangers. We talk but I can't find the words for what I actually want to say.

MC
Mei Chen · Wk 2
4d ago

A meal from home · 😊

My mom's red-braised pork. It lived up to everything. That was a good day.

AT
Alex Tran · Wk 2
3d ago

A meal from home · 😊

0:42

Good morning, Daniel

Sticky Rice Crew · Seoul

Wk 3

NEXT GROUP CALL

Sunday, March 29

8:00 PM CST

5

days away

SUGGESTED FOCUS

The honeymoon is fading. Both Mei and Alex flagged feeling overwhelmed and disconnected. Check in on what's actually hard — not just the surface version. Mei mentioned the weight of everyone needing things from her. Alex described feeling like a stranger with old friends.

QUESTIONS TO ASK

1

What's actually hard right now — not the diplomatic version?

2

Is there anyone at home who knows what you're carrying?

3

Have you had a chance to reach out to the church contact yet?

HOW THEY'RE DOING

Mei participating
Alex participating
😊 😐 😢 😊 😖 😊 😐 😢 😢 😊
3 wks ago 2 wks ago This week

RECENT RESPONSES

MC
Mei Chen 2d ago

What surprised you in week 1? · 😞

How loud everything is. Not noise exactly — just how much everyone nee...

AT
Alex Tran 2d ago

What surprised you in week 1? · 😞

My old friends feel like strangers. We talk but I can't find the words...

Departure marker — ready to surface

Departure marker is ready to surface this week. Consider reading it together on the call — ask how it lands now vs. when it was written.

Good morning, Grace

IFI Coordinator · Cohort 2026 · 3 groups

3

Groups

6

Returnees

Cold Noodle Crew

Mentor flagged

Week 5 Post-Return · South China

"Chen Xiao has missed two calls. May need a pastoral check-in."

— David Lim

DL
David Lim · mentor
YL
Yuna Lee · peer mentor
CX
Chen Xiao
MC
Marcus Cheng
Last activity 6d ago

Sticky Rice Crew

Week 3 Post-Return · East China

DP
Daniel Park · mentor
PN
Priya Nair · peer mentor
MC
Mei Chen
AT
Alex Tran
Last activity 2d ago

Scallion Pancake Crew

Week 8 Post-Return · North China

AK
Aisha Kwon · mentor
JW
James Wu · peer mentor
EN
Emma Nakamura
LZ
Lily Zhang
Last activity 12h ago

Alex Tran responded to today's prompt

Your group left you something — open the gift icon to see it

Mei Chen responded to the morning prompt

Alex Tran hasn't responded in 2 days

Cold Noodle Crew flagged by David Lim — Chen Xiao missed 2 calls

All mentors submitted weekly updates

No new messages
GL
Grace Lim 1d ago

IFI Staff

Thanks for the update on Alex. Let me know if you need backup on the pastoral side — happy to loop in.

PN
Priya Nair 1d ago

Peer Mentor

Mei opened up a bit in the group chat yesterday. She seems more settled than last week.

DP
Daniel Park 1d ago

Sticky Rice Crew · Mentor

Good week overall. Mei is finding her footing. Alex went quiet Thursday — I followed up, he's okay but needs a nudge.

DL
David Lim 1d ago

Cold Noodle Crew · Mentor

Flagging a concern with Chen Xiao — she's missed two calls and didn't respond when I checked in. May need a pastoral follow-up.

AK
Aisha Kwon 22h ago

Scallion Pancake Crew · Peer Mentor

Emma Nakamura shared something really encouraging this week — asked if we could spotlight it on the next cohort call.