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Cedarville Global Voices, Cedarville, OH (2026)

12/03/2024

A thank you from our team:

As the Cedarville Global Voices team we have had the privilege of being the storytellers of international students on our campus. We want to thank those of you who were willing to share your stories with us, and even more share them with our Cedarville University community.

As of this semester we are coming to the end of our stories, but we are not done just yet. We will continue to share a few more stories so stay tuned and follow along.

We encourage you to get to know the stories of those around you. Encourage those international students who are far from home and get to know them.

- Cedarville Global Voices Team

12/02/2024

Joel Farnsworth Bedoya grew up in Ecuador, where his parents served as missionaries, a role that deeply shaped his faith and values. Family is a central part of Joel’s life, and he cherishes the strong bond he shares with his extended family, spending as much time with them as possible. After finishing high school, Joel attended Word of Life Bible Institute, a decision that significantly influenced his academic and spiritual journey. It was there that he met many people who had connections to Cedarville University, sparking his interest in studying at the school.

Joel always dreamed of studying in the United States, drawn by the country’s education system. Cedarville offered the perfect blend of academic excellence and a Christ-centered environment, making it his ideal choice.

While transitioning to life at Cedarville came with its challenges, Joel was well-prepared thanks to his previous visits to the U.S. during high school. These experiences gave him familiarity with the culture and language, making the adjustment smoother. Additionally, having a network of friends and family for support played a crucial role in helping him settle into college life.

Now a proud member of the Cedarville community, Joel enjoys participating in campus activities, with MISO events like the Embassy Gala being among his favorites. His favorite Bible verse, Joel 2:21—"Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice for the Lord will do great things"—serves as a constant reminder of God’s faithfulness and blessings, including the incredible opportunity to study at Cedarville. For Joel, this journey has been a testament to God’s goodness and provision, shaping him academically, spiritually, and personally.

11/22/2024

“Living in Honduras was never easy, but those were the favorite years of my life.” Resueh is a sophomore biology major at Cedarville University with a keen interest in the environmental world and the biotech industry.

As a Pastor’s kid, he moved a total of 34 times around the country, living like a nomad, but he had a place he could call home. He was able to experience parts of his country that deeply enriched his cultural awareness of their culture, flora, and fauna in such an incredible way that it made him appreciate his creator even more. Coming from African-descendant parents, he learned to appreciate his people’s differences and their diversity. Today, he can proudly say that his favorite meal is a “Desayuno catracho y tamalitos de elote,” and that his home is wherever his family is.

The hardest time for him was leaving his country at the age of 14 in 2021 when his family moved to Mexico. That made him love Hispanics and he never stopped learning about the things they all have in common. He has learned to love God through these people and finds their culture fascinating. In Mexico, he reconnected with an old friend from Honduras and discovered Cedarville. They knew immediately that God had opened a door of opportunity for him and was calling him there. He quickly made arrangements and prepared for the next chapter of his life. It was a rough time. At 16, he didn’t know what the future held for him. But on April 14th, he attended Bible conferences in Mexico, where he felt the Lord’s love and compassion, assuring him that everything would be okay.

At the age of 17, he boarded the plane with a mix of confidence and fear. He was most fearful of leaving his family and home behind. But he trusted in the Lord. Since then, he has seen how God continues to work in his life, and he relies on His guidance. There are times when he loses track of God’s word and tries to steer his own life, but there is one verse that always reminds him of God’s sovereignty: Proverbs 19:21.

11/18/2024

“We were a family of nomads. We moved around a lot, but with that came many experiences. Being in Europe also allowed me to experience various cultures, which made me very aware of the world.” Bianca Ferrario is a first-year student at Cedarville University, pursuing a Nursing degree. Her home is Milan, Italy, where she immersed herself in several cultures.

Growing up, she was independent, even as a child. She loved walking the streets of Italy and enjoyed the amazing food.
Bianca moved to California to complete high school, and it was there that she became saved. After high school, she knew she wanted to attend a Christian college. She became interested in Ohio since her brother lived in the area. While searching online, she came across Cedarville University. Coming to Cedarville, Bianca says, was a “God thing.” “I came here because of God. As a new believer, I needed this bubble to grow my roots deep, so that when I go into the world, my faith will have a strong foundation.” The Lord led her to study Nursing at Cedarville.

Transitioning to Cedarville, Bianca has struggled with feeling like she belongs. At first, she had difficulty finding close friendships. But over time, the Lord has brought connections and friendships to walk alongside her during her time at Cedarville University. The weather has also been a challenge for Bianca, but she says, “Ohio is completely different from what I’m used to, which is exciting and scary at the same time.” The organization MuKappa at Cedarville has been a blessing to Bianca. She attended an annual event where the group connected through worship and sharing testimonies.

Her favorite Bible verse is Isaiah 41:10. During overwhelming moments, when Bianca feels anxious, that verse reminds her that God is with her. He is faithful and will hold her during both the hardest and easiest moments of life.

11/11/2024

“Home was simple, and that’s what made it good.”

Divine Gadi is a senior pharmacy major at Cedarville. She grew up in Andhra Pradesh, India, surrounded by her multi-generational family. She remembers with clarity waking up to her grandpa singing songs of her childhood, and walking around the garden that her grandma tended. The love and life that her family shared made her home “loud and colorful, like the fireworks on Labor Day.”

Divine’s uncle is a professor at Cedarville, and she had heard things that made her sure Cedarville was the place she wanted to be. And she was excited to try new things and experience a new way of life. But, as her time at Cedarville flies by, it is the desire for the familiar – for her mom’s curry and her family’s presence on birthdays and holidays – that makes living so far from home difficult.

Yet, Divine knows that when she left her home and some of the most important parts of her life behind, God was walking right alongside her and her suitcase.
Now she reflects, “The challenge always comes at the end, when you must decide if it was worth it – worth the effort, the time and the strength. The experiences I had, the people I met and the home that Cedarville has been to me gives me the confidence to say that it was.”

11/01/2024

Jernice Toh is a Senior Broadcasting, Digital Media, and Journalism major with a rich cultural background. She grew up in an urban setting in Malaysia and a melting pot of cultures. Growing up she was exposed to a diverse array of ethnic influences which presented itself in the food and language of her home. She is most thankful for the presence of her parents, reflecting, “I also feel incredibly blessed to have been raised by loving and Godly parents. They have endlessly supported me back home and especially here in the U.S.”

Jernice first learned about Cedarville University through her brother, who attended the school before her. He shared positive experiences, particularly highlighting the professors and the close-knit community. And she found this to be true as she began her college years at Cedarville.

Transitioning to life in the U.S. did not come without its challenges. Beyond missing the familiarity of home, Jernice struggled during her first year to find her footing in a foreign country. However, she soon found a solid group of godly friends who helped ease the transition, offering comfort, laughter, and a shared sense of homesickness.

Psalm 121 has been a source of strength for Jernice during her darkest moments, reminding her of God’s goodness and protection no matter where she is.

10/25/2024

“Growing up in Guatemala, life wasn’t easy—poverty, violence, and a broken healthcare system were everyday realities. But I was blessed with loving, God-centered parents who taught me values that no degree could ever replace, since neither of them had gone to college.” Fernanda Pirez is a junior molecular biology student. She was born and raised in the beautiful country of Guatemala, and her mother always encouraged her: “Fernanda, take every opportunity, learn everything you can, even if it’s something small—you never know when it’ll help you.”

At 15, she attended a Christian high school in Kidron, Ohio. “The transition was overwhelming—I boarded a plane, leaving my family behind to face a world completely different from my own. The academic pace was much faster, and I struggled with the language barrier.” Fernanda visited Cedarville University’s campus with her grandpa, where she felt the Lord was calling her to attend this school. “I wanted to be a witness for Christ in every area of life. Cedarville is preparing me not only for a career but also for mission work in whatever field I enter.”

After Cedarville, her goal is to attend medical school. During her time there, she serves as an EMT for the Cedarville Fire Department. As an EMT, doors open for her to serve with other groups of individuals as a healthcare provider. “One of the most impactful experiences has been volunteering at the Pregnancy Resource Center in Springfield, Ohio.” As one of only two Spanish-speaking care coordinators and ultrasound translators, she realized how vital this role is in assisting immigrant women who feel isolated and uncertain in a new country. Her time at Cedarville has been challenging, but as she continues to serve and work hard, God sustains her. Philippians 4:13 often reminds her that she can persevere and find peace—not through her own strength, but through Christ.

10/16/2024

"Calcutta is full of vibrant love and color.”

Abigail Francis, a junior marketing student, looks back on her childhood in India with love. She remembers, “The color of our culture was in the form of our education, clothing, and food. Growing up in Calcutta filled me with joy.” She now attends Cedarville University, but her home country has remained her foundation.

Abigail’s heart was moved by God to apply for Cedarville after hearing about it from her father’s colleague, who was otherwise called “Uncle Jim.” And though Ohio is vastly different from her home country, often the hardest transition for her came in the academic space. In the beginning, she had to overcome the challenges of learning how courses worked, navigating canvas and student planning, and writing in a different way.

These challenges were difficult, but Abigail has sought to keep her eyes fixed on the Lord throughout uncertainty or change. She reflects, “No matter the season of life I am in, if I seek God, everything will fall into its right place. I have seen this happen before, and I believe that I will see it again.”

10/14/2024

“I really enjoyed my childhood in Germany. I had a lot of hobbies and activities that grew me and helped me become the person I am today.”

Josie Schmidt-Krayer cherishes the memories from her childhood in Germany. But as she grew, Josie felt the call to spend four years in Cedarville, Ohio, studying Broadcasting and Digital Media. As the now senior considered the Christian foundation of Cedarville University and the family nearby, she was drawn away from the comfort of her home country.

Despite being near family, the transition to an unfamiliar country took time. She remembers, “I had to get accustomed to American culture, and had to learn to become sensitive to differences in communication and lifestyle.”

Much like how the opportunities Josie was given in Germany shaped her, her time at Cedarville will surely leave a mark on both her and the Cedarville community. Through events like the MISO Gala, an event where students come together to celebrate the cultures and countries represented at Cedarville, Josie deepens her relationships with other students.

Amid change, uncertainty, and fear, Josie remembers the truth of 2 Timothy 1:7. Through each season, whether in the peaceful community of Germany, or at a university in Ohio, Josie rests in the knowledge that God has not given her a spirit of fear. It is through Him that she takes on each new transition and change.

10/01/2024

“I had a very tight community surrounded by family and my home church. I loved spending a great amount of time outdoors and with loved ones. It was a very relaxed and wholesome context in which to grow up.”

This is Santiago’s story.
He is a junior at Cedarville University studying Economics. He left his home country, Costa Rica, to attend Cedarville, feeling called by the Lord to spend the next four years in an unfamiliar place. The transition was challenging. At first, Santiago missed his family and friends deeply.

He often reminds himself that “regardless of how recurrent this sentiment might be, one does better in focusing on those around you and the friendships that can emerge.” He made an effort to connect with classmates and get involved in campus activities, slowly building a new support system. Santiago forms part of a team on campus called OPS, which is part of the Campus Experience office. His favorite event has been with this team as they serve campus bringing the Christmas spirit with Campus Christmas.

He misses the beauty of Costa Rica, the vibrant landscapes, and the warmth of its people, but he also discovered the richness of his experience at Cedarville. Each challenge brought new opportunities for growth and, with every friendship formed, Santiago has felt a little more at home. As he navigates his studies and the hardships of life studying abroad, he embraces the journey, trusting that it is all part of a perfect plan.

09/13/2024

Welcome to Cedarville Global Voices!

We exist to share the unique stories of International students on Cedarville’s campus. Over the next couple months, we will be sharing stories, promoting events, and celebrating how international students contribute to the culture of Cedarville.

If you are an international student and have a story you want to share, please dm us!

Be on the lookout for our first student highlight and more content!

Cedarville Global Voices

12/03/2024

12/02/2024

11/22/2024

11/18/2024

11/11/2024

11/01/2024

10/25/2024

10/16/2024

10/14/2024

10/01/2024

09/13/2024

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