3 Ways Immigrant Women Leaders Can Connect With Their New Communities and Support Families Back Home

                                                                                        Image via Pexels
​Relocating is never easy but moving to another country is even harder — especially when you’re leaving loved ones behind. However, these tips from NY Women of Purpose will help you to connect with your new community and grow in your faith while maintaining relationships with loved ones back home. Read on to learn how to meet other like-minded women in the U.S., make a difference in your new community, and offer financial support to your family and friends in your home country. 
1. Volunteer in the Community
As a new resident of the United States, volunteering in your community is one of the best ways to meet other women leaders, expand your professional network, and make a difference both globally and locally. Visit VolunteerMatch to search for cause areas that matter most to you, whether it’s faith, hunger, immigrants, veterans, or the environment. 
 
Some examples of places to volunteer your time and skills include:

• Food pantries.
• Local public libraries.
• Animal shelters.
• Churches.
• National parks.
• Homeless shelters.

You never know — volunteering in your new U.S. community could even inspire you to start a nonprofit of your own! USAHello shares some tips for immigrants interested in starting a nonprofit. 

2. Connect With NY Women of Purpose
In addition to volunteering your time and skills, another great way to connect with your new U.S. community is to meet and build relationships with other like-minded women who walk with the Lord. NY Women of Purpose, for instance, provides many opportunities for Christian women leaders to come together across various denominations and walks of life — thanks to its Sectional Women’s Spring Events, Women of Purpose Conference, and other events and projects. 
 
To get involved with NY Women of Purpose, join the Sister Tribe to help out with everything from writing and graphics to technology and sales. You could also visit the website of the New York Ministry Network(NYMN) to search for Assemblies of God (AG) churches near you. In addition to their weekly worship services, many churches offer prayer groups, bible studies for children and adults, adult Sunday school classes, family nights, volunteer opportunities, and other ways to get involved. 

3. Maintain Relationships With Loved Ones Back Home
You may have immigrated to the U.S., but you can still support and connect with your loved ones back home by sending them handwritten cards and letters, using a money transfer service to support them financially, and chatting with them via WhatsApp. If you’re new to using communication tools such as WhatsApp, Jackie Dove and Paula Beaton of Digital Trends offer some tips for using the App to chat with loved ones, send photos and videos, and keep in touch with family back home.
 
If you’re looking to offer financial support to family and friends back home, you can use safe, affordable, and reliable money transfer services such as Remitly to transfer funds to more than 18,000 locations around the world. If you have family in the Philippines, for instance, you can quickly and affordably send fundsto those loved ones — and all you need is an email address and a credit card, debit card, or bank account. Depending on where you’re from, Remitly can also be used to send money to countries such as Colombia, Taiwan, Vietnam, or Uganda. 
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A Few Final Words... Wherever you are in your walk with God, the United States provides many opportunities for women leaders to connect with their new communities, grow in their faith, and maintain relationships with loved ones back home. Before you know it, you’ll be making a difference locally and globally — and building your faith as a Christian woman in America.
 
Are you ready to live with more purpose, passion, and joy? Connect with NY Women of Purpose at 716-934-7025, nywomenofpurpose@gmail.com, or by joining the Sister Tribe. 
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