Our decision to come here was difficult. A huge leap of faith! My husband and I were born and raised in Kenya and we moved to the UK six years ago to do my Master’s in Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship and to work.  

Our families kept a brave face but were panicking on the inside. Would we succeed? Would we have all that we needed? Would we thrive in this foreign land? 

Thankfully, yes, we have thrived. We’ve survived the grey skies – even the winters – and the rain really isn’t that bad. We’ve learned many things, but four stand out that I’d like to share with you, whether you’re new to the UK or not.  

1. God provides for his children 

Deuteronomy 10:18 says, ‘He … loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing.’  

While I got accepted to do my master’s at a London university, I didn’t get a scholarship. We spent a lot of time praying about whether to still pursue the move. God confirmed in different ways that we should come and trust him to provide all that we needed.  

God provided in more ways than we could imagine. A lovely couple who were friends of my boss offered to host us and insisted that we only contribute to the bills, so we barely paid rent in our first year. They and others they were hosting became our first friends, and introduced us to their church. We were welcomed instantly and have built friendships that feel like family.  

When we had a baby in the middle of Covid, the church supported us like family would. Food, clothes, baby cots, buggies, car seats, help moving house, everything was given to us. I remember buying an outfit for our son just so he had one thing from us. God even sent a friend from Kenya who had just moved here to come and stay with us before and after the baby was born, so that we had that extra support. God truly cares about ​​his children ​and provides for us ​​​wherever we find ourselves.

2. We are all aliens and strangers in this​​​​​​ world 

Leviticus 19:34 says, ‘The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born.  Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt.  I am the Lord your God.’ 

Most of us have felt like a​ stranger ​at some point. It could be as a foreigner in a new country, or as an outsider in a new neighbourhood, school or job. We all know what it feels like to be new in a place and ​seeking to​​ stand out or trying to fit in. ​For Christians, the Bible ​calls us ‘aliens and strangers in this world’ (1 Peter 2:11 AMP). We know what it is like to stand out against the tide of culture.  

Our alienness ​​is such a uniting factor and so is the love we have experienced. W​​​​e can relate to the foreigner across the road or at work, whether they are Christians or not. We may have different skin colour, accents, command of English, culture, income levels, family background and so on … but we can connect over the common ground of longing for something beyond what is here. Our ultimate home is in Christ and we can bring heaven’s culture into these relationships.  

So, welcome the foreigner. Help them learn about this country, how things work and how to thrive here. But also, be curious. Learn about them, where they are from and what their culture is like. You have a lot more in common than you think.

3. Our labour in the Lord is not in vain 

1 Corinthians 15:58 says, ‘Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.’ 

​​​​​​​We decided together that I would be a ‘stay at home’ mum, at least until our son started school. That has been a joy but also had its challenges. The biggest was grieving my career. It felt pointless to have packed up our comfortable lives in Kenya to move here for my master’s degree, only to spend the next few years out of work. But, God has used this to reveal how I had been placing my identity in my career instead of in Christ.  

I am his work in progress and I am learning to trust God with my future. He has transformed by attitude towards parenting and the blessing of taking time to nurture our children. I have also had the opportunity to build friendships with other mums and encourage them, particularly those who are foreigners like me. Many foreigners may face a career or identity crisis when they can’t work or have to work jobs below their skill level. It can be a hard journey.  

I’ve come to learn that what really matters is whether I’m serving God faithfully where he has placed me, be it as a ‘stay at home’ mum, a minimum-wage earner or a high-flying professional. I know that my labour in the Lord is not in vain. To quote C. T. Studd, ‘Only one life, ’twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.’

4. Seek the peace and prosperity of the city

Jeremiah 29:7 says, ‘Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.’ 

God has carefully positioned each of us in a specific place and time. He has brought foreigners to the UK in different ways for different purposes – some of us will stay, some will go back. Wherever God has you, embrace that place for the time you are there.  

Bring all your feelings to God and pray that he’ll open the right doors at the right time, but don’t wait for a perfect place – our forever home isn’t on earth. While you are here, make the most of your time here. Settle in and pray for the place where you find yourself today. Live to the fullest for God’s glory.  

He brought you here for such a time as this. He wants to use you. He wants you to thrive where he has placed you.  

​​​​​I wonder what God has been teaching you through the big changes in your life. I wonder which people you know who are from a different country or who are new to your area. How can you encourage and support them? What could you learn from them and their experience? Reach out and see what God can do. You have more in common than you think. Maybe you could ask them what they’ve learned from the move?