Left without housing after COVID-19 hit, their new friendship was a natural place to turn.

Allen Macartney
Special to Spur Ottawa

It all started last Thanksgiving. Charmaine Kofler, pastor of Bridlewood Community Church of the Nazarene, hosted four international students as part of a Friends for Dinner holiday meal. Yet, God had bigger plans.

“The evening was amazing,” says Gideon, a bubbly Chinese Ph.D. student. (Student names have been changed to protect their privacy.) “She made us a delicious rib roast and cake. At the end of the evening, she drove us home and even let us take some cake with us.”

Friends for Dinner is a Love Ottawa initiative that pairs Christian families with international students, for a Canadian holiday meal. The connection gives students a taste of Canadian traditions and can often spark lasting friendships.

Kofler and Gideon continued their new friendship, texting over the next month. At Christmas, Kofler again invited Gideon for dinner, along with her roommate, JoJo, an M.A. student from China. The evening was again a total hit.

“We had no one to turn to.”

“Charmaine was pretty easy-going, warm-hearted, and kind,” JoJo recalls.

When Chinese New Year rolled around, Kofler invited a number of students to her home, including JoJo and Gideon.

Then the unexpected happened: COVID-19, airline ticket cancellations, and quarantines. JoJo was scheduled to return to China after the term, but her ticket was cancelled. With her semester over, she had to give up her student housing. With few options available, she moved in with Gideon for what they expected would be a short time. As COVID extended, an awkward living arrangement resulted. Other roommates objected and became nasty. One morning JoJo was ordered out by one of them; Gideon left with her. What could they do in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, far from home, in a strange country?

“We had no one to turn to,” says JoJo, “Without hesitation Kofler offered to help.” Gideon and JoJo moved in with Kofler in early May, and will stay until mid-September. “We really get along together very well. We cherish each other, especially in this COVID-19 situation.”

“These two young woman are such a blessing to me.”

Kofler, an immigrant herself, remembers the feelings of loneliness and isolation, especially when things go wrong.

“These two young woman are such a blessing to me,” Kofler says. “They are so grateful that they do cooking and cleaning and serve me in more ways than I can imagine. They know that I’m a pastor, and they watch me closely for how it affects my life.”

Shortly after the pair moved in, JoJo even stopped Kofler before they began to eat and asked her to pray for the food.

“We do this together with her,” says Gideon. “It’s a good thing to look back in the day, and appreciate everything we have in life.”

Neither JoJo, nor Gideon had any Christian friends before meeting Kofler, so they didn’t know much about the faith. Since moving in with Kofler, they met two other young Christians at church who they really connect with.

“Thank you for sharing your own story with us. God bless you.”

“I respect their belief 100 percent,” says Gideon. “They’re adorable people too. We have a good time with them.”

Kofler is obviously delighted with the living arrangements. “JoJo helped me create a video of a ministry trip. She even picked out the points that highlighted Jesus.”

“I’d just like to say to Charmaine, thank you for reaching out when no one else would help,” says Gideon. “Thank you for sharing your own story with us. God bless you.”

JoJo echoes her sentiments. “I cherish this time with Charmaine. She’s really kind and nice, and makes me feel at home in Canada. I’m very lucky to know her, and I thank the Friends for Dinner team.”