Khiengchai Fulton shares her journey as an immigrant from Laos to the United States, highlighting God’s grace in her family’s escape and the overwhelming support they received from an entire church community. She reflects on her family’s ongoing commitment to serve others as they seek God’s direction in their lives.

This video is part of the “I Am Your Immigrant Neighbor” series, which reframes the immigration conversation with empathy and compassion. Individuals share their unique stories of how they came to the United States and the importance of showing God’s love to every neighbor.

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Video Transcript:

My name is Khiengchai Fulton, and I am your immigrant neighbor. I immigrated to the United States in 1980 from Laos, where there was a lot of unrest, fighting, and danger. Before we escaped, my dad, who was a politician, had been imprisoned three times. By God’s grace and through his connections, we were able to escape quickly and easily. We spent eight months in a refugee camp in Thailand before finally arriving in the United States in 1980.

I want to share a glimpse of God’s goodness during our journey. When we landed in the U.S., there’s a picture of us coming off the airplane surrounded by cheering men, women, and children. We were confused, wondering what was happening. As we spoke with people, we learned that they didn’t know what to expect when we arrived, so they came prepared. They brought little socks for my baby sister, coats, and other items, welcoming us like we were Olympians. It felt like we had a whole fan club as refugees immigrating from Laos.

What’s unique about our story is that, instead of being sponsored by just one family like many refugees, our entire family was sponsored by an entire church. These men and women poured out their love on us, helping us adjust to our new life. They would come to our house and put labels on things like the telephone or faucet to help us learn English. They took us to doctor’s appointments and helped us in countless ways. I remember their kindness so clearly.

I attended a Christian school, and my husband, Joe, went to Wheaton College. We met there, and it was like finding another believer in the middle of the Sahara Desert. We’ve been married for almost 25 years now and have five children. I homeschool our kids; three are in college, and one is in grad school in New York.

This year, we’ve been opening up our lives, preparing for God to use us wherever He needs, whether as missionaries or in our local community. Joe works at a hospital, and one of our daughters works for the U.S. government. I’m a Bible study leader, on a homeschooling board, and I host events for the cross-country and basketball teams. Joe and I are always asking ourselves what God wants us to do right now. We’re still waiting for clarity, but in the meantime, we’re doing what’s in front of us—leading Bible studies, speaking up for refugees, and helping families in need.

We may not have all the answers, but we’re committed to serving wherever God places us. My name is Khiengchai Fulton, and I am your immigrant neighbor.