The world is coming together on the university campus. I want to tell you about one phase of my work: supporting the international students at Bloomsburg University, PA.

Two weeks ago I hosted a table at the Annual International Banquet. At
my table was Katarina from Slovakia. One of my custodian friends had found her crying in the kitchen because after she had arrived on campus she discovered her full tuition scholarship didn't cover board and room, student fees, and books. She thought she would have to go home.

I talked with her a few minutes and then we prayed. I guess that was new to her. When I finished she asked me why I was so sure my God would help. "Because," I said, "that is the sort of thing God loves to do." A Christian woman's group gave her $100.00 for food. People from the churches in town asked her to house sit. By the end of the week she had a place to live all summer. David and I took her in on weekends. That meant she came to church with us. After each worship she was full of questions. Her religious background is Muslim and the only thing she knew about Christianity was that we had three Gods.

Katarina met Jesus last summer! She says, "God brought me to America so I would know Him."

A family from the Assembly of God church invited her to live with them for
the fall semester. A Nazarene paid her board and room for the spring
semester. The United Methodist Church has asked her to be a naturalist in their summer camping program. Katarina will graduate in December and begin her graduate studies somewhere. I am praying that the Christian community will continue to rally around her.

Also at my table was Ehis from Nigeria. Her uncle, a professor at the
university, died two years ago, and I had the funeral at the Bloomsburg
Church of the Nazarene. An entourage came from Nigeria to comfort the
family. The SAMs group served them the funeral dinner. The hospitality of the Nazarenes has won Ehis to Jesus.

Also at my table was Biyu Xu from China, a thirty-eight year old woman. Her husband is the president of a large bank in China. She comes to me for companionship. She is having difficulty with our language. She misses her eight year old son. Biyu attends a Chinese Bible Study. She told me she notices that it is the Christians who have time for her.

Also at my table was Tara and her grandparents. Tara is an American. I had lunch with her and learned that she was fighting depression. I asked her to help me in the office. For two months she has been hanging out with me and the Christians who come to talk about Jesus and pray and share. Tara went to Catholic schools and has a great respect for her church. But a relationship with Jesus Christ is something new.

Tara came on our retreat and was amazed. She says, "Never have I been treated like that for three whole days! Even the social misfits were treated kindly. I even started to be nice to them! Is this what happens when people love each other?"

Tara brought her grandparents to the banquet so they could meet Margie who is showing her how to live out her faith. Tara and Katarina have become best friends. It is fun to watch them teach each other how to live for Jesus. Working with the international students is only one of the many open doors with campus ministry.

Chaplain Marjorie Brigham Fisk
Campus Chaplain
May 2001