Hi! I'm Charlie Kendall. I would like to welcome International students now in the USA and those soon to be in the US. Hopefully it is possible to help connect more of you with American families so you feel a bit more at home. Local friends who know the area can help you enjoy the local sites. Learn more of our traditions and the basis of our values.

I belong to the The United Presbyterian Church of Blairsville Pennsylvania which is part of the Presbyterian Church USA. I would like to encourage members of our denomination to seek out international students, as well as new recent arrivals from across the world, to welcome them. Have a meal with them, share Thanksgiving and / or Christmas with them. Help them to know they have friends in the USA.

I think senior high and college youth programs in our churches could benefit from making it a goal (and learning how) to show Christian Love to International Students when they go to college. This can give more purpose and meaning to meetings as well as life.

With your help we can let all Presbyterian churches in the PCUSA know about the importance of our ministry with International students in the USA. In the USA we have several hundred thousand International Students & Scholars from 180 Nations studying in our colleges & Universities

-- studying English, receiving their Degrees - BA, Master, PH.D and doing Research work in the USA.
God wants Presbyterians, in the name of Jesus Christ to, be Friendly & Hospitable to our guests.They are living right next to our churches throughout the USA.

I have been fortunate enough to travel to Europe in college and many other parts of the world with our business. While in college, I remember the little snacks from the lady that rented the bedroom to us in Germany. How could our countries have been killing each other in WW II?

I also remember the 1st time I went to Asia. We had been traveling for about a day, then when we got into the city we saw a very different culture. Most signs didn't even have Latin characters let alone English. Even the food can be a challenge. On a trip to China, I sat next to a college professor returning to Hong Kong. She told me when she started her 1st US studies, she didn't like American food except ice cream - so that is what she mainly ate for months.

My friends have gone out of their way to show off the many interesting sites in their areas. Many countries have become more special places to me because of the friends I have come to know there.

About 15 years ago, our family was privileged to have 2 graduate students from mainland China stay in our house for a week at Christmas vacation. Our pre-teen children, my wife Phyllis and I really enjoyed the time. I don't think the students had been in an American home till then.

The Christmas International House ( http://www.christmasih.org/ ) which brought our family and church together with students from all over the eastern US seems to be a good program. I understand they do not have enough families for interested students.

If you are interested in finding out more about hosting foreign students check for existing programs in your area.If there are no programs, please consider starting one.

I think volunteers need to coordinate efforts to:

1. locate existing programs and find how they operate
2. direct people to appropriate existing programs
3. help start programs across the USA where they are needed.