Friendly Foreign Exchange INTRO: What used to be a bar in a popular beach resort town has a new purpose. It’s now a safe haven, making life a little easier for some visitors thousands of miles from home. And the volunteers who run it have found a way to be seaside ambassadors … and better world neighbors. Kim Riemland reports. SCRIPT: (Locator: Ocean City, Maryland) The white sand beaches of Ocean City, Maryland draw hundreds of thousands of tourists. But even surrounded by crowds, workers on the popular boardwalk still feel isolated. Anca Belme/Romanian Student: “I’m really feeling lonely. Because it’s so far, I cannot phone every week. Or I can just write an e-mail, and that’s it to my family. It’s hard.” Thousands of students from foreign countries come to Ocean City every summer and fall to earn money for college. Members of Stevenson United Methodist Church want them to feel welcome. The Rev. Jay Hurley/Stevenson United Methodist Church: “We’re here to give hugs. And a lot of these kids that, they’re away from home, many of them for the first time.” The Lighthouse International Student Ministry gives more than hugs. Students can use computers to check e-mail, work with tutors to brush up on their English, and enjoy a free dinner. Andrew Krasnyuk/Russian Student: “They come here to relax and to eat food after hard, hard work.” This used to be a nightclub. A church member bought the property and offered it for the ministry … with alcohol replaced by a dessert bar. Brenda Hurley/ Member, Stevenson United Methodist Church: “They miss their families. They’d like to just have someone to talk to. They really appreciate a home-cooked meal.” Marina Osmachko/Russian Student: “You come here and you feel in safety. You feel, just a kind of relaxation.” And for students in a foreign land, the lighthouse ministry shines as a ray of hope. TAG: This is the second year for the Lighthouse International Student Ministry. And lighthouse volunteers say they expect it to continue growing. For more information, contact Stevenson United Methodist Church at 410-641-1137. Also see: Lighthouse offers ray of hope for international students.
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