Wandering into an Italian Bakery and Cafe in Panama City Beach, Florida, this summer, I met Olesea Z. behind a counter and surrounded by drop-dead gorgeous marzipan pastries and ice cream. As I indulged in a chocolate eclair (ok, ok, I was on vacation from my diet), I realized her English was inflected with an unfamiliar accident.
"I'm from Atlanta," I said. "Where are you from?"
Olesea said, "I'm from Chisinau, Moldova." Noting my puzzled look, she added, "It's located between the Ukraine and Romania."
At least I'd heard of both of those countries. I've always thought of myself as a world missions kind of a Christian, but I was puzzled at how a college student from one of the poorest countries in Europe ended up working for the summer in an area known for its million dollar ocean front property.
Advertisement
Over the next few days, and I must admit, a few sweets later, Olesea said she was here on a college exchange program. At the State University of Moldova she was a senior studying Information Systems with a minor in English. "I wanted to come to America for two months to learn English and to see the people, how they live and to learn the traditions of this country."
Probing deeper into her life, I learned she lived with eight other women in an apartment. Her second job was working in the produce department of a Publix grocery store. I asked her how she found her place to live and her two jobs, and she said, "I found my own place to live and both of my jobs after I arrived."
"Have you ever visited an American family at home to see how they live?" I asked. Silently, she shook her head, "No." Regretting that I was on vacation, instead of home, I wished she'd had a totally different experience during her visit to America.
Just a few weeks before, at Fellowship Bible Church in Dalton, Georgia, I met Anna from Kazakhstan who was on their college exchange program. Sponsored by
E2 Educational Services, Anna's internship had a higher purpose reflecting the E2ES mott 'To develop leaders capable of renewing their nations."
"Our summer exchange program has a two-fold purpose," said Lars Peterson, E2ES Director in Kazakstan (Central Asia). "The first component is a legitimate business internship and experience in their field of studies. The second is an exposure to Christianity through the time spent interacting with a church family and living with a host family."
This summer Peterson is shepherding seventeen upper-level university students through the internship experience. "We have exposed more than 130 students to different areas of the U.S. through the willingness and vision of Christian host families and businessmen who opened their lives and offices. The students who come to us for this exchange experience are educated, fluent in English, and very willing to learn. We know what they'll take back is a new vision for their own countries."
When many students visit the American churches, such as Fellowship Bible Church, it is the first time they've met authentic Christians. Tom Perry, Chairman of the Missions Committee at Fellowship Bible said, "The concept of the 'reverse' missions trip appealed to us because it involves so many more members of our congregation in missions. And, the best part is they don't even have to leave home."