Friends of Internationals
Friends of Internationals is a volunteer group made up of Columbia and surrounding area residents to reach out to the more than 3,000 international students, scholars, and researchers, and their family members who are temporarily living in the Columbia area while attending or working at Missouri University, Columbia College or Stephens College. They come from 127 different countries. These people are far from their home, need friends and help in adjusting to a different culture. A lot of them would like to have an American friend or family and we try to fill that need! Our Motto is ‘Reaching the world…one friend at a time’.
Lou (my wife) and I started out with 2 students from Taiwan in 1990 shortly after moving to Columbia from Mexico, Missouri. We began to see the need for close relationships in every International Student we met, and began inviting students to our home for special occasions that year. In October, 1990, we had a group of Chinese at our home for a special meeting. We called it ‘ A China Experience’. We invited two friends who had been teaching English in China and were home for a visit. We had about 15 that day. The group kept growing, and since July, 1996, we hold all of our larger, special dinners at the Baptist Student Center, located at 812 Hitt St. on the MU campus. (Easter, Thanksgiving & Christmas.) We still have smaller meetings, receptions for new students, Christmas Open House, etc. at various American homes. The largest group we have ever had was 250 for one of our Annual Christmas Dinner Parties.
We have English Conversation / American Culture Groups which meet Saturday morning at 10 AM at the Baptist Student Center, led by Naomi Scantlan. We have 3 to 8 groups with American facilitators in each group every Saturday. We also have several Bible Studies led by Norma Lemley and others; and individual English sessions each week. We have an International Small Group ‘Pot Luck Dinner’ meeting Biweekly-weekly in various American homes led by Jim & Jan Mallette. They have several spontaneous outside activities also. (e.g., Hiking, Bike riding, etc.)
Many special activities are scheduled & led by volunteers. These include: Valentines Party, Spring Retreat at a friends home on a 160 acre farm, Overnight Camping Trip at Finger Lakes Park, Swimming/Fishing Picnic at a friends lake, Hayride at a friends farm and ‘Journey to Bethlehem’ at a Jeff City Church & City Park, plus other outings as scheduled during the year.
All Nationalities, religious preferences, etc. are welcome at our functions. We like to learn about each nation’s different cultures, customs, etc., as well as sharing ours; but our main basis is ‘friendship’ and helping in any way we can. We are trying to help the students feel ‘at home’ even though they are far from home and family and especially missing their families!
We need ‘Friendship Partners’ and ‘Conversation Partners’, explained in our Brochures, to help fill these needs! We are available to speak to your organization, Church, Sunday School Class, Home Group, Committee, etc. about this outreach opportunity. Contact Bob and Lou Stevens at 445-3135.
