Embrace the world

Feeling powerless to change our world? Few of us can do anything so sweeping and powerful in a lifetime that it can alter the course of our global community. But most of us can build bridges between nations one person at a time. The results may not be dramatic, but they can be wonderfully fulfilling.

That?s the testimony we offer following our household?s first experience with hosting a student from Germany for the past nine months through ERDT Share, a non-profit student-exchange organization. We welcomed her into our home as novices and strangers; she departed this week for Germany as a member of our family. Her life and ours have been forever changed for the better. She came to learn American language, culture and way of life. In turn, we learned more about Germany than we ever knew; I don?t think that nation could have sent a better ambassador.

Hosting a foreign student was awkward at the start, magnificent at its conclusion and delightful throughout. To find out how you can embrace the world, call Carol Duerksen, our local ERDT representative at 620-356-8432. You can change make a difference. ?DR

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