30-Days of Prayer for Myrtle Beach Exchange Visitors

J1s come from all across Europe each summer, spanning from the United Kingdom, through the Czech Republic, and all the way to Turkey.  (We will include Turkey here, though it is considered both part of Europe and Asia).  Their religious background is as varied as their cultural backgrounds: atheist, Christian, and Muslim.  As many (especially those from Turkey) come from wealthy families, this summer will be their first time working and living on their own. Imagine having to figure out how to do things for yourself for the first time in a foreign country! This creates a unique set of challenges for the students, their employers and their roommates.  Pray for a willingness to “adult” well by working hard and making mature decisions. Pray for their bosses to be understanding and patient. Pray ultimately that the challenges, conflicts, and failures of the summer would lead them to acknowledge their need for God.

For the next few days we will focus on the primary regions the J1 Students come from and specific things we see in students from these areas.  First up, Latin America!    

Many countries from Latin America are represented among our J1 students, with the majority coming from Ecuador, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic.  Their religious background is primarily Christian, though for many, it is a cultural identity more than a personal commitment to make Jesus the Lord of their lives.  These students often come from economically depressed countries, so the opportunity to work here has the potential to make a big financial difference for them and their families.  They are training in their countries to be nurses, doctors, lawyers, and architects, but work here in positions like pool attendants and housekeepers.  Pray for encouragement, safety and stamina as they often work multiple jobs in their summer here.  Pray for their families back home who face civil, political, and economic upheaval. Pray for many of them to have a personal encounter with Jesus that leads to repentance and surrender. 

The majority of students walk, ride bikes, or take electric scooters to work each day.  With peak tourist-season traffic throughout the summer so high, accidents happen often.  Pray for clear vision on the roads, that students would be seen and that traffic laws would be followed.  Pray for wisdom and safetyas students travel home late at night, especially for women traveling alone.  

The tourist industry in Myrtle Beach would struggle to function without the J1 work exchange program. Pray for each local employer/business that has J1 students joining them this summer, that they would treat them with care, respect, and fairness.  Pray for the students to have courage to report corruption so that the business owners might be brought to justice. Pray for those business owners who follow Jesus to brightly shine His light to the students they employ for the summer.

Finding good housing is one of the primary issues students face when they decide to come to Myrtle Beach.  There has been a housing shortage the last couple of summers that has led to many dicy housing situations for students.  Overcrowding, unsafe conditions, and sketchy landlords were constant themes.  We are excited that this year there will be an additional housing option in the form of the International Residence Hall (IRH), a 300-bed dormitory exclusively for international exchange visitors.  Pray for students to find safe, clean housing that is close to their work. Pray for employment positions at the IRH to be filled by mature believers.

The Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce partners with the MBPD  to run weekly orientations during the first 6 weeks of the season.  Students can learn important safety tips, get help filling out forms, and connect with various services available.  It is an important opportunity for students to see and hear from people who are in a position to help them if they have any issues come up during the summer. Since Midtown Vineyard Church hosts the orientations, the students also learn about All Nations Cafe and become familiar with the location.   Pray that more students would take advantage of these orientations.  Pray that many students will return for All Nations Cafe.

Pray for the team of volunteers who spend time welcoming arrivals at the airport.  They work late nights, and are often the first friendly faces for students!  They are an important connecting point for students who arrive without housing, or who find themselves in sticky situations because of mis-communication with landlords or employers.  Pray for stamina for the small greeters team, and that more volunteers would join them.  Pray for good connections to be made!

Pray for the J1 student exchange visitors who are coming, for their travel arrangements, fees and their visa interviews.  God knows exactly who he wants in Myrtle Beach this summer.  Pray for each student as they go through the interview and visa process, and as they come up with fees to pay the sponsor companies.  Many students go into some sort of debt to get here with the idea that they will make it back (and hopefully a bit more!)