30-Days of Prayer for Myrtle Beach Exchange Visitors

Places like water parks, go kart tracks and Broadway at the Beach rely on international students to fill their employment rosters each summer.  Long hours, oftentimes in the heat, dealing with (not always pleasant) tourists can make for a tough working environment! Pray for these students to have fun at their jobs, even if the conditions aren’t always ideal. Pray that they have opportunities to work with believers who represent Jesus well.  

Many J1 workers are employed as housekeepers in the local hotels and resorts.  Cleaning and resetting rooms is hard work!  Oftentimes, J1 students are the top of their class at their universities, so spending the summer making beds and cleaning toilets might not be the most fulfilling work for them!  Pray for these students to feel a sense of satisfaction in a job well done, and that they would make good friendships with their co-workers who they spend a lot of time with!    

For the next few days, we will focus on the primary types of employment the J1 Students have and specific concerns for those fields.  First up- Lifeguards! 

Lifeguards provide an important service to the community. They receive special training and work LONG hours in the heat and sun! Pray for safety and health for these young people who serve our community in such a vital role. Pray that in the midst of their full work schedules and long days, they would have the opportunity to encounter Jesus.

A large number of students come from Central Asia each summer, primarily from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.  Their religious background is predominantly Muslim, but some are atheist or Orthodox Christian. The Muslim students tend to be either very committed to their religious identity or defy it outright while living in America. However, they do like to have conversations about beliefs and spirituality. They are genuinely curious about the Bible and Jesus and share a similar desire as Christians to live a moral and righteous life. Pray for good conversations with believers that cause them to know God in a different way, to know Him as the loving Father that He is. Pray that they would have a divine encounter with Jesus and worship Him as the Son of God. 

South and East Asia are represented with students from Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, and China.  The majority of these students are eager and excited to experience American culture in all its forms, good and bad.  Their excitement is contagious and makes them fun to be around!  Many have had little or no exposure to Christianity, but are open to learning and experiencing it despite the fact that they identify as Buddhist.  They rarely turn down an invitation to a home or church service. The Chinese students are especially curious about the Bible and Jesus since these subjects are taboo in their country. Pray for protection from the evil aspects of American culture. Pray that they would encounter Jesus, not just as a part of the Christian culture of America, but as something personal and real for them.  Pray that many of them would read and explore the Bible for the first time.

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.