“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat,

I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,

I was a stranger and you invited me in,

I needed clothes and you clothed me,

I was sick and you looked after me…”

— Matthew 25:35-36

Jamie Rosheim believes a Bible verse, Matthew 25:35-36, really embodies what her mission is: to make the world one.

“I love that Jesus is saying any time we are doing those things for people, we are really doing them unto him,” she said.

Rosheim, a Glenville native and Austin resident, works as field staff for InterFACE Ministries, a non-profit, educational, Christian organization that brings international students together with American citizens for friendship and networking.

Her interest in interacting with international people began when she was in college. A German girl stayed with her and some other students, and she became intrigued by those from other countries.

“I remember hearing someone say, ‘All the nations are here,’ ” she said. “I grew up as an only child; I love to relate to other people.

“I want to first help people with tangible needs, whatever that may be,” Rosheim said. “Many times I become good friends with them. I also loving doing Bible studies, but that in no way is a prerequisite.”

Two Riverland students, Yi Mon Aung and Nyabana Gatluak, are now living and attending school in Austin as part of the program. With Rosheim’s assistance, they received donations of living supplies for their apartments through a prayer chain.

InterFACE participants are not part of an exchange program, she said, nor are they provided live-in housing.

“InterFACE gives great flexibility and creativity to what a person can do in their community,” Rosheim said.

For instance, she receives help from Pam Larson, an Austin resident who opens her home for InterFACE activities.

“We have get-togethers, here, we have birthday parties… facilitating friendship among the international community,” Larson said.

The international students in Austin also keep connected through the social networking site Facebook, a means of meeting other foreign students and sharing likenesses.

Gatluak, 20, is Sudanese, a member of one of four Sudan tribes represented in Austin. After two years, she was finally able to come to the United States from Egypt with most of her family to attend school here. Lack of adequate education and ongoing war in Sudan attributed to her family’s decision to move to another country, specifically, Faribault, Minn.

Gatluak, who is studying liberal arts, started in English as a Second Language classes at Riverland before she was able to begin her freshman year.

Aung, 20, came to the U.S. from a southeast Asian country eight months ago for “a better life;” she prefers not to reveal where she came from because she fears government retaliation. Aung does not have family here, but occasionally calls her father, and keeps in contact with her mother, who she last saw in December.

She hesitantly tells the story of how she came to Austin for college.

“I thought Austin was Texas-Austin,” she said, embarrassed by her err. “I applied and I got in here.

“I started to buy clothes … I found out it is cold in Austin,” she said with a laugh.

Aung never did receive a reply from the Texas colleges.

Gatluak agreed the weather is definitely different.

“You come back from where it is 90 degrees year-round to here — it’s a change,” she said.

Gatluak said she may possibly pursue further education at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, where Rosheim also attended college. Aung wants to move on to a university.

The women believe their experience has been great, but sometimes language barriers can be challenging.

“Writing is harder,” Gatluak said.

“Nyabana works really hard,” Rosheim praised. “She’s persistent with her studies.”

Aung said homesickness is most difficult for her.

“I meet my mom almost everyday online,” she said. “I call my dad, but it’s expensive.”

Rosheim said that ultimately, she would love to see Austin as a place where all cultures are seen as one — “greater awareness of the international community.

“I would also like to see great unity with the body of Christ,” she said. “There are so many denominations; I would like to see great unity for believers.”

For more information about InterFACE Ministries, visit www.iface.org.