International Friendship Activities & Cultural Exchange

InterFACE Ministries is a national nonprofit organization of Christians dedicated to serving the international student community.

Dr. Linda Leonard directs the popular International Fellowship Programs with volunteer host families

You mean that school bus?!

Yes, that’s the one that Linda Leonard’s two youngest daughters were trapped in as the bridge over the Mississippi River in MN collapsed. Can you image the panic of parents seeing this image on live TV or the chaos on the bus among the children and supervisors? Here’s Linda’s response:

Yesterday we went to the site to take pictures and to speak with the first responders and Red Cross staff who initially helped the kids and adults on the bus. The police officer that first reached them was on duty. He showed where they walked to the Red Cross building where they were sequestered and triaged. About 10 kids were treated & released; several adults sustained back injuries. See the burning truck next to the bus and the way the bus was cradled on a short stretch of bridge and leaned against a railing. Two cars behind it didn't hit it. Passersby on the road below stopped to help. One is a social outreach worker at a Catholic Church who stayed with us for hours. The chaplain on site knew the church camp the girls were at two weeks before. The girls did a midnight and 2 am interview via satellite feed to London for a UK network the night of the collapse, They've done several video interviews too. They have no scratches or bruises and SEEM to be through all the trauma and anxiety with no bad dreams; a little queasy over other bridges now and then. They've been on lots of national footage. Meanwhile, I'm doing airport pick up and moving students & furniture. I could write details that would demonstrate the amazing grace of God in regard to "the bus". I've offered an apartment to the young man who took charge of the situation. He grew up half a block from us. We've received greetings from all over the world........international friends wishing us well.

 Thanks for praying for the safety of our staff and their families so that they can fulfill their call to serve the Lord.

John Hutton

New to InterFACE, but an old pro with internationals, John comes with years of cross cultural experience.

Jamie Rosheim is also new to InterFACE, transferring from another well known Intl Student Ministry. Jamie is now alive and well in Austin, MN. You can call or text her at 507-438-1852.

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