By Kevin Shannahan

Natchitoches residents Johnny and Audrey Broussard were joined by California physician and longtime friend, Dr. Jessica Laursen and her daughter Zoe, in hosting 20 international NSU students for a holiday dinner and fireworks on the Cane River Friday, Dec. 23. The group decided to forgo Christmas gift exchanges and to do something for others instead. Hosting a dinner for NSU’s foreign students in conjunction with NSU’s Wesley Center and its director Clair Carter came to mind.

The students are from Mexico, Columbia and Hondoras and are majoring in a range of subjects from nursing to music and engineering. Several of the music students are also singers and muscians at First United Methodist Church in Natchitoches. They started the evening at FUMC and then drove to a boat launch to see the lights and fireworks from a barge on the Cane River. The group then returned to the church for a traditional Columbian dinner of roast arroz con pollo, pork medallions, empanapas and arroz con leche.