SALINA, Kan. (KWCH) – Four international students at Kansas Wesleyan University are facing the aftermath of a devastating house fire that destroyed their belongings and left them homeless.

The four students (Mateo Hoyos, Andres Ruiz, Gerardo Garcia, and Sebastian Fernandez) are all members of the Kansas Wesleyan University football team.

The group left home on Saturday to go to the market. When they returned, they found their house in flames.

“We went to Dillon’s and when we came back we saw the police and the fire department,” Colombian international football player Andres Ruiz said. “’Is this our house?’ we said. “When we got closer, everything was on fire.”

The fire, which started in the kitchen, quickly grew and destroyed almost everything in front of the students, from their clothes to their personal belongings and, most importantly, their football teams.

Mateo Hoyos, a fellow player from Colombia, said: “We had everything there (equipment, shoes, clothes), next to our garage. And everything came towards this part of the house. You see all this destruction here.”

Four young men, international students, are already away from their families.

“We have nothing! We have no family here because we come from other countries,” said Mexican actor Gerardo Garcia, expressing the heartbreaking reality of their situation.

Although the students were sure they had lost nearly everything they had, they said they leaned on each other and their shared passion for football to help them rebuild.

“Football is a big part of our lives,” Gerardo said. “That’s why we’re here, that’s why we go to KWU.”

Despite these great losses, students remain grateful that no one was injured.

“We are grateful to be away from home,” said Sebastian Fernandez, another international football player from Argentina. “It could have been worse, but we are safe and that’s what matters.”

Football has always been more than a game for these young men. This is a unifying force; a force that helps bridge the gap between them and their homes and families.

“Football in general brings people together,” Sebastian said. “Especially in Latin American countries, this is something that ties us together.”

The players found solace in each other during this difficult time. “I’m grateful to have them. We are all going through this at the same time, so we understand each other,” Mateo said. They are determined to stay strong, support each other and rebuild their lives, step by step.

A. GoFundMe page It was founded to help four students raise money and replace what was lost in the fire.

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