Skip to main content

The Season of Summer Interns



It's hard to believe that summer is almost hear, which means that our season of summer interns has almost arrived.  I am excited about this season since I really do enjoy working with interns and hearing how God has called them to serve Him in a cross-cultural experience as well as to see how God will grow them and use them for His kingdom.  I am excited because this year I have been able to put into place a more informative and hands-on training/orientation for our interns who will be serving this summer.

Some of you may be wondering why summer interns?  Our purpose for summer interns is because God calls us each to "go and preach the Good News..." and this is one platform to be able to share the Good News to the kids in our ministries, our national staff and those who live in our communities.  We are all one body but made up of different parts, which each part has it's unique purpose for the body as a whole.  Summer interns help by assisting, teaching, and playing with the kids.  They pour love on our kids, which is so very much needed.  They pour love and encouragement on our national staff and missionaries as well.  Summer interns bring energy, life and a fresh look on things.  They enhance our partnerships; some become missionaries, some become child sponsors, some come on teams, and some become more mission-minded than ever before.

This summer we have 12 interns who will be serving in all 10 of our ministry sites.  They will be arriving on June 9th.  We will have three days of North American orientation/training before two days of everyone involved in the summer school program training.  These are days that will be full of learning new information, learning about ourselves and one another, worshipping together, devotions together, hearing testimonies and team building.

A new change has been to have our interns do a videoconference with me prior to arriving to the Dominican Republic.  In our first videoconference, I have had the pleasure to hear from the majority of our interns about why they feel called to do a summer internship with us.  Some of their comments were because they feel God is leading them into full-time missions one day.  Others have said that after being on a week long mission trip it just wasn't enough time, it was too short.  I am looking forward to our next videoconference as we will be discussing spiritual warfare and staying healthy spiritually while living overseas.  What does it mean to put on the full armor of God?

Stay tuned...



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

October Newsletter

  SHANNON’S CORNER The Saga Continues… The trip to Malaysia consisted of a two-day spiritual retreat with the theme of ‘Come Away With Me’ and a six-day conference with about 230 missionaries who serve in some aspect of translating the Scriptures. One of the many people who I met was a missionary who served in Cameroon for many years and now is in a new role. As he was sharing, most his words were very negative and depressive. I encouraged him to sign up for a time of prayer and care. At the end of the retreat, this missionary shared with me that he did have a session and I could see that his whole countenance changed, and he was hopeful. His new word he used to describe where he was now is ‘delightful.’ Our time there was creating a safe space for these missionaries to have a place to share what they are struggling with and to connect with Jesus. One missionary is at a crossroads in her life. Another finds himself in the midst of betrayal. A missionary is in a new role as a caregi...
Post a Comment
Read more

April Newsletter

  SHANNON’S CORNER Be still. Be present. Behold. The prayer labyrinth is a journey that draws us closer to the heart of God with every step.  It’s a path where we listen, trust, and follow, knowing that He is always guiding us.  As we walk this path of prayer, we learn to recognize His voice, to lean into His presence, and to surrender to His direction.  It’s not just about where we’re going—it’s about who we’re walking with.  Lent this year has been a journey of walking inward toward the center of the labyrinth. Along the way, releasing my burdens to Jesus who is my beast of burden (Zec. 9:9), the One who carries what I cannot.  Arriving at the center, I find a resting place for my soul (Mt. 11:28-30) and resting in God’s loving embrace as He makes room for the new to spring up within me (Is. 43:18-19).  Now I’m journeying out of the labyrinth with the anointing of His presence and with an overflowing cup (Ps 23:5). Such an honor a...
Post a Comment
Read more

September Newsletter

SHANNON’S CORNER Connect. Nurture. Grow. Thank you for your faithfulness in praying for this ministry.  Each debrief is a sacred invitation—a chance to step into someone’s story, even if only for a short stretch of the journey.  It feels a bit like being allowed to glimpse a painting still in progress.  We may not yet see the final picture, but we trust the One who promises to complete the good work He has begun until the day of Christ Jesus (Phil. 1:6). Recently, in an online debrief, the missionary shared: “ I am in a much better place since our initial meeting.  Taking the time to process my lived experience overseas and to grieve the losses, I now feel I have the capacity to move forward here in my new season of life. ” We also had the joy of walking alongside three third culture children. To see their eyes light up as their stories were received with understanding and care was priceless.  These children do not often have many who truly grasp their unique li...
Post a Comment
Read more