What is a missions internship?

We hadn’t really realized that different missionaries might have very different answers to this question. We expected to be told what to do, and that most of what we would be doing would be observing, shadowing, and learning from what the missionaries are already doing. However, the missionaries have expected us to have goals and take a lot more initiative and come up with our own things to do. Since everyone speaks English here that’s a lot more possible that in most countries. We do have scheduled things to take part in, but not enough to fill up our days. We have had a hard time between that and the slower pace of life in general, some of us more than others. Communication is starting to be better though and we’re starting to get a better feel for what’s expected of us. This is what Marcus outlined as goals for the internship in a “session” with him last week:

-to be a case study of this mission team’s work (to learn what mission work is on a practical level)

-to try some work ourselves-grow in skills

-talk to missionaries on field, get advice, learn from their wisdom, experiences, etc.

-doing-productive time

-adapting to culture

Since my last blog: One day of learning with Marcus: sessions on goals, how to treat yourself and others on this internship, schedule, history of all churches in area, and animism/witchcraft in this culture. Most people are “churched” but churches are very territorial, controlling, political institutions. Missionaries came in years ago and literally divided up the land geographically for where each one would evangelize. So each area or village is “owned” by a certain denomination. Also, the old traditions of magic and witchcraft and are very embedded in life still and mixed with their christian religions. That night Logan got home and us girls made Pizza.

The next day was the “Amazing Race” where we were divided into teams and ran all over town with clues finding places, completing tasks, etc. That was fun and helped us learn our way around. Sunday Luke went to the Gama village church, and the rest went to town church. The female interns are taking turns teaching the female youth (12-20) class, so I sat in on that even though it wasn’t my week. I’ll do it this Sunday coming up. Sunday afternoon we sat in on a study with a new Christian, named Minnie, which me and Bekah will take over starting this Sunday coming up. That night we went with Leslie to an evanglistic study with a teacher at the International school named Josephine. So far this week we’ve had meeting for the youth camp, and one for the survey trip we’re taking to the Trobriand Islands, went to two mid-week bible studies with the church, met individually with Marcus to talk about anything we need to talk about and short and long term goals, sat in on a church history class Leslie taught (which was really really interesting. I’m coming to respect Leslie a LOT as a scholar and theologian), met with Jeri one-on-one, and met with Diane to talk about a study with the youth girls Rachel and I want to start.

Talking with Jeri was very helpful. She encouraged me not to feel the pressure that I need to know for sure whether I’m going to end up doing long term missions or not. She shared struggles and doubts she’s had along the way and before coming especially. Even before talking to her I’d say that the main thing I’ve learned so far is that I can’t know what’s going to happen in my future and so I don’t have to commit to anything for sure. Lots of missionaries that I talk to never thought they would do end up doing this. I’m also learning that God has power over my shyness, and that that doesn’t mean I won’t FEEL shy still, but that He can work anyways. There’s so much more that I’m learning but can’t express yet. Thank you all sooo much for your prayers.

I’d love to hear from any of you. My email address is: bethany.cannon@gmail.com