The idea that this summer might be the most formative yet began on January 22. Late that night—when I should have been asleep ahead of my philosophy class—I submitted an interest form for an internship with Mission to the World.

Stepping into the unknown

I have always loved cross cultural experiences—as much as one can living in East Tennessee. The Lord has opened doors for me to work with marginalized communities through soccer. So that, paired with having spent five weeks in Uganda at the age of 6, had me wanting to return to East Africa. I was ecstatic at the idea of spending my summer in Africa and cultivating a deeper love for Christ and pursuing clarity for my life, so I entered my first phone call with MTW hoping to go to Rwanda (the only internship offered in East Africa).

The following months were both thrilling and terrifying. I had never flown internationally alone or been away from my family for more than a week. And I was joining seven strangers as fellow interns for five weeks—intimidating. Yet, I had naively convinced myself that international missions would be a breeze. “I love diversity, traveling, and cross-cultural ministry, so this will be nothing but fun,” I preached to myself. I was in for a treat.

I landed in Kigali, the capital city, on the night of June 30 after 30 hours of travel. By God’s grace, everything went smoothly (other than a minor stress as I ran through the Brussels airport to catch my connection after a delay in D.C.), and it was a joy stepping off the plane and smelling African air for the first time in over a decade. I met four fellow interns while meandering through the deboarding and passport control process, and after dealing with a delayed bag, we met our host missionary, John Clifford, and another intern who had arrived earlier standing outside under an awning. As we stood outside chatting, it hit me—months of prayer, planning, and Zoom calls had finally brought us here. Dan McBride, an MTW missionary who had also been on our flight, eventually found our group and we were off. The internship had begun.

The first car ride with John and Dan to our lodging from the airport was remarkable. I remember texting my parents: “I have made it. I am safe. Weaving through the night streets of Kigali, listening to two long-term missionaries with MTW catch up. This is awesome.”

Immersed in Rwanda

That first week, we immersed ourselves into the cosmopolitanism of Kigali, acquainted ourselves with the city and transportation, learned about the cruel nature of the genocide in the ’90s and the numerous consequences that are still relevant, and heard multiple sessions on spiritual resilience and culture from Dan. His insights, ranging from African vs. Western paradigms to ambiguity in missions shaped my outlook for my time in Rwanda.

Over the following weeks, we met individuals from all walks of life (laymen, pastors, taxi drivers, clerks, etc.), learned about and how to relay the gospel, and led two VBS programs. The first was in Kigali at Living Hope Academy. We had the joy of serving nearly 500 children each day for the three-day program and had the opportunity to join them for worship that following Sunday. The second was at Nyabihu Christian Academy near the Ugandan-Congolese border outside of Musanze. It was the neatest educational institution I have ever seen.

Another highlight was hearing from Dr. Victor Nakah, MTW’s international director for sub-Saharan Arica. His sessions on church planting, with mentions of piety, marriage, and vocation were a gift. His love for Christ was infectious.

I was supposed to leave on July 31 with a fellow intern, but our plane stalled on the runway due to hydraulic failure. After hours of waiting in ambiguity, it was decided that we would be spending three extra days in Kigali. I was bummed at the beginning. I missed home. But that turned out to be three of the best days of the summer. We worshipped at an Anglican church we had attended many times, spent time with our host missionaries and their children, and processed re-entry into the West. It was a lesson in God’s sovereignty—He uses our minor inconveniences for His glory.

As Augustine reminds us, “Nothing gets wasted when it comes to our lives.” God uses the ebbs and flows all for His good.

Reflections from the journey

Here are a number of takeaways that the Lord has placed upon my heart:

1. Substantial growth often happens within the team.

Real growth in short-term missions often happens within the team itself, from intern to intern. This was made clear to me by the end. In a foreign culture with limited time, it is unlikely that any measure of good deeds will drastically impact a national—though seeds are definitely planted—but I saw the Lord work in the mundane conversations, conflicts, and friendships within the team that occurred over the entire month.

I saw this in my own wrongdoing. Early on, it was as if I came more to impress others than with a genuine love and joy for my Father in heaven and a contrite heart. A few weeks into the internship deep conviction over this struck my heart. 

2. God is a God of all peoples.

Victor emphasized the global perspective and nature of God’s kingdom. Christ transcends cultural and geographic tribes. He is Lord over all tongues and nations and skin colors. A healthy theology of the global church is essential. It reframes our minds and hearts. For we are not to export Western Christianity, but to bear witness to the gospel that transcends cultural with humility, grace, and love.

3. Prayer must not be viewed as mundane.

As Tim Keller says, “The only person who dares wake up a king at 3:00 a.m. for a glass of water is a child. We have that kind of access.” We often treat prayer as mundane, but that is a temptation we must actively fight against. For this is all the more the reason to sit in the ambiguity and trust in His sovereignty. We are Christians, that means we wait for things. 

4. Mission is rooted in sovereignty.

The entire crux of missiology is rooted in the sovereignty of the triune God. Without that, missions will be blurred. As R.C. Sproul said, “If there is one single molecule in this universe running around loose, totally free of God’s sovereignty, then we have no guarantee that a single promise of God will ever be fulfilled.” This was a huge revelation throughout the internship, that if you are doing missions abroad and do not put the emphasis on the Lord’s sovereignty, it will be unbearable. The means of mission would rely solely on the individuals’ given ability to communicate and relay the gospel message, rather than God’s sovereign rule and His just mercy.

The gospel compels us

The gospel is real, and it has real implications. As Christians we either go or we send. The mission field is ripe for harvest; the world needs those that are dedicated to the claims the gospel makes upon their lives.

As Jim Elliot said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Church history is filled with examples: Tyndale, Slessor, Muller, Livingston, Voetius. People don’t die for things they half-believe in. It’s not because they mastered a whole lot of things or were “super-Christians.”

Whether it’s international missions, steel working, mopping bathroom floors, or changing a diaper, may we each step out into our Father’s world as we eagerly await that day when the entire body of Christ will dance together in the presence of Jesus.

It’s because they have been mastered by one thing, and that is to preach Jesus Christ crucified to all nations and all peoples and all tongues.

Whether it’s international missions, steel working, mopping bathroom floors, or changing a diaper, may we each step out into our Father’s world as we eagerly await that day when the entire body of Christ will dance together in the presence of Jesus.

As the late Presbyterian minister Maltbie Babcock wrote over 100 years ago:

“This is my Father’s world:
He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear him pass,
He speaks to me everywhere.”

For Great David’s Greater Son.

Interested in serving in 2026? Summer internships officially open Oct. 1, but we’re accepting Get Started forms now if you want to get a jump on it.