God can be glorified in any context

I’ve never thought of myself as a very adventurous person. I come from a small town in upstate South Carolina that I thought didn’t have much to offer by way of new and exciting experiences. When I got to college, I was thrilled (and mostly overwhelmed) to discover so many opportunities to try new things and experiences. But again, I wasn’t eager to rush from my comfort zone. Despite these tendencies, I found myself exploring the MTW website toward the end of sophomore year. As I considered the possibility of doing an internship that summer, I felt a keen interest in the trip to East Africa, which included time in both Rwanda and Kenya. So, I jumped in without really knowing what to expect, but feeling that God would certainly be at work through such an experience.

Encountering the beauty of Rwanda

When I arrived in Rwanda, I was dazzled by the rich culture, history, and beauty of Kigali. Despite being so far from home and the familiar, I felt instantly at ease. I can find no other way to describe it than a reassurance from the Lord. Surrounded by an entirely new culture, an intern team of people who were basically strangers to me, and no idea what I was getting myself into, I felt strangely at peace with all of this. Much of this sense of calm came from the incredible hospitality and energy of the Clifford family, who welcomed us without hesitation and made sure we had everything we needed.

For the first week or so in Rwanda, we got to experience life in East Africa coordinated by missionary John Clifford. We enjoyed a tour of the city of Kigali, deepened our understanding of the country’s painful past of genocide, and practiced learning Kinyarwanda. My fellow interns and I quickly became friends as we took in the beauty of Rwanda together. This beauty was never more apparent than it was in the people we met. Whether locals, expats, or other missionaries, we were constantly in contact with others, each with unique and inspiring stories of how God was at work.

Some of my favorite moments came from interacting with the children in Rwanda. In the town of Nyabihu, we ran our first VBS with over 200 kids. The stunning mountain landscape was an excellent backdrop for the songs, games, and lessons we shared with the students there. They were just as excited to welcome us as we were to be with them. They asked lots of great questions despite the language barrier and personified joy throughout our sessions.

Another highlight of the two weeks in Rwanda was the training led by missionary Dan McBride and MTW International Director of Africa Victor Nakah. Dan walked us through various sustainability techniques for missions and shared testimonies from his time as a missionary in West Africa. His sessions provided all of us with valuable firsthand insight into what global missions really look like.

Likewise, Victor’s sessions with us were packed with information and new perspectives. He explained the church’s global role while introducing us to the work of several church plants in Africa. Both of these men stressed the importance of biblical foundations and strong community. One of my biggest takeaways from their lessons was how I can be involved in the church’s mission abroad without necessarily leaving my local church. They each emphasized the importance of supporting fellow Christians around the world and not just in our local communities.

Embracing the unknown in Kenya

If my time in Rwanda was largely learning and observing, then Kenya was all about putting what I’d learned into practice. From the moment we landed in Nairobi, we were faced with the unknown. The local missionaries, the Kangs, were very thorough in their planning, but felt less inclined to keep the interns in the loop. We soon learned that this was by design, so we would see how to deal with ambiguity. While we were never aware of what lay ahead each day, we were continually amazed by the ways we saw God at work everywhere we went.

Our time in Kenya was split into several excursions. We landed in Nairobi and quickly began our journey into the Maasai region. We spent a few nights in Narok with a local pastor and led several VBS-style events for nearby schools. One of the things that impacted me the most was our visit with our host’s mother and grandfather. Both individuals were deeply rooted in their faith and shared incredible testimonies.

From Narok, we traveled into the mountains to the village of Olorapil. Here we ran one of our biggest VBS events and got to wander the mountains doing street evangelism. Again, I was blown away by God’s beautiful creation, the faith and perseverance of local Christians, and the way the church has flourished despite many difficulties.

Afterward, we made our way back through Nairobi to the coast. Our final stage of the internship was in Mombasa. This area of Kenya was predominantly Muslim and offered a very different experience for our kids’ ministries and house visits. Nonetheless, our time in Mombasa was fruitful, allowing me to step outside my comfort zone and witness the body of Christ in a variety of contexts.

A transformational summer

I cannot overstate how transformational this monthlong internship was for me. As I mentioned earlier, I did not enter my summer feeling strongly about missions, nor as someone who sought unfamiliar experiences. As I leaped into this opportunity, I felt God’s presence as He showed me many new things, introduced me to new people, and placed situations in my path to use my gifts for His glory. This internship threw so many new things my way and repeatedly exposed me to the awe of God’s sovereignty and power in this world.

Throughout this trip, I saw how God can be glorified in every context. Whether as a farmer in the mountains of East Africa or a student in upstate South Carolina, every nation, tribe, and tongue is called to glorify God in everything. Even when we are broken and inadequate, even in the face of poverty, even when I am unwilling to step out of my comfort zone and serve others, God is at work. Whether I see the fruits of my labor or not, God has a plan for it all. The MTW internship taught me the importance of leaning on the church community and seeking to glorify God in every single thing I do. As Paul encouraged the believers in Corinth, so I was encouraged during my summer abroad.

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Consider an MTW summer internship! Visit mtw.org/internships to get started.

Subscribe for News and Articles.

Get good news every week! Subscribe to Stories & More for stories of God's work, videos from the missions field, and a wide range of missions topics.