Josiah Venture

Missions Intern

May - August 2019 • Leipzig, Saxony

What I liked

I loved getting to build relationships everywhere I went. This helped me in every aspect of my internship.

What I wish was different

I wish there could have been a little more training, but you can't be prepared for everything.

Advice

Come in prepared to be flexible. Plans will change and you will have to think on your feet to get a job done.

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Mission Intern Team Leader

May - August 2019 • Limbaži, Limbaži Municipality

What I liked

I loved the opportunity to take on a more serious leadership role in mission work. I spent three months living and serving in Latvia, and although ministry there is not new to me (it was my fifth consecutive summer serving there), my particular role this summer was new and involved a lot more responsibility. Being responsible for a team of five college-age interns for three months in a foreign country is daunting no matter how you slice it, and being an administrator for multiple youth camps that brought together workers from around the world is a task I wouldn't have thought myself qualified for. I loved that this summer both showed me that I am more equipped and prepared for the kind of work that I love than I would have expected, and taught me to rely on God in my weakness and not to imagine that it is by my own great abilities that I am able to lead others. Essentially, this summer taught me more about leadership than the rest of my life combined.

What I wish was different

Part of me wishes that my team could have had an easier time connecting with one another so that everyone could feel well-loved by their teammates, though at the same time this challenge was one of the most valuable growth experiences that I had, so I can't complain too much. I would have liked to have stayed longer for the extended internship, but unfortunately my school schedule wouldn't allow it.

Advice

If you're trying to get better at something, find an avenue for doing that thing. Of course it's important to train and prepare, but ultimately you just have to step out and do it, and finding an internship or other job or volunteer opportunity that will allow you to actual jump in and engage in the kind of things you want to do is a huge part of becoming genuinely qualified.

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Summer intern for Josiah Venture

May - August 2019 • Celje, City Municipality of Celje

What I liked

I liked going overseas to gain new experience on what it means to live missionally.

What I wish was different

Everything was great in my experience.

Advice

I highly suggest it, but make sure you are ready to be open with others and ready to be stretched in your thinking.

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Fusion Intern

May - August 2019 • Havířov, Moravian-Silesian Region

What I liked

Great preparation and training through mid June that turns into fast-paced, high-energy relationship-based musical ministry with high school age students at camps. Fantastic personal care with weekly checkups for spiritual, emotional, and physical health. Very intentional ministry and work with global and local missionaries, complete use of all gifts and talents (you will be used as much as you put in). Fantastic and would highly recommend to gain perspective on missions and grow in spiritual and relational maturity.

What I wish was different

Expectations of requirements should have been more clearly laid out in interview and application - some team members were not equipped for the ministry (eg no musical abilities or easily getting stressed out). This was the first year having American interns, so these issues have been discussed and will probably be fixed for summer 2020.

Advice

Research and ask questions about the ministry (fusion, a relational based ministry that uses music as an outreach) during the interview and application process (all applicants are interviewed) - it shows you care and helps you learn at the same time.

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Fusion intern with Josiah Venture in Slovenia

May - August 2017 • Celje, City Municipality of Celje

What I liked

I learned a lot about my faith and how to share it with others

What I wish was different

I wish there had been more structure

Advice

I would highly recommend it, but make sure you know what youre getting into

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Summer Intern

May 2018 • Písek, South Bohemia Region

What I liked

Great cross-cultural experience teaching English at summer camps for teenagers

What I wish was different

Advice

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Czech English Camp Intern

May - August 2018 • Prague, Prague

What I liked

I loved getting to teach English all around the Czech Republic for three months.

What I wish was different

I wish I had known more information about how much we were going to travel.

Advice

One piece of advice I would share about this experience is to do outrageous things and put your heart and soul into the work you have been given to do for the three months.

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