Well all, this is my last day in Utah. I am flying out at 8am! I have really enjoyed my time here, and I have learned a lot. I am putting all of my "reflection log" below so you can read the overall result of this trip! I had to turn this info in...so I didn't want to retype it, and there maybe somethings that you don't understand but just ask and I'll tell you! Thanks for all of your love and support! Enjoy reading:
Summer Internship ‘05
1. Share contact info with each other.
2. How has the internship affected you
a. Emotionally
This internship has been an emotional roller coaster. Not one of the really big scary ones that make you sick to your stomach when you get off, but the kind that makes your heart pump and your adrenaline rise. The majority of the internship was very encouraging and motivating. Other times I felt very challenged and frustrated.
b. Spiritually
As expected, there were parts of the internship, particularly during institute classes, when I felt challenged in my beliefs. I spent a great deal of time on my knees asking God for clarification and boldness. I also felt challenged to strengthen my relationship with Christ so I am better able to distinguish the things that are true to His character and things that are obviously contradictory.
c. Intellectually (knowledge)
I learned a lot more about the LDS culture and I have changed a lot of my pre-conceived notions about what is and isn’t doctrinal/across-the-board beliefs. I learned quite a bit about what InterVarsity is all about and how it got started, why it exists, and how God uses it to reach students. I also learned a lot more about the history and layout of the SLC area.
d. Relationally
Oh man, this was the biggest area of growth. I had no idea how attached I would become to some of the people from the wards. I learned how much easier it is to get into tough questions when a level of trust is established. People can normally tell when your interest in them is genuine or not, and they respond to that. Even when the time spent with someone is limited, genuine love and interest goes a long way!
e. Culturally
The internship has helped me see how hard it is to see beyond our own culture and try to understand someone else’s culture. Particularly in this setting, the language barrier has been a huge factor in blocking some cultural understandings. I have found through this experience that the best way to learn a culture is to dive in and look around. Judging only causes more blind spots and greater frustration.
3. How has your character been challenged?
I don’t know that my character has been challenged, but my outlook on cross-cultural ministry/communication has changed for the better. I know that I will be more cautious in making all encompassing assumptions about people within a culture and take a genuine interest in the individual. I also feel more compelled to share this philosophy with other and encourage them to venture outside of their culture and investigate another world view. Though it is a challenging experience, it has helped develop my faith.
4. Has your view or understanding of cross-cultural ministry changed?
if so, how?
Like I mentioned, though it is really smart to study the basic characteristics of a culture, it is more important to get to know individuals within a culture. This approach really helps you understand the culture from the inside out and it limits cultural fallacies.
I also have a better understanding of my own culture and how that factor potentially hinders me from seeing another culture without bias. Though this is something I cannot and don’t need to diminish, understanding my own culture helps me sift through the mixture of my culture and another’s culture with the intent of holding on to things that I value as good and true while learning to respect what others value regardless of my approval or agreement.
5. Has your view or understanding of evangelism changed? if so, how?
Yes, from Bridges and through the application of the more passive loving approach, I have learned the benefit of a relational method as apposed to an apologetic method. I am still interested in being trained in apologetics because there is a time and a place for apologetics, but in response to the time spent in Salt Lake, loving people is much more effective and respected.
6. What was the most difficult thing for you over the past 5 weeks?
The most challenging thing has been practicing self restraint. Though I am not an irrational person, it was difficult to remain respectful in certain situations particularly one ward service (with the picture of the man story) and in the POGP class.
7. What was the funnest thing for you over the past 5 weeks?
I’m pretty sure I laughed the hardest at the baseball game (CHICKEN BUTT), but spending time with the LDS members at the food bank and at the over-night was really great as well. The coolest stuff I say and experienced were up in the mountains on Fridays! (good times of relaxation and surrender!)
***8. How will you tell people about your summer in
1 minute
5 minutes
20 minutes
1 hour
What are a few of your best stories from this summer. People relate
well to stories.
The canoe adventure (Brad’s fishing adventures)
Cherry pie
The Man/Map ward story
Talking with the Williamsons
Packing corn
The overnight (square dancing, hiking in Tevas, God and S’mores)
Crapes after FHE
Karaoke Extreme
9. When you get back home, your life will look very different. You
won't be engaged in ministry like you have been for the past 5 weeks.
Your life may look really busy or really slow when you get home. What
are you going to do with that difference? It is very possible that
you'll feel unsatisfied with "life as usual", maybe not. But if those
feelings come, what do you think God wants you to do with them? What
advice would you give yourself?
“Life as usual” looks like a bunch of different commitments with a lot of wasted time in-between. The hard part of life at home is the time I feel I need to spend with my family. Looking at the time spent, I see my time would be better spent if I could pull myself out of bed, away from the TV and engage in constructive conversations with my family that incorporates the things I have learned on this trip.
I always over plan things and have really good intentions, but most of my plans never seen to be accomplished. So, right now I will dedicate myself to less wasted time sleeping and watching TV and I will pray that God will use this freed up time for activities that bring Him glory. Seriously, how does watching hours of TV and sleeping in every morning bring glory to God?
The same concepts apply while I am at school. I have a multitude of commitments, but I find myself more stressed out because I have not used my free time wisely. By getting things done, I am able to spend more time doing things that bring glory to God like observing the Sabbath. I would really like to be able to set a whole day aside to honor God and reflect on His love and goodness. I have realized this is something missing in my walk.
I would also like to find a friend who is interested in joining me at an LDS ward. I would love to continue learning and ministering to the LDS people in Siloam Springs, but I need a companion to do this. I have learned how spiritually challenging it is and I know I need to develop my knowledge and walk with God before I can seriously think about committing to this activity.
In summary, I need to make time with my family more valuable and God glorifying, I need to spend less time in activities that do not bring Him glory, and I need to dedicate that freed time to activities that do bring Him glory including reading, praying, and fellowship. I pray God will give me courage to accomplish these things because I know they will glorify Him and make “life as usual” more of a joy!
10. How will you apply the things God showed you during the internship?
How will they affect the rest of your life? Will they? Should they?
I have learned a lot about seeing people as they are, and I hope to be able to help others I minister too in daily life that we are all much more than a label (Catholic, Protestant, LDS, Muslim, Jewish). We are children of God called to choose a life of servant hood in light of Christ’s example and through God’s Grace. I want people to see that we are all loved the same and it doesn’t matter what your occupational calling is, or how much time you spend studying, God loves you the very same and His love will not increase because it is already maxed out, and it will not decrease because we were not nor ever will be anymore righteous. It is only through Christ we are renewed and reconciled with God.
Once we take and receive God’s gift of cleansing, He claims us as His own and shares with us His Spirit. God simply wants us to bring Him glory in our actions, share His goodness, and learn more about how that’s done by reading His word. His living words gives us encouragement and shows us just how much He loves us and always will love us! What great news indeed!
We have no excuse but to love others as we have been loved! As we were freely given love, forgiveness and understanding, we are to give these things, the GOOD NEWS, to all of the people we are blessed to know! Blessed be the name of the Lord! I have learned the trueness of this foundation and I will stand firmly upon it for the rest of my life! Praise God!
11. Where at home can you minister cross culturally? Pray about getting
involved in cross cultural ministry wherever you are.
Encounter-thinking about buddying up people in the group and sending them to different religious services, The girls in my hall, the LDS church in Siloam, my assistant swim coach, and on campus!
12. Why do you think God brought you here this summer?
To open my eyes to His plan that is so much bigger than my views. Great experience and affirmation to His calling in my life!
FEEDBACK:
1. List the things that in your opinion worked really well in this
internship? What made those things work for you?
I really enjoyed the positive encouragement and information presented by the speakers who shared their experiences with us. I am one to learn from dialogue, so their words were very impact. It was also goof to get affirmation on ideas and trend that I observed during the internship. It is important to fellowship with other Christians who can provide wisdom, encouragement and support! (We’re not in this alone man! )
I think they might have worked better if the scheduling would have worked out as planned ie. Setting aside a specific week day for them and allowing plenty of time for dialogue.
2. List those things that didn't work so well? Explain why they didn't
work for you.
Hummmmm…Some of the communication was sketchy, I think a well planned out week would have been better. Having idea of what the rest of the week had in store helps me plan personal time and readings.
3. In your opinion, what could we do next year to make it better?
I would suggest praying before Institute classes and doing a Bible study that is revenant to what we learned. This may be difficult if the dynamics of the group changes, but I think it is important to at least do a debriefing at the end of a day at Institute. It would have helped me to conglomerate ideas and to have talked more about how to address some of our concerns or questions pertaining to the material presented at Institute. Continue to leave time to have sweet conversations (like lunch there and such), but I suggest meeting back at the house again before separating for personal time.
4. Were the tacos at Brad's favorite taco dive as good as he said they
were?
They were dang good! Great value!
Rate the following things on a scale of 1-10, 1 being terrible and 10
being excellent.
__5_Housing
COME ON I LIVED IN A CURITANED OFF CORNER!!!!! Just Kidding! I only gave it a 5 because I am rating it based on potential housing (the mansions up the street! J). I liked my room and my bed, and location. I was comfy! Not much to change!
__6_Food arrangement
The shopping was fun, and eating together was great (when that happened). Not much to change here!
__8_Cost of Internship
I feel like I got my money’s worth of life experiences!
__7_Organization of internship
Not bad, but more clarity would help. We did some really awesome things, and I there was much more planned than I would have guessed!
_7__Schedule
It was a little unclear at times and I think there might have been a tiny bit of excess free time.
_8__Prayer
Sometimes rushed, but very powerful.
__9_Scripture study
I really enjoyed the manuscript study!
_8__Classes at the Institute
GREAT, but very challenging. It was a good experience that should stay, but you might want to think through the classes that interns attend based on their maturity and stuff.
_9__Friday outings
SO MUCH FUN!! Could have spent a lifetime up in the mountians! We should have taken more advantage of the canoes and stuff, that Rocked! (HAHA, mountains…ROCKS…hahaha).
_10__Guest speakers overall
My favorite part!
__10_Bill Heersink
_10__Virginia
__10_Ken
_10__Les
__15!_Bridges course
Ok, just kidding, this was my favorite part!! (Like WOAH)!
__7_Saturdays
Very random, but mostly fun times... if the future students aren’t locals, I’d suggest some type of adventure…like the scavenger hunt!
__10_Sunday schedule
Always eventful!
_8 Scavenger hunt
Wish we had more time! We needed ALL DAY. We were slow too…OUR BAD!
_8 Welcome all Wonders
GREAT, but dry in parts.
*** I’d suggest adding in a small Millet book for comparison and discussion.
__6 How Wide the divide
A must read, but hard to swallow.
__9_Supervision of Internship
You are a great leader, but the JOKES…I MEAN COME ON!!! J No, we were well taken care of. I felt safe and well led.
_7__Team dynamics
What a diverse team! It was so awesome getting insight from the others (I especially learned a lot from talks with Kristen partly because we spent a bunch of time together. We were the outsiders ya know!) Though clear and effective communication was our emphasized goal, it’s effectiveness started to dwindle toward the close. Our communication stunk and it caused a bit of frustration!
__7_Pre-internship communications
I didn’t know what to pack until near time to go. Maybe you could invest in a secretary J Also, I would share with new interns about the way the money situation is going to plan out (checks not being deposited until after the trip).
_10__Did you get what you were told you would get?
TIMES 5 to the 5th!!!!! And much more! | 
