Next Steps
This internship is about far more than the month(s) you spend in Africa. It is not for those who want to enjoy the Africa experience and then go back to life as usual in the States. If these are your expectations or motivations, we suggest looking for another group to go with. There are plenty of other mission organizations that will offer you the “Africa experience” you are looking for and would be happy to have you join their ministry.But if you are looking for more, if you are willing to go deep, to seek a life of abandoned devotion to Christ, to allow Him to make your heart beat for the things His heart beats for, then you are welcome to apply. Our expectations of you are high—we want you to know that from the start. It’s going to be a roller-coaster of a journey that will turn much of your world upside down, shaking your comfortable life and the mindsets you’ve grown up with. But it’s a journey that will lead you straight to the heart of God—the only destination worth traveling towards, the destination we were created for.
It’s a big commitment; we know that. But that’s the kind of God we serve. A God who requires everything. A God who says that anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Him is not worthy of Him. A God who says that the only way for us to find our lives is to lose them for His sake! Are you ready to lose yours? Then keep reading!
We’re asking you for a lot. A lot of your time, a lot of prayer, a lot of reading, a lot of commitment. But we really believe that all of this is necessary for this internship to have the impact God wants it to have on both you and the world. Please prayerfully read through our expectations and decide if you think this internship is for you.
- ELI sends out a required reading book to help prepare the intern's heart and mind for the journey. Interns are expected to prayerfully read through the book and write a response as to what God has revealed to them during their preparation time.
- Learn at least 20 phrases in Swahili before arriving in Africa (ELI will provide these in the intern training manuals). Learning the language will help you better integrate into the culture, connect with the people, and show the love of Christ to those you are visiting.
- Pray! During your training time, ELI will send you prayer cards for our African staff, as well as pictures of the children you will be serving, so that you can begin praying for them in the months leading up to your trip. We ask you to commit to praying for these people on a weekly basis.
- Come as a servant, ready to lay down your life for those you are serving. This trip is not about you and your comfort. You will be placed in situations that will stretch you and feel uncomfortable. Whether it's eating food you don't like, working in the hot sun all day, or sharing up front at church, please be ready to sacrifice and jump into anything God calls you to.
- Host a house party once you return from your trip to share the stories of Kenya, the lessons God taught you, and the needs around the world. Challenge and encourage others to get involved in God's mission to bring hope to a dying world. ELI will send you materials to help you host this party.
- Make a two-year commitment to the ELI family. This can look different for each team member. It can be a two-year financial commitment to support a ministry God puts on your heart during your time in Africa, a commitment to pray weekly for the ministry of ELI and the people of Africa, or any other commitment God leads you to. After spending time with ELI in Africa, you are now part of our family and we want you to stay connected as a vital family member in the coming months and years.
- Continue to seek God's specific call on your life to help fulfill His global purpose. Commit to listening to His voice and direction to the specific role you are to play in bringing God's hope to the lost and suffering. Whether you're called to be a long term go-er, a sender, a giver, an intercessor, a speaker, or a mobilizer, you are called to play your part. Whatever your specific role, commit to living it out in love and obedience once you return to the States.
If you are interested in serving with ELI, please fill out the Internship Application Form and email it to katierystrom@empoweringlives.org. Once our staff receives your form, we will contact you and begin to pray together about when and how God might want to partner you with our ministry.