This summer, GoTEN hosted 8 interns from various parts of the country for an 8-week program at our training center in Phoenix. Interns were able to live in the refugee community, spend time serving and investing in lives at the training center, and were mentored by experienced GoTEN staff members throughout the summer. The goal behind GoTEN’s internship program is to provide young, motivated servants the opportunity to learn and grow under experienced guidance and get their first taste of cross-cultural ministry. Take a look at what one of this summer’s interns said about their experience:

This summer, while interning at GoTEN, I had several opportunities to learn, grow, and positively impact the refugee community. One particularly meaningful experience was with four families from Myanmar who lived near us. These are Muslim families who had to flee their native country of Myanmar because of their faith. The children in this community loved spending time with us, which led to us getting to know their parents as well.

As a result, a few of us started teaching English to the Rohingya refugee mothers, who stay at home to look after their young children. They have very little time and resources to learn English, so we wanted to give them the opportunity. They would come to my home, and with the help of some interns and staff, we provided them with individual English lessons. This not only facilitated language learning but also led to valuable conversations, sharing of life experiences, and the development of meaningful friendships. We also got to share stories about Jesus in a way that helped assist in English learning. This also sparked a desire in some of the children to learn these stories.

Through this experience, I learned valuable lessons about cross-cultural interactions and how to better understand people of other cultures. Teaching English created a platform for meaningful interaction and is something I believe I will use in the future to reach other people. This experience not only empowered the refugees with language skills but also allowed me to better understand God and his nature, which extends across all cultures and people groups. And I got to see the way that God cares for these people and is reaching Muslims with His truth.

Many other interns shared similar experiences. GoTEN is so excited about the growth of the internship program and hopes it continues to develop as a training ground for the harvest field’s next workers! 

Applications for internships throughout 2025 are already open. If you, or someone you know, is interested in cross-cultural ministry and looking for a place to start, consider an 8-week experience with GoTEN in Phoenix.