Copied from "Adventures in 2012". Written 5/6/2012-
I have now been living in Louisville for a week. I came to Louisville for a summer internship with Team Expansion (www.teamexpansion.org). I will be living in Louisville for the next 13 weeks and working as the event coordinator for the organization.
So, how did I get here? I first learned about Team Expansion last July. I was actually at my grandfather's celebration of life ceremony when I met a man and woman (Dana and Chris) who work with Team Expansion. I was talking with Dana at the lunch after the service. He told me about Team Expansion and what they do. I was excited to hear about this church planting agency because I have a big love for overseas missions. I told him that I had been searching for an event planning internship and he said they had been praying for an event coordinator for a couple of years and told me to go online and fill out a profile on Team Expansion's website. So a couple of days later, I filled out a profile online. I wasn't sure if anything would come from it or not, but a week later I was on the phone with Emily from Team Expansion doing a telephone interview. A few weeks after that, I was filling out a full application and turning in references, etc. At first I thought the whole process was going a bit too fast. They wanted applications in by the end of November and training would be at the beginning of January if I were to be accepted. That wouldn't even give me a real chance to apply for any other internships. So I put it to prayer and trusted God to lead me to the right place. At the beginning of January of this year, I arrived at Emerald Hills (Team Expansion's Louisville office) along with 10-15 other college students for summer internship training. I was still a bit unsure how I felt about it when I arrived, but after 1 day I knew that I was in the right place. I fell in love with Team Expansion right away. We spent that week of training learning about what the Bible has to say about missions and God's love for his people and about Team Expansion's mission and vision. I was surrounded by people who love the Lord and are woking for his kingdom. I went home after that training excited how God would use the next few months to prepare me for the internship.
I have now completed one 40-hour work week with Team Expansion. I arrived in Louisville Sunday night and was greeted by my amazing host family (I'll write more about them later). My first day in the office was Monday. I arrived at the office early Monday morning. I started the day with breakfast with the new Launch candidates (men and women who want to do missions full time came in for their first day of classes) then we started the work day with prayer (something everyone in the office does together every morning at 9:10!) After prayer, my supervisor Tara showed me to my cubicle and my work started. I spent most of my first day with the IT guy, Greg. He helped me set up my multiple accounts online and made me make up ridiculous passwords. Luckily, he's a very nice, very patient guy and has spent much of his time this week helping me log in to accounts and remember my passwords (I bet he just loves that my cubicle is right outside his office). My whole first week was full of meeting new people, learning new things, and coming up with goals and projects for my 14-week internship.
Team Expansion currently does not have one person coordinating events so I am taking over most of the event coordination for the summer. My four main projects are planning a 2-week training in August (Jonathan Training), preparing for the pre-feild orientation for the summer interns coming later this month, preparing materials and working at NACC in Orlando in July, and planning a 5k that will take place at Emerald Hills this fall. At first Tara and I were a bit unsure if we would find enough projects for me this summer, but we quickly found that wouldn't be problem at all. I managed to keep busy all week and will continue to be busy with work this summer. Many phone calls need to be made and many emails need to be sent. I will have to shop for and prepare 10 meals for 20 new trainees coming in and just a couple weeks, I need to find housing for 20-30 people coming in August, I will need to attend planning meetings, etc. I am trying not to get overwhelmed and use this experience to learn and grow.
It has been great to be here so far. I love Team Expansion and the people in the office. Everyone has been very friendly so far. During my first week, many people in the office came up to me and offered to help with anything I may need this summer. I feel happy and comfortable at work and am actually excited to go back tomorrow (I haven't had many jobs like that ;) ) I know there will be times when I am worn out and exhausted, but I am blessed to be working with such great people. And it is so exciting to meet people who have lived and/or are going to live overseas and plant churches. I have a great opportunity to learn about what is going on all around the world. I am excited to see how God uses my time here.
So, how did I get here? I first learned about Team Expansion last July. I was actually at my grandfather's celebration of life ceremony when I met a man and woman (Dana and Chris) who work with Team Expansion. I was talking with Dana at the lunch after the service. He told me about Team Expansion and what they do. I was excited to hear about this church planting agency because I have a big love for overseas missions. I told him that I had been searching for an event planning internship and he said they had been praying for an event coordinator for a couple of years and told me to go online and fill out a profile on Team Expansion's website. So a couple of days later, I filled out a profile online. I wasn't sure if anything would come from it or not, but a week later I was on the phone with Emily from Team Expansion doing a telephone interview. A few weeks after that, I was filling out a full application and turning in references, etc. At first I thought the whole process was going a bit too fast. They wanted applications in by the end of November and training would be at the beginning of January if I were to be accepted. That wouldn't even give me a real chance to apply for any other internships. So I put it to prayer and trusted God to lead me to the right place. At the beginning of January of this year, I arrived at Emerald Hills (Team Expansion's Louisville office) along with 10-15 other college students for summer internship training. I was still a bit unsure how I felt about it when I arrived, but after 1 day I knew that I was in the right place. I fell in love with Team Expansion right away. We spent that week of training learning about what the Bible has to say about missions and God's love for his people and about Team Expansion's mission and vision. I was surrounded by people who love the Lord and are woking for his kingdom. I went home after that training excited how God would use the next few months to prepare me for the internship.
I have now completed one 40-hour work week with Team Expansion. I arrived in Louisville Sunday night and was greeted by my amazing host family (I'll write more about them later). My first day in the office was Monday. I arrived at the office early Monday morning. I started the day with breakfast with the new Launch candidates (men and women who want to do missions full time came in for their first day of classes) then we started the work day with prayer (something everyone in the office does together every morning at 9:10!) After prayer, my supervisor Tara showed me to my cubicle and my work started. I spent most of my first day with the IT guy, Greg. He helped me set up my multiple accounts online and made me make up ridiculous passwords. Luckily, he's a very nice, very patient guy and has spent much of his time this week helping me log in to accounts and remember my passwords (I bet he just loves that my cubicle is right outside his office). My whole first week was full of meeting new people, learning new things, and coming up with goals and projects for my 14-week internship.Team Expansion currently does not have one person coordinating events so I am taking over most of the event coordination for the summer. My four main projects are planning a 2-week training in August (Jonathan Training), preparing for the pre-feild orientation for the summer interns coming later this month, preparing materials and working at NACC in Orlando in July, and planning a 5k that will take place at Emerald Hills this fall. At first Tara and I were a bit unsure if we would find enough projects for me this summer, but we quickly found that wouldn't be problem at all. I managed to keep busy all week and will continue to be busy with work this summer. Many phone calls need to be made and many emails need to be sent. I will have to shop for and prepare 10 meals for 20 new trainees coming in and just a couple weeks, I need to find housing for 20-30 people coming in August, I will need to attend planning meetings, etc. I am trying not to get overwhelmed and use this experience to learn and grow.
It has been great to be here so far. I love Team Expansion and the people in the office. Everyone has been very friendly so far. During my first week, many people in the office came up to me and offered to help with anything I may need this summer. I feel happy and comfortable at work and am actually excited to go back tomorrow (I haven't had many jobs like that ;) ) I know there will be times when I am worn out and exhausted, but I am blessed to be working with such great people. And it is so exciting to meet people who have lived and/or are going to live overseas and plant churches. I have a great opportunity to learn about what is going on all around the world. I am excited to see how God uses my time here.
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