Lifetime Learner

            I got home from the beach on Monday night and stared at my room that looked like a natural disaster had hit it. All that stuff had to packed up so that I could leave home for another two months. It was definitely a bittersweet feeling. I had just gotten home a week ago and realized how much I missed it. I missed my family and I missed my friends and I haven’t even gotten a chance to see my two best friends yet. My heart yearned to stay home where it was comfortable. Where I knew I would be wanted. And also where I knew I would be doing pretty much nothing if I stayed. 

            So, I packed up my bags and got ready to leave the following morning. My mom and I hit the road and endured the eight hour drive to North Carolina together. We pulled in down a beautiful road where we found TWR. The Lodge that they provide is very comfortable and looks like a mini hotel room and we are provided with a nice kitchen and living space. Plus, it’s nice being directly across from the office. More time to sleep when work is only one minute away! Of course, there is only one tiny closet and barely any drawers so it was quite difficult managing where to put all of both my and my roommate’s clothing. Luckily, I’m used to throwing my clothes all over the place anyway. 

            I will be living with four other girls and one other guy (I always find myself in extreme majority girl groups… haha) and we will all be interning for different people. There will be one other girl working in my department which is Marketing and Communications (MarCom). She will be working with primarily Social Media and I will be working primarily with Journalism. 

            We all settled in on Tuesday and got to know one another and also got to know two other guys and one other girl who are all interning with TWR but will be in different counties. It is all very exciting! So be sure to include them in your prayers while praying for the team.

            Wednesday started bright and early at 8am for Orientation. Yes, we had to dress in business casual attire. Something that is quite new for me. In fact, Wednesday was the first time I had ever put on makeup by myself on a normal day. I know, crazy, right? I guess I’ll get used to dressing like an adult.

            Orientation was definitely long, but not quite so grueling. In fact, it truly opened my eyes to how amazing this ministry is and how awesome radio can be as a ministry to closed countries. From their history to how they continue to expand and impact more and more people, you can see God’s hand working in each and every part. I also love how they really want to make all the interns feel included in the work and purpose in sharing the Gospel with all peoples.

            One goal of this ministry for their interns is they want each and every one of us to grow in their relationship with Christ. They are excited for the work and skills we will be able to output while here, but if we feel further from Christ then we did in the beginning, then they have failed in their job. I am so encouraged by this and so excited to see how God uses them to work in our lives.  

            So far, they have challenged me to think and grow and I haven’t even started working yet! They talked about how we are ambassadors not only in our outward actions, but in our private lives as well. Our personal relationship with Christ reflects in everything we do. We should be an overflow to what God is pouring into us. We shouldn’t have to strive to have love flow out of us because it should already be so full in us that it is just overflowing onto others.

            We also need to keep our eyes open to everything happening around us and each opportunity that Christ gives us each day to share His love. I know how oblivious I can be and I am trying to be able to be more observant to the world around me and being able to see those in need and acting on it. This also ties in to praying earnestly and never underestimating the power and importance of prayers. Prayer is so easily forgotten and I don’t know why when it is obviously so powerful. I hear so many stories that seem impossible until they pray and then God opens up so many doors. He really does hear us.

            It is also so important not to get distracted. Distractions come in so many ways in things that aren’t bad! Distractions can come in community, worship, expectations, time, ourselves… I know I can get distracted so easily especially by these things and I forget what should be of utmost importance. Of course I need to keep up these things, but I cannot let them replace what I am here for.

            I loved a couple other things that they mentioned such as let yourself be surprised and remember adventure. Go in God’s power and allow Him to use you. Return with joy and continue to be a willing participant in God’s work wherever you are. So many amazing statements that I can go on and on about (but I will save you the trouble to those that are still reading this far… haha). 

            Another thing that was mentioned that really resonated with me was having a kingdom perspective. Jesus will return and we are a part of that process by attempting to reach all peoples. Our goal and final destination where we will spend eternity is heaven or hell and that is a perspective we need not forget.

            I appreciate so much that their primary goal is to help us grow spiritually. This will be a different and challenging summer and I am nervous to begin on Monday, but I am excited and I am so glad I have five other wonderful interns here to share it with. I hope and pray I will serve God and love others to the best of my ability! 

           

            Orientation ended on Thursday which mostly consisted of reading their GPP and getting details all squared away. Lauren Libby is the president of TWR and we had the opportunity to join the staff meeting and a webinar with him and Tripp (the web guru) and I loved the things he had to say about the ministry and life in general. Obviously, I won’t talk to you about everything he said, but one thing he said in the meeting that stuck with me was to be a lifelong learner. It’s not something that ends in school or work or retirement. His mother is 98 years old and she is still learning.

            God created this vast world with so much diversity in nature and culture it is literally impossible to know everything about the world. 

            Never stop asking questions.

            Never stop learning people’s stories.

            Never stop staring at the stars. 

            On a lighter note, a couple of us went with Ben (IT guru) and his wife to play volleyball and we ended up playing with some other guys at the park and it was so much fun! I hit the ball over the net a few times. ;) It’s weird not to have any homework so I have plenty of free time at night if any of you want to contact me through phone, skype, or message me or whatever! I don’t know what I’m going to do with myself. Also, if you would like to send me anything in the mail my address is: 

Rachel Pearson
Trans World Radio
300 Gregson Dr. 
Cary, NC 27512

            Speaking of which, the last thing I want to say is thank you. Thank you to all who are supporting me financially as well as through prayer. I literally would not be here without you. God has opened my eyes to the importance of raising support and what a ministry it provides for others. Thank you for partnering with me. I say this with sincerity, you are all my partners. Because of that, you are a huge part of this ministry and you are a part of this internship this summer. I will try and update this blog every week to let you know what’s been going on. Thank you, thank you, thank you for making this possible. You have truly made a difference.