SEND International

Missionary Intern

May - July 2018 • Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture

What I liked

I enjoyed getting firsthand experience in ministering to Japanese children, neighbors, and mothers with the Edwards' gentle oversight and guidance. There was lots of laughter, tons of encouragement and constructive criticism, and I absolutely loved getting to live and participate in so much prayer and trust in God. We traveled all around Sendai, to neighboring cities, and even outside of Miyagi to other prefectures to learn from other missionaries. SEND's atmosphere can be described as one big family and I loved it! I landed in Japan nervous and unsure, but left Japan a stronger and more confident person.

What I wish was different

I wish I had gotten more instruction and practice with skills needed for daily life in Japan. While I arrived in Japan alone and studied at a language school for two weeks prior to starting my internship, and thus figured out some things by myself, it would have been helpful to have had more instruction/guidance in that area to help me continue to grow in independence. I also wish I had been instructed more completely on how to give gifts well, because it was a bit awkward at one point.

Advice

Learn as much Japanese as you can before you go! I was blessed to have reached a pre-intermediate level and therefore managed to make it even by myself for a time. Basically, the more you know before you go, the further along you can start with your Japanese tutoring, and the easier it will be to communicate overall. It will also increase the likelihood of you staying awake listening to Japanese sermons!

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English as a Second Language (ESL) Teacher

May - August 2018 • Kiev, Kiev Oblast

What I liked

It was enjoyable and challenging coming up with lesson plans for the children I taught, using the resources I had access to. I loved the creative process it took, and collaberating with international workers.