As The Bucket Ministry’s summer interns prepare to return to school, read about their experiences in this post.
Emma Aly – Intern
If there is one thing I have learned from my time with The Bucket Ministry, it is to not be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. I know that is extremely cliché. Even as I write this, I cringe a little. Regardless, it is obviously easier said than done, but it has been extremely true for me this summer.
Every bit of being a part of this ministry felt uncertain. I would spend the whole summer away from my family. I would move almost 700 miles away from home to a city I had not visited since I was a kid, where I only had two friends. I would drive an hour or more across one of the largest cities in the country to get to TBM and then drive back across after work.
More than just my environment, I was unsure of the work I was going to be doing. I felt fairly confident in my ability in the physical work, but I did not know my capabilities in a mission-oriented organization. I had been a Christian my entire life, but I still did not feel confident in my ability to share the Gospel or be the light that I knew God wanted me to be. I did not know how my gifts and talents could fit into this ministry.
Early on in my time with TBM, Operations Missions Coordinator Karen Brown told me about how she was not sure how her skills could be used for God’s kingdom, but she quickly found the answer with TBM. I remember hearing that and thinking, “Oh, that’s great, but I don’t know where my skills could work for God.” Similar to Karen, my answer quickly came with TBM.
My fears of lack of knowledge or inability to share God’s love were quickly quelled with my mission trip to Honduras. Having never been on a mission trip like this, I did not know what to expect and did not think I was capable of sharing the Gospel. I quickly realized that sharing the Gospel cannot be about worrying about what people will think of you. Sharing the Gospel is giving others knowledge that can save their souls. This knowledge can alter the course of their lives and lead them to eternal life with God, and this is not something to be taken lightly. Telling one person the good news can multiply many times over if they believe and share their faith, bringing countless lives to God. This realization alone encouraged me to not be as scared to share with others the greatness of God.
Am I now perfect at sharing the Gospel everyday? No, far from it, but I feel like I now better understand just how important it is. You may think this is a simple realization, and yes, I have been taught this my whole life, but going into a new place with the specific goal of sharing the Gospel, helped me realize how important it is to share with everyone we come in contact with.
God has awesome power, and He has given us many gifts to use for His glory. My time with TBM has helped me learn to use those gifts and discover new ones that I can use to glorify Him and help others. So, do not be afraid to search for a place that you can use the gifts God has given you. Use your skills and goals in a way that glorifies God.
Grace Dowling – Intern
As Dr. Seuss said, “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” Many people know it, but saying it is much easier than doing it. As my internship draws to a close, I have been reflecting on all that has happened over the past two months.
Things that I never thought would happen to me have, and all happened by the power of God. Everything The Bucket Ministry does is a mission for God, ordained by God. Therefore, as I am leaving this mission field, I am feeling similarities to when I got back from Honduras.
When I got back from Honduras, I was so mad at Americans because of all the things we take advantage of, but as I sat in a sermon a few weeks ago, the pastor said something that really has stuck with me. “How can we judge non-Christians about moral things when they don’t share the same morals as we do?”
When getting back from a mission field, it’s hard to not get angry at others who complain about not having something as trivial as air conditioning. But, how are they supposed to know what you have just seen, what you have just experienced?
So, what I have learned is, instead of jumping to conclusions and getting mad, it’s better to stop, wait, and think before you speak. Speak with love and compassion towards those who have made you angry because 1 John 4:19 says, “We love because he first loved us.” Lastly, never forget to share the experience with them. Tell them what you saw. Maybe then, they will understand what you are experiencing.
