When asked to write this article about my experience as an intern with South America Mission, my first feelings were of panic and self doubt. Trying to put into words how God has worked in my life over the last couple of months is quite challenging, but even in this He proves Himself faithful. So trusting that He will speak through the next words you'll read, here are some things I'd like to share about serving with SAM in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

The Lord first opened the door to a relationship with SAM in August of 2003. As I was praying about my a possible future of serving as a missionary, I was searching for an opportunity to learn more about the foreign mission field and those who serve on it. I spoke with SAM about my interests and was told of a mission internship. This program allows those with a desire to serve as an overseas missionary to travel to a field to observe and be involved in the many ministries of SAM. The Lord continued opening doors until He had provided all needed funds and plans were finalized. I left January of 2004 to serve three months as an intern in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

This experience was extremely helpful in understanding the various aspects of missions and the responsibilities of a missionary. I was able to serve in and be blessed by the ministries within one of the many SAM churches, as well as the Bible Institute, aviation ministry, an MK school, and apart from SAM, a children's home and daycare. With each ministry being different, I was able to learn how they operate and observe how they reach out to serve in very unique ways.

Through all of this, building relationships with the missionaries and the Bolivian people was the most exciting. These relationships were the most significant because it was through them that the Lord showed me His love and faithfulness. He also taught me that discouragement is inevitable, it would be unrealistic for us to think otherwise, but His joy really does come with a new day (Lam. 3:23).

I think the biggest challenges of my three months were learning to trust God with His timing and to be flexible with plans. Because of the culture and the ever-changing lifestyle of a missionary, any plans made are always subject to sudden changes. This is something difficult for a fast-pace American (like myself), to accept and adjust to. But we aren't called to be flexible only with our day-to-day plans; we are to do so with God's plans as well. We often make our own future plans and later get upset when we find that God has something else in mind and according to His timing. We have to trust that He will "make known the beginning and end"(Isaiah 46:10) of each new step as He slowly and faithfully reveals His purpose for each one of us.

I believe He used my experience in Bolivia to reveal the next step of His plan for me-to pursue a ministry as a full-time missionary, while at the same time He reconfirmed the passion he placed within me to serve in missions. Not everyone who will share in this kind of experience as an intern will be call by Him in the same way, but He has a different plan for each one of us and will reveal every one in His own creative and unique way and perfect timing.

As I left for Bolivia, I prayed that He would make clear to me His calling for me to serve as an overseas missionary, and He used my time with SAM to do just that. I would recommend to anyone, who is seeking God's will in missions, to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity.

May the Lord bless you and lovingly guide you onto the next steps of His plan for you.

Because of His Grace,

Tiffany Koon