Samaritan's Purse

Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Internship

August - December 2016 • Tacloban, Tacloban

What I liked

I loved my time working with Samaritan's Purse in the Philippines. I loved the fact that over 90% of my coworkers were Filipino nationals and that I lived in the community them. It was a truly integrated experience that provided the right combination of structure and flexibility for an internship.

What I wish was different

You spend about 10 days in Boone, NC before you are sent to your location and I think that was a little long.

Advice

Take advantage of any an all opportunities to be involved in the community you find yourself in.

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International Apprentice

July 2020 • Boone, NC

What I liked

I love the way that so much in the Apprentice Program is done with excellence and for the glory of God. It is such a unique opportunity to network with future colleagues and senior management within the organization, learn about the traits that will make you more successful and more like Christ at Samaritan's Purse and in life, and take those lessons beyond the classroom to high pressure simulated experiences where your ability to demonstrated fruits of the spirit no matter the circumstances will be tested. I love the high rigor and excitement of the Apprentice Program, and am so thankful for the way Samaritan's Purse is investing in young professionals like me to ultimately go serve on the field long-term.

What I wish was different

I wish that I had more control over my international placement! Being a part of the apprentice program, however, means being willing to sacrifice your personal desires and ambitions for the needs of the field and the organization as whole. It involves putting the needs of others higher than your individual preferences. While I crave control in my life, and while the staff do their best to hear and take into account your desires, the decision is not up to you at the end of the day and so you have to practice trusting the Lord and his plans for your placement and your life.

Advice

Learn from the people around you! The apprentice program is filled with high caliber people, including both the apprentices and the staff. It could be so easy to try to compete with others, or compare your weaknesses to their strengths. I highly encourage you, however, to delight in the successes, talents and unique perspectives that others bring from the table, and to apply those to your life to become a better version of yourself and a better imitator of Jesus.

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OCC International Volunteer Relations Intern

May - August 2018 • Boone, NC

What I liked

Samaritan’s Purse is truly a Christ centered organization. Every day begins with a company wide devotional and prayer time. At the heart of every project is to share the gospel and elevate the name of Christ above everything else. Great leadership and godly leaders who pour into you as a young professional and brother/ sister in Christ. During the internship they invested plenty of time and resources into our professional development, gave us experience working on major projects and presenting them before the Vice President and other departmental leaders. I was given the opportunity to travel abroad for an international conference with Christian leaders from 35 countries. My biggest highlight was working on a project to help get get the gospel to an unreached people group in the 10/40 window. It was a blessing to get solid work experience in my field while also making a real life impact by getting the gospel to some of the least reached places on earth

What I wish was different

I personally would have enjoyed a position in one of the international field offices but Boone is still a great place to spend the summer, especially for outdoor enthusiasts

Advice

I recommend you apply early and respond quickly as they literally get thousands of applicants. If you get selected for the internship, consider it a trial period between you and the organization. If you do well and stand out, they will want to keep you around and may follow up with a job offer. You should network with as many people as you can while you are there, they are amazing people who will readily pour into you with biblical wisdom or career guidance.

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WASH Intern

September 2019 - May 2020 • Yangon, Yangon

What I liked

From the hiring process to debrief session, HR had been superb with helping me to understand everything and that they are always there to help. The country offices were fantastic hosts, teachers, and friends. I learned more than just being a good intern, but more about how to serve like Jesus. SP works with professionalism, humility, and Christ=centeredness.

What I wish was different

I had to leave the country abruptly because of the pandemic. I wish I could have had more time with the team and community there.

Advice

Get engaged with the community. It's easy to think that 'Work' is the most important part of your internship experience, but I learned that investing in and learning about 'People' is the more important. Learn about their culture, personal stories, testimonies, and etc. It's a good chance to learn about the Real Kingdom of God, not my version of the Kingdom of God.

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International Apprentice

July 2020 • Boone, NC

What I liked

Being part of the Apprentice program has been such a life-changing season of growth and learning in my career as an employee of Samaritan's Purse. My favorite part of the Apprentice program, and the ministry as a whole, is their priority of sharing the Gospel. The Apprentice program is an amazing opportunity to grow deeper in understanding of all areas of ministry within Samaritan's Purse, and grow in your calling for international work. I love the opportunities to connect with leaders in the organization, and hear from their wisdom and experience. Another one of my favorite parts of the Apprentice program has been the other Apprentices I've gotten to work and grow with throughout the program.

What I wish was different

I can't say that there is anything I wish had been different. The program is extremely well organized and offers amazing opportunities for growth, learning, and future employment opportunities.

Advice

One piece of advice I would share about my experience is making sure to build intentional connections with Samaritan's Purse staff around you. If you're looking to apply to a job, internship, or the Apprentice program, I would make a great effort to connect with Samaritan's Purse recruiters when they are visiting on your college campus. Making face-to-face connections, and intentional contact with Samaritan's Purse recruiters will help them understand and know you better and how you can fit well within the ministry.

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Biomedical Engineering Intern

May 2019 - August 2020 • North Wilkesboro, NC

What I liked

My internship with Samaritan's Purse was not only an internship where I grew in my technical skill, but I grew spiritually. Throughout my time on both the Boon and North Wilkesboro campuses I met so many amazing people and grew to love this amazing community that would do anything to provide love to those around the world. This company is truly something special. The focus on the outside world rather than on their own company needs is something very seldom seen in a company this large.

What I wish was different

I wish I would've had more time to experience the depth if the community at Samaritan's Purse.

Advice

Be Flexible!! Samaritan's Purse will use you where you are needed the most. Even if it is not necessarily your forte. For example during my time at SP I saw people from donor ministries working alongside the projects department to help set up tents. The donor ministries department was having a slow day, and the projects department could use some extra help. This is a common occurrence around Samaritan's Purse and fits in well with what they do around the world. If they see need they help.

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Communications Intern

August - December 2019 • Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

What I liked

The internship offered a great opportunity to be thrust into unfamiliar places, but with the support of an incredibly professional organization utterly devoted to serving others with the love of Jesus. It was a distinct opportunity to get out of my comfort zone and have a go at tasks I'd never tried, engage with a whole new culture - whether through food, sport or photography - and enjoy being part of a team who were so friendly and supportive! The increasing independence and responsibility was something I was very grateful for, and left me ready for a greater challenge at the end of the internship.

What I wish was different

Living for four months in a whole new place meant I felt most settled when I was just about to finish! So staying longer may have been an improvement, but I was very grateful for the opportunity to find community within that time.

Advice

Get stuck in! It quickly becomes apparent that such an internship is a very unique time/place to be in, so whilst knowing when to rest/say no is important, I think it's all the more important to throw yourself into the new opportunities that abound, not only does it lean you into greater dependence on God, but through it I ended up staying 'out in the field' for a couple of weeks, running a 10K and visiting an amazing jazz bar!

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Product Developer Intern

June - August 2021 • Boone, NC

What I liked

My team was incredible and offered useful mentorship opportunities. I was assigned legitimate tasks I was personally interested in and grew a lot in my skills in just four months. The internship program as a whole was also so much fun. There were about forty other interns on site and we'd often have plans each day after work and over the weekends.

What I wish was different

I wish I was placed in a house closer to the site. But housing was paid for so there is little to complain about.

Advice

Come in knowing what you want to grow in. The team will give you tasks based on what you're passionate about and you should take advantage of this!

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Social Media Intern

May - August 2021 • Boone, NC

What I liked

What I wish was different

Advice

Get lunch with people in other departments! Take initiative to get to know those in the workplace. You can scroll through a company's website all day long, but you'll truly learn about the culture when you learn about the values of the individuals who are there.

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