GO InterNational offers several ways to get involved in missions, such as short term mission trips and providing a place where people can pursue their passion to fulfill the Great Commission.  However, there is one program aimed specifically at young adults, the GO Institute for International Leadership.  This program allows college students to intern at GO and get experience on the mission field or in other places God might be calling them to do.  In fact, according to Sr.Vice President, Ron Houp, GO internships offer a lot of flexibility, and can be tailored to meet the students needs.  Becky Burgess, who recently went on a mission trip to Mozambique with the GO Institute experienced a confirmation of her calling and the trip helped prepare her to be a full-time missionary.

While in Mozambique, Becky had many different roles, including being involved in evangelism and outreach.  "I stayed at a children's home, so I ministered to the children and spent time getting to know them and playing with them.  We also helped build a house for missionaries and helped at a local church," Becky said.  However Becky's main purpose for going to Mozambique was to attend a mission school that was located there. "My focus was to learn as much as I could from all the amazing speakers that came in," Becky said.  "There were leaders from 21 different countries that came to speak at the school."  When Becky was not in the classroom, she got to know the local people and ministered to them.  "I got to know some of the ladies that went to the church and visited their homes.  On Fridays I helped out with the village feeding program where we would teach and feed the village children.  Then on the weekend I would do things like pass out bread and minister to the people living in the dump or in other villages," Becky explained.

            Becky spent most of her time in Pema, Mozambique.  She explained that this part of the country is beautiful but so remote that not many tourist's travel there.  Despite the area's beauty, Mozambique is an extremely poor country.  Recently it was rated as the poorest country in the world.  "The people live on almost nothing, and they are so resourceful," Becky said.  Because people live on very little, they live a slower-paced life.  "The people had a completely different mindset and perspective," Becky explained.  "They are more people oriented, not time oriented like the western culture.  For example, church did not start at a specific time.  It started whenever the music started."

Because of the style of worship, Becky found new meaning in worshipping.  "I learned that it does not matter if I'm in a terrible mood or if I cannot understand the words to the song or even if the song is just the same two words repeated for ten minutes, God is still worthy of our praise," Becky said.  "In Mozambique was the first time that I ever worshiped God only to please God, not because other people were worshipping, not because I liked the music, and not because I was in a worshipful mood."

She also learned more about God's presence.  "I learned that the supernatural is always present. What we do in the natural impacts the supernatural. Once we realize this, with God we can work in the supernatural and see it in our everyday lives," Becky explained.

Becky's mission trip did not turn out exactly how she thought.  "Instead of this trip being a mountain top experience, it was a launching pad. I saw another side to the physical and the spiritual world," Becky said. "I want to take the things I've learned and use them. I have always felt called to spread the gospel by teaching in a poor country and this trip solidified that goal. I learned that each Christian has so much untapped potential. I want to tap into this potential as much as possible and help everyone else that I can do the same."

Through the GO Institute for International Leadership, Becky was able to learn and experience many things, and ultimately she feels God has confirmed His calling for her life.  It is GO InterNational's hope that God will continue using the Institute as a tool to help young people discover their calling and passion.  If you would like to be a part of this mission, contact them at info@gointernational.org. The GO Institute also needs your prayer and financial support.

Story by Whitney Ward, GO Institute Intern