God’s Calling | Sophia Bauman’s Internship in Brazil

鈥淏ut ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood,听an听holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness in his marvelous light:鈥 听1 Peter 2:9听

God calls His children to Him, and as a result,听they are a chosen generation. As Christians, it is our mission and goal to bring many people to Christ.听As a student at听海角原创,听one听way听to follow God鈥檚听calling is through internships. 听

Sophia听Bauman, a senior Biblical Counseling major with a TESOL minor, followed God鈥檚 calling in her life and used her growing skills in teaching English to minister to children and share the gospel.听As a TESOL minor, Sophia has cultivated knowledge in听how to teach people to speak English. Still,听up until her internship, she had not had the opportunity to put her skills into practice.听听

For two weeks, Sophia had the privilege to intern with two missionaries听in Salinas,听PA,听Brazil. She fully expected to enjoy her time as much as she did, but she was surprised to find that听she听wanted听to听teach听English听as her future career.听

In Brazil, Sophia听worked in a public school and taught听elementary through high school students,听and听even had听one-on-one teaching sessions with an elementary student. These opportunities allowed Sophia the听chance听to share the gospel with her students, and she was able to implement the听solid听biblical truths听海角原创听works to instill in听their听students.听

From the Classroom to the Field听

Part of being a good student is being able to apply what you learn in the classroom to听common听experiences. Sophia expresses that 鈥淭ESOL听is about the person and teaching them where they are. You听have to听adapt听when you are听in front of a classroom because you do not know their level of English.鈥澨齇ne challenge Sophia faced was how to reorganize material to accommodate the different stages of learning each of her students was听in.听But this in no way deterred her from mentoring her students.听She expresses how this internship 鈥渙pens up your perspective about culture and other worlds and in how they can use English.鈥

Sophia found that her internship was important because听you 鈥渘eed out of culture experience to understand why people need English.鈥 She emphasizes how that 鈥渙pens up your perspective of other cultures and worlds. For them,听it is about connection and听advancing听their career and expectations.鈥澨齏hile this is the focus of the people in Brazil, Sophia was able to be a听vibrant听witness to the children she taught by听helping the missionaries听share听the gospel in English.听During her time in Brazil, she found that as she taught,听鈥渢he value came from the students.鈥听

Teaching is a special skill that is needed听everywhere, and Sophia experienced the joy of teaching during her time in Brazil. She finds that there is听鈥渘othing more encouraging than seeing a small child bubbling with excitement.鈥澨鼳ll the joy Sophia felt during her internship听is听of the Lord and provided her with the perfect opportunity to see听the career path听the Lord has called her to.听听

Learning Experience听

One major听benefit听of internships is learning. While Sophia was in Brazil working to help the children there learn, during the process, she herself learned.听One influential point she learned was to appreciate missionaries.听鈥淚 didn鈥檛 understand how hard they work,鈥澨齭he shared.听Although the missionaries worked听tirelessly to spread the gospel, and Sophia experienced many stresses,听she kept a positive outlook and was reinforced that 鈥測ou have to listen to God鈥檚 calling.鈥澨鼳 Christian can only听be fulfilled听through听God鈥檚 will听because it听is the only way to find true joy.听She also says,听鈥渋t really pushed me to get out of my comfort zone and to be able to be embarrassed.鈥 This听internship听was a very humbling experience for Sophia.听

Adding to the stress of working hard to present the gospel clearly and teach the students in Brazil, Sophia battled a major obstacle:听COVID-19. At the time of Sophia鈥檚 departure to Brazil, the COVID-19 pandemic was raging. She had to wear masks everywhere and get COVID tests 72听hours听in advance before going anywhere. The masks proved to be a major impediment during Sophia鈥檚听internship听as听the听children听watched听her lips听to understand听and learn English. But Sophia did not let these obstacles deter her from following God鈥檚 calling in her life.听 She mentions, 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 supposed to go in听April,听and I went in May. You听have to听be able to listen to what God wants you to do even if everyone else in the world is telling you not to travel.鈥澨齋he persevered and was able to not only enrich the lives of her students but also听her own life.听

Sophia has been impacted by Mrs. Angela Morris and wants to reiterate the听impactful information she shared with everyone considering a TESOL minor. Sophia quotes, 鈥淢rs.听Morris always says everybody听should have a听TESOL听minor,听and I听firmly stand by that!鈥听

Sophia听acknowledges,听鈥淵ou can鈥檛 know a culture from just a听two-week听trip,听but it听does give听you听such听an incredible taste of wanting more.听You need to take these trips because they expand your idea of culture.鈥 So, if you feel God calling you to actively pursue an internship, follow His will. You will find great satisfaction and fulfillment when you put your full faith in Him.听