Dear Friends and Family,
As most of you know, I was blessed with the opportunity to go to Rwanda, Tanzania, and Burundi for a two-month summer internship with EFM, for more training and experience. I was part of a small team of others my age who are also exploring and preparing to serve as career missionaries in the future. EFM missionaries, Brad and Chelsea Carpenter, were my supervisors and mentors.
This internship took place in June and July 2025 and included:
- 1 Week: The EFM Future Missionary Retreat in Colorado. (Last week of May)
- 5 Weeks: Time in Rwanda including:
- Culture bonding and language learning
- Home stays with Rwandan families
- Exposure/training in whole-life discipleship and its success in EFC-Rwanda
- Learning about the lifestyle of the missionary family on the field
- 10 Days: Immersion into the dorms and student experience at the East Africa School of Missions in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. (EFM calls it the missions training “boot camp.”)
- 2 Weeks: Time in Burundi; joining a student short-term missions team coming from Mid America Yearly Meeting
- Engaging with the church at Burundi youth camp and other opportunities
- Learning about the Burundi Friends Church history and the great example of their multiplication movement.
- For more information click aquí.
The most valuable part of this internship, for me, was to be able to see one example of what it looks like to be missionaries on the field. I had read many books about being a missionary, but being part of the Carpenters’ daily life gave me more confidence in being able to live as a missionary myself.
My next steps will include the Ecuador Luke 10 Prayer Trip happening in October, and a year-long internship in Ecuador, as soon as the funds, visa, and other logistics allow.
I want to thank you guys for supporting me so well. I have been so blessed by all of your prayer. I know that so many people were praying for me when I broke my leg and now are praying for my discernment process as well as my upcoming steps, and I am so grateful. Prayer will continue to be so necessary!
I also want to thank you for your generous financial support. I had everything I needed for my internship. God is so good!
Thank you,
Grace Anderson
Please consider supporting my prayer trip and internship in Ecuador. I will need monthly recurring financial partners to get me through the one-year internship. You can partner with me by:
- Online: Visit the Field Intern donation page by clicking the button below. Once there, scroll down to find my name and select your gift amount. You’ll have the opportunity to indicate whether you are giving monthly or as a one-time gift.
- Credit Card: This may be given online (as stated above) or by calling the EFM office (303) 421-8100 to give your information to a live person.
- Automatic Bank Transfer: Download the form aquí and email it to Debby McElroy (EFM Bookkeeper) at debby@friendsmission.com. Please note that ACH payments are processed on the 10th or 25th of the month.
- Check: Mail a check to EFM, P.O. Box 771139, Wichita, KS 67277. Please mark your check “Erik Nilsen Field Internship Support” and note if you will be giving on a recurring basis (monthly, quarterly, etc.). Pay to the order of “EFM.”
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