Overview of the Summer Internship Program

By Anyra Cano

Fellowship Southwest kicks off a new pilot program this summer to invite college and graduate students to 1—Serve alongside our experienced partners who work arduously to provide hospitality and welcome to migrants. 2— Learn about immigration policy and advocacy. 3—Empower new networks of students to be advocates, storytellers, and witnesses of Fellowship Southwest's work of compassion and justice.

At the end of May, we welcomed our first cohort of interns in San Antonio for orientation, who will serve for five weeks. Two are serving in Brownsville, with Iglesia Bautista West Brownsville, and two with Primera Iglesia Bautista Piedras Negras in Piedras Negras, Mexico. Each intern has already impacted our ministry with the gifts, talents, networks, and willingness they bring to Fellowship Southwest. You can see what they are doing through our social media and newsletters. They will be sharing videos, testimonies, stories and blogs. You will hear from Sejana Yoo in today's newsletter.

Pastor Carlos said about the interns, "They are doing excellent. Wow. I'm very impressed. They do everything. I mean everything." Pastor Israel shares, "The interns are providing the children and youth with something to do during the day, such as bible studies, games, and activities that keep them busy as their families wait for their CBP appointments. Can they stay longer?"

Please keep Sejana, Maria, Christina, and Zoe in your prayers. We know that they are making an impact in their assigned places of service and at home, where their communities are excited to learn about their experiences.

Generous donors make programs like these possible; thank you for partnering with us.

An Intern’s Reflection: TWO of Four

Holy Spirit, Is That You?

By Christina Banchs-McRae

My teammate and I prepared an adult Bible study for the following day at the kitchen table. After some discussion, we settled on Acts 2: 1-13 where the Holy Spirit came down on a group of followers gathered to worship in what will become known as Pentecost. The story of Pentecost is dear to me for many reasons; I announced the pregnancy of both my children on this special Sunday, it normally falls on or around my birthday, and frankly, I think the Holy Spirit is not given enough credit, so I appreciate the stories that feature Her! As we sit, I tell Zoe I am most interested in hearing the story of a quiet, young Honduran couple. The wife was advanced in her pregnancy, and they had been at the migrant center for about a week. They were some of the few faces I saw regularly since they did not yet have an appointment to cross over to the United States.

The next morning, to my delight, they attended the adult session! The Bible study, which was partially praise and worship and half study of the Word, was fruitful. Just like the church in Acts, we were disciples together in one place to worship and learn about God. Many people shared their thoughts about what the passage meant to them or what caught their eye within the text. However, during this reading within the context of where I was and who I was with, what struck me most was this: Here I am in Mexico speaking in a foreign tongue in an attempt to share the love and word of God with people from various parts of the world. I would hardly describe myself as the evangelizing type; however, when we finished, I encouraged people to take a copy of the Nuevo Testamento we used during our study. It is the first time in my life I handed out a Bible. One man, who had an appointment the next day, sought assurance that the book would be allowed to go with him as he crossed. I told him it would most certainly be permitted; it served as a somber reminder of the persecution of early Christians.

Just before everyone gets up to leave, I announce that Zoe and I are interested in hearing any stories people feel comfortable sharing about their journey. People get up and begin to exit the church, shuffling back outside to the heat of the day. However, the Honduran husband points to himself and his wife, indicating they wanted to stay and speak with us. I could hardly believe it; the exact people I wanted to hear from! Most Christians know the story of Pentecost; although, on this day, the lesson was really for me. I wanted to “declare the wonders of God in [their] own tongues”  (Acts 2:11b) but the Spirit had other plans in store. I was eager to “receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2: 28) but, as God does, it was not in the way I expected. For me, this gift of the Spirit came in the form of a modern-day José and María.

As they share their tale full of hardships and struggles, the most incredible part of their story was their immense faith in God. It did not matter that it took months of travel and suffering to get to this point because they knew that through it all, God was taking care of them. God provided. The money they lost, the pain they endured, and the challenges they would face in the future were insignificant to the life, hope, and peace they gained through Christ. Through their testimonies, the Spirit reminded me that come what may, God is, was and always will be by my side. We see them again on Sunday morning and during the altar call, they both accepted Jesus into their hearts. Truthfully, I believe he was already there.