Internship FAQs
What does an intern do?
Interns are college-aged students dedicated to ministering to Romania’s vulnerable children in the name of Christ. They are the all-time servants for the summer. They are called upon to serve the Roma children, the orphan teens, the native staff, and the short-term mission teams that come throughout the summer. The key to being an intern is being flexible… each day will be different. We need leadership in several areas: music, Bible exploration, games, crafts and other educational initiatives. No matter what age the child is, you will be ministering with your fellow interns through songs, stories, games, outdoor activities, prayer, and one-on-one time with the kids. The most important role our interns have is to share LOVE! Get ready to form some intense relationships with these kids. They will love you with everything they have, and you will do the same. Throughout the course of the summer, you will have the opportunity to do a little bit of everything.
How will the interns be supervised?
There will be a senior intern living with the interns. Program A is completely supervised by our staff. There is less supervision during Program B because they will be more specialized. So, although there will be staff available, they will not be supervised in their work.
Will anyone help us?
Some weeks will be in conjunction with short-term teams. These are church teams from America… youth groups, college students, singles, and adult teams. When a short-term team is not around, our intern team will lead the week of ministry. When a short-term team is around, our intern team facilitates their involvement and helps lead the week of ministry, filling in any gaps if necessary.
How will we know what to do?
You will have orientation with the international staff upon your arrival in Romania as well as continued direction from the Intern Coordinator.
What is the schedule like?
It is hard to describe a typical day of ministry in Romania. Our experiences vary with each new day. Our ministry to vulnerable children happens both locally and in the Roma villages approximately 30 minutes away. Summer camp takes place at a beautiful, rented camp facility about 2-3 hours away. Our days will begin early around 7:30 or 8:00am with prayer, devotions, and breakfast. They will end after dinner with a short debrief time. Other weeks may involve leading vacation Bible school in Roma communities or assisting mission teams with construction projects.
How much does it cost?
The internship cost is “Land + (plus) Airfare” and Pathway to Joy handles all the details of your overseas travel. Land cost includes all lodging, meals, cultural events, translators, in-country transportation, visas, bottled water for drinking and brushing your teeth, and all orientation expenses. Roundtrip international airfare is arranged for each intern based on flying from your hometown to Budapest, Hungary with ground transportation included by van or bus to Oradea, Romania. Interns will work with our Intern coordinator to confirm cost and itinerary. Moreover, any airfare/itinerary deviations must be approved by the Intern Coordinator. Most interns raise support and have found this to be another blessing of going as they experience God’s provision through the Body of Christ. Information on raising support will be given after the selection of interns is announced.
What do I do now?
Application: Fill it out and mail or email it to our office by the deadline. Download an application here
Passport:
If you do not already have a passport, you can leave that portion blank on the application and wait until after selection confirmation to obtain a passport (it usually takes 6-8 weeks).
Interviews:
We will call you to schedule an interview once your application is received. Selection of interns will be announced in mid-March, and communication concerning internship details will begin at that point.
Where will the interns be living?
They will be living in an apartment within a close proximity to the Intern coordinator and several of our staff members.
How will the interns be supervised?
There will be a senior intern living with the interns. Program A is completely supervised by our staff. There is less supervision during Program B because they will be more specialized. So, although there will be staff available, they will not be supervised in their work.
How will the interns get around the city?
While a team is in town the interns will be traveling with the team. 80% of the time the interns will carpool with the staff, but there may be situation where they will have to take the local tram system. The tram system is very safe and easy to use with the monthly pass.
How do interns communicate with family and friends in the States?
The interns will have internet in their apartment so they can use phone apps to call home.
What happens if an intern needs medical care?
PTJM has connection to various local clinics and hospitals to address any medical needs. Please be sure to purchase world insurance to cover any major emergencies. Good Neighbor Insurance (www.gninsurance.com) is really good.