Northland International University

Jenna is one of five students participating in Northland’s new GO Study Abroad program. She has flown just about as far south as she could go for a semester of intense training and hands-on ministry. Find out more about GO Study Abroad here.

Jenna Kurtz, Senior Cross-Cultural Education major
Temuco, Chile

This past week was pretty full toward the end. I had Monday through Wednesday to focus on school with the usual Tuesday tutoring time and Wednesday prayer meetings. On Thursday, the GMSA (Gospel Mission of South America) missionaries held their monthly prayer meeting/dinner at Camp Lican, so we left mid-morning to attend that. It was a sweet time of fellowship. During the course of the afternoon, the conversation turned to things ministry related/mission related. It was eye-opening to listen to the issues and changes these missionaries are burdened about and to learn more about how mission boards work and how ministries are organized here in Chile. 

On Friday, I traveled with a group of ladies to Chillan. There, we attended a ladies retreat for pastors’ wives, missionaries, and church workers. I had the opportunity to listen to these ladies share about the ministry, the struggles that come with it, and ways the Lord has shown Himself faithful. I don't think I can adequately describe the impact that it made on my life. One of the sessions I appreciated the most was a question-and-answer session with a board of four pastors’ wives from different age groups. The older, seasoned pastors wives’ would tear up when sharing about trials and struggles the Lord had brought them through, and the younger ones would tear up when they talked about their trust in God during times when they felt inadequate for the tasks placed before them. It opened my eyes to the weight that full-time ministers for the Gospel carry. It opened my eyes to the need for the younger generation to humble themselves before them and be sober-minded about preparing for full-time ministry—it opened my eyes to reality. We returned to Temuco on Saturday evening. 

On Sunday, I translated during Sunday school as usual, and after the service I accompanied the team from church to San Ramon (the church plant/kids' club they run each week during the afternoon). I walked with the group to invite the kids, and eleven turned out for the kids' club. There was one ten-year-old girl in particular who caught my attention because it was evident that she didn't want to be there, and yet when the Gospel was presented, she seemed to understand it more than the others at times. I don't think I'll have another chance to get out to San Ramon during my time here, but seeing this girl who knows the Gospel, and hasn't accepted it, broke my heart.  

It was such a blessing to go to Lican, the retreat, and San Ramon this weekend. It was super busy, but each trip was a blessing. I have spent most of my time in Temuco, Chile, in the home of David and Kristi Flinck, Northland graduates and full-time missionaries. It was a blessing to hear as they shared about preparing for the ministry and their time of education at Northland.  They shared that until you taste of the pressures and struggles of ministry, you don't appreciate the training you had. I'm so thankful that I have seen this . . . and that I still have one semester of school left. It has given me cause to think through how I will use my time at school.