Cross-Cultural Common Questions

What is the timeline for Cross-Cultural Internship selection?
December - January: Group interviews are conducted 

December - February: Individual interviews are conducted 

End of February: Individual interviews are completed

End of March: Interns are selected and notified 

March-May: Details are finalized

May: A mandatory 4-5 day training event is held 
End of
May - August: Cross-Cultrual Interns serve domestically and internationally 


*All dates are subject to change. No intern is guaranteed service for the entire length of the summer.

What events are mandatory if I receive and accept this internship?
Both EM's training and the entirety of your summer service are mandatory. Training will be held in mid-May in Indiana or Michigan (location TBD). The starting date for the Cross-Cultural Internship Program will vary depending on the community you are assigned. The earliest you can expect to begin is mid-May. The latest you can expect to finish is mid-August. Specific dates and schedules will be finalized in April. If you have restrictions for the dates you are able to serve, please specify on your online application.

What training will I receive?
You will have 4-5 days of intense training before you leave go to your community. This time is spent to ensure that you are adequately prepared for whatever you may face this summer. Your training will include team building activities, cultural awareness sessions, practical instruction, case studies, and EM's philosophical training.

To equip you for unforeseen situations that may arise during the summer, we will provide you with back-up systems to give you the proper support you need and specific procedures to follow to help maximize the circumstance. Additionally, there will be a 24-hour support line available and a cell phone for each internship team throughout the summer.

Will I have any time off?
Many intern teams will have a week or two off throughout the duration of their service. Other intern teams may work straight through the summer with only a few weekends off. During weeks that you are not responsible to host a team, your time will be spent building relationships with our community partners, preparing for the next teams, and taking some time to relax and refocus. You will be paid $100 during these weeks off. Interns who choose to use this time for personal leave must first request the time off with EM staff members, will not be paid for the week, and will be required to pay all of the expenses incurred during this time.

Can my family and friends visit?
Experience Mission understands how great it is for friends and family to see you in action and see how you have spent your summer. Because of this, friends and family are more than welcome to sign up through Experience Mission to serve on a trip. If they choose to come outside of a trip, this must take place during a time that you are not hosting a team and you will not be compensated for that time of service.

Do I have to pay for anything?
If you are selected to serve in one of EM's domestic or international locations, you will be responsible to arrange and cover your travel to and from the location at the beginning and end of the summer. EM will provide $150 to go towards travel expenses for those assigned to a domestic location and $400 for those assigned to an international location.

Experience Mission will provide housing, food and transportation during all activities related to your internship responsibilities once you have arrived in your community of service. Experience Mission does not pay for meals eaten outside of the weekly menu that is provided for the teams. Nor does Experience Mission pay for transportation that is incurred outside of EM responsibilities such as traveling on your weeks off that is not EM related.

Will I get paid?
Interns will receive $200 per week of service. During weeks in which there are no teams, interns will receive $100. We realize the need for many of you to earn money during your summer, and for this reason we are opening up the opportunity for each of you to raise an extra $1500 for your time of service. Details and support materials will be provided shortly after hiring.

All Interns will be paid $750 at the end of July and any remaining balance after your service is completed. A 1099 must be completed before the actual Internship service begins.

Note: Returning Interns receive an additional $50 per week of service in the same community (this does not apply to weeks off).

Can I receive college credit?
In the past, many interns from Bethel College, Indiana Wesleyan University, and multiple other universities have received college credit for their time of service with Experience Mission. Regardless of what school you attend, you must contact your advisor to see what requirements you must fulfill. Evaluations can be filled out by our Internship department upon request.

What support can I expect from Experience Mission?
Experience Mission will provide you with the best support possible. There will be a 24-hour support line available and a means of communication for each internship team. Each intern can expect frequent calls with their Internship Director for logistical and emotional support.

Do I have medical insurance?
All Interns are responsible for their individual medical insurance. Proof of medical insurance must be provided to Experience Mission before the internship begins.

Do I have to be CPR/First Aid certified?
Yes, you must be CPR/First Aid certified. It is your responsibility to receive your First Aid and CPR certification before the training event in May. You will be required to provide us a copy no later than two weeks prior to training.

What will our responsibilities include?
As an intern team, you will be responsible for running exceptional mission trips in our partner communities. The two primary areas of focus include managing logistics and serving people and the community. As a team you will divide up the following 18 responsibilities:

Overall Schedule
Housing/Food
Transportation
Construction/Work Projects
Outreach Ministry
Translators and Local Workers
Devotional Times
Health Care/Emergency Response
Financial Management and Reporting
Media: Blogs, Photos, and Video
Leader and Team Meetings
EM Leadership Meetings
Rules/Behavior Guidelines
Negligence Prevention Policies
Encouragement and Service
Evening Program: Worship and Set-up
Evening Program: Message
Evening Program: Debriefing and Small Groups