Aviation Interns: Nathan Griffith
I told someone a few weeks ago that if I could do nothing but travel all around the world and see the different things God is doing to further His Kingdom, I would be a happy man.
What is even better is to be a part of what God is doing.
JAARS offered me that opportunity this summer. As an aviation maintenance intern in the hangar, I have been able to help support Bible translation work around the world. From preparing barrels of fuel to be shipped to Cameroon, to helping bring a classic aircraft back into service, God has given me the chance to support an organization involved in His work.
I’ve gained some much-needed experience through the internship, and I have had the opportunity to work on nearly every system that was covered in my airframe and powerplant classes. I’ve worked mostly on high-performance single-engine aircraft and light twin-engine aircraft. I’ve helped with several annual inspections, spanning all sorts of systems, and have worked off several of the discrepancies we found. In addition to this, much of my work has been on Helio Couriers, an incredible opportunity.
There was more to the internship than just working, though. I was blessed with the chance to live with two gentlemen who also work at JAARS. Through this, I’ve gained two friends and made a lot of memories.
From simply going out to eat, to a day on the Blue Ridge Parkway, to a weekend at the beach, we have found lots of fun things to do. I’ve also gotten involved in two wonderful churches in the Charlotte area. I would encourage anyone coming for an internship to plug in to what God is doing, not only at JAARS, but also through the local churches.
And one quick word about finances: there are a lot of things you can do to save money during an internship. One is to share an apartment on the JAARS Center with one or two other people. Another option is to live in a private residence and work out a special financial arrangement with the owner.
And even if there isn’t a paid internship position available, I would suggest coming as a volunteer. It can be cheaper than you think, and it is not an opportunity to miss for the sake of money!
I can’t imagine having spent my summer doing anything else. I’m anxious to see how God will work through my experiences, both in my life and in others.
—Nathan Griffith
