Mackenzie Johnson has chosen an unfamiliar continent as the location of her upcoming summer adventure.
Johnson, a junior double major in nutrition and Spanish, plans to spend a month doing mission work in Africa with an organization called Lifebread. Johnson and four other college interns will be going to Togo, a small country in West Africa, and will join Lifebread’s newest baking projects, providing food to needy people while sharing the message of the Bible.
Johnson, originally from Indianapolis, said she was interested in the trip not because of the destination, but because it provides an opportunity to implement her education during the month-long internship.
“The location wasn’t such a big deal,” Johnson said. “It wasn’t as big of a deal as what the ministry did. It really, really fits my major. Each of the interns has their own component; my component is nutrition education. If that’s what I’m going to do forever, this will be helpful.”
As part of its baking projects, Lifebread builds ovens in villages in Africa and also teaches food safety and cooking classes to the locals. Johnson will be in Togo from May 15 to June 13 and then will spend 6 weeks traveling around the U.S., promoting Lifebread and talking about the efforts in Africa.
Johnson commended Lifebread, saying that the organization has a very noble purpose.
“I think it’s a good organization,” Johnson said, “I’m excited to be a part of the internship this summer.”
Over the last few years, Johnson has been on numerous mission trips, mostly to Honduras. Because of her prior knowledge of Spanish, Johnson said this will be the first time she visits a country where she completely lacks understanding of the language.
“Kayibe is the language they speak in the village we’ll be going to,” Johnson said. “They also speak French. I don’t speak any French. I’ve never been in a setting where I don’t know the language enough to get by. That will be a patience-tester and a character building experience.”
Johnson said she’s looking forward to several aspects of the trip, especially developing relationships with people.
“I’m excited to learn about these people,” Johnson said. “I’m excited to learn about a new culture. I’m excited about the adventure of it all. I’m excited to see what God’s going to do.”
Besides learning to use her education in a different culture, Johnson also said she expects spiritual development. She said she thinks the trip will teach her “to meet people where they’re at and learn to use [her] spiritual gifts in different capacities and with different kinds of people.”