Interns With Impact 2024: Raquel, Finance Intern

Raquel (center) and her fellow interns, Lauren (left) and Beatrice (right), served in TWR's offices in the U.S., using their studies and professional skills to bring the hope of Jesus to the world. 

TWR’s Cary Finance team was especially excited to have a bright summer intern join their team this year during the implementation of their new software. Hailing from Andover, Minnesota, and the only girl in a family of five children, Raquel is an accounting major at the University of Northwestern in St. Paul. Raquel’s supervisor, Hunter Hartung, expressed shared gratitude for Raquel and her contributions to the Finance team:

“Serving in the finance area is not the most glamorous of roles, but it is necessary for ministry to happen. Raquel was more than willing to take on difficult and challenging projects with a service-oriented attitude. She was a great help and relief for our TWR Finance team this past summer and a prime example of using your giftings for the kingdom. We just wished she could’ve served longer!”

Q: Tell us about a summer day in the life of Raquel as a Finance intern.

My role with TWR this summer was to serve with the Finance team in Cary, North Carolina. The main projects that I assisted the Finance team with were the budget for fiscal year 2025 and the major transition of accounting systems.

Q: How did you hear about TWR?

I learned about TWR and the internship when researching “Accounting + Ministry.” I applied after my school adviser sent me the same internship exactly a week later.

Q: What did you enjoy the most about your internship?

One blessing during my time here was being able to learn from others about accounting and finance topics specifically and beyond that on topics of life, faith and general work. There was always something new to learn, which I appreciated.

Q: What was the most challenging thing for you this summer?

The biggest challenge this summer was the learning curve required to complete the role in which I served, knowing what questions to ask and when to ask them.

Q: What were you most excited to do during your internship (either work or personal)?

As far as work, I was most excited to see how the budget process works for a global missions organization and how they plan to steward the resources God has provided. Outside of work, I was eager to explore the area, try new things and to get to know the other interns.

Q: What is/was your favorite thing about TWR?

One of my favorite things about TWR has been the daily staff devotions and prayer, because it gives an opportunity to hear about what is going on in different areas of the ministry and around the world. I've also enjoyed the opportunity to see faith and prayer evidently being practiced in a workplace.

Another favorite thing was getting to meet missionaries and other staff at the lodge or in the office and hearing what they do. Most of them have impactful stories and experiences to share about God's faithfulness in their lives.

Q: Is this your first ministry/missions experience? If not, where have you served?

Yes, this is my first formal ministry/missions experience.

Q: What was the biggest sacrifice you made to be at TWR this summer?

The biggest sacrifice I made was being willing to leave what is familiar and comfortable at home and to move to North Carolina and do something new to serve in missions. Another sacrifice was going somewhere this hot and humid. I miss comfortable summer weather (lol).

Q: What is something new you tried this summer?

The most notable thing I tried this summer are kare-kare (a Filipino stew) and raw oysters.

Bonus: Raquel shares the best advice she received this summer:

“Quoted to the best of my memory, the advice was about the internship, but I think it applies to all of life: ‘On your best day and your worst, you will have opportunity to glorify God and make him known by surrendering to him in work, attitude, character and love; no matter how exciting, painful or mundane a moment is. Don't let one fleeting moment (or summer) become bigger than your God; they all belong to him.’"

Fun Fact: While serving with the Finance team, Raquel and her co-workers, Hunter and Bob, teamed up to win the summer disc golf competition that TWR Cary hosted for the staff.

Images: (top, banner) Raquel [center] and her fellow interns, Lauren [left] and Beatrice [right], served in TWR's offices in the U.S., using their studies and professional skills to bring the hope of Jesus to the world; (center, right) Raquel [right] and co-workers Jennifer [left] and Lauren [center] spent one of their summer days volunteering with a local nonprofit; (bottom, left) Raquel [right] and her finance co-workers, Bob [center] and Hunter [left], won the TWR office's summer disc golf competition.