Esther Grabow
Age: 21
Hometown: Claremore, OK
School: Oklahoma City University
Major/Minor: World Religions/Business Admin
Site served: Oak Cliff
Q: What made you decide to apply for an internship with Project Transformation?
A: I was looking for a job/internship through my university’s career service office because my mom told me that my plans of ‘just hanging out at home for the summer’ must be code for ‘I’m getting a highly productive job.’ I couldn’t bring myself to return to Subway for the summer and so when my career counselor suggested applying to PT, I researched the program online and decided immediately that it qualified as a ‘productive’ job. Of course, my mom didn’t expect my productive job to take me to Dallas but being in a new and different city for the summer was part of the appeal!
Q: How did your summer with PT impact you spiritually?
A: My spiritual journey this summer can only be described as a beautiful and highly emotional roller coaster. It wasn’t coincidence that I ended up at PT living amongst strong Christians my own age who I could look to. Being surrounded by the Christian community of interns I was reminded how amazing a band of Christians, each on their own faith journeys, can be. I’m more confident in some aspects of my faith and more quizzical of other areas. I guess that’s why we use the term ‘journey’ to describe our faith walk.
Q: What did you enjoy the most about the ministry exploration component of PT?
A: Personally, I have no idea what I want to do with my life after college. Being introduced to careers in non-conventional fields of ministry sparked ideas. Knowing that PT was a program set up to not only help the children enrolled in the summer program but also to educate and inspire the interns was partly what drew me to the program.
Q: How has your experience as a Project Transformation intern changed you?
A: I went into the summer an open minded, accommodating person but as a result of a few morning devotions and daily interaction with the kids I began trying to apply an attitude of Christian love to every avenue of my daily activities. Beyond niceness and accommodation I deliberately developed a mind set focused on being the hands and feet of Christ in every element of my day. Keeping that in the forefront of my mind even now, back in the busyness of school, is an unmatched challenge. I’m a work in progress!
Q: Can you share with us any future plans you have, and how they may have been affected by Project Transformation?
A: Serving a year-round internship after graduation is a possibility but right now planning beyond the end of the next month is a challenge. I’m hoping for a lightning bolt revelation of what I’m supposed to do after undergrad…or a check from Publishers Clearing House.