Joining God’s Work in the World: Ben, TWR Electrical Engineering Intern

Meet Ben Hand, an electrical engineering summer intern serving at TWR’s West Africa Transmitting Station (WATS). A junior at the University of North Texas, he majors in electrical engineering and actively reaches out to international students with the gospel. 

Ben learned about TWR from a former WATS team member who attends his church. Through their conversations, he discovered the summer internship program. Already pursuing God’s call to serve in international missions, Ben eagerly accepted a role where his skills could be used in West Africa to spread hope to the world. 

TWR’s calling “to reach the world for Christ by mass media so that lasting fruit is produced” stands out as the young man’s favorite aspect of the ministry.   

Garth Kennedy, TWR director of transmitting operations in West Africa, expresses gratitude regarding Ben joining the team this summer:

“I very much appreciate the way Ben has integrated into the work and team here [at] WATS. There have been challenges, but he has worked his way through them. Some of the projects have been integrating the Burk and Lovato monitoring systems and installing a coax link between transmitter 1 and the dummy load.”  

Before joining TWR, Ben served in remote Himalayan villages for a five-month mission trip. There he learned the local language and culture while helping plant churches. 

Going to West Africa has presented challenges like speaking the official language (French), spending all summer abroad and missing his grandma. Nevertheless, Ben maintains a solid spiritual perspective on his assignment. 

“I feel this is exactly where God wants me to be. So, there is nothing that will be hard that even comes close to the comfort I feel from knowing that.” 

Ben also embraces Africa’s unique culture by indulging in rice, his favorite food, saying that the various African rice dishes have all been wonderful, especially igname pilee, or pounded yams.  

When he’s not working, Ben loves trail running and other adventures. Africa affords ideal opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors with one stark distinction. 

“I’ve been able to run a little bit while I am here, and it is very different than back home. [There are] a lot more spider webs to deal with [in Africa].” 

When it comes to a favorite Bible verse, Ben points to Revelation 7:9, which says, 

“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hand,”.