Hey there fellow teammates! I can't wait to meet all of you very soon! I'm Joy! I am from Bowling Green, Kentucky, and I am currently a  senior here at Western Kentucky University, but I won't be graduating till next May. Just a few random facts about myself....I will be turning 22 on June 1st. I'm a very outgoing and outdoorsie type of person, if it involves being outside and interacting with people, then I'm sure that I'll love doing it. I'm a double major in biology and anthropology. Horses are a big hobby of mine, along with international photography. I enjoy playing just about any sport, and I'm an absolute baseball fanatic! I was basically raised around all guys, so I kind of grew up as a tomboy. And I will be an aunt for the first time come August. :)

   I was saved by God's grace at the age of 5 and was later baptized that same year. I am kind of late comer to this Israel team, but I am so incredibly excited about this amazing opportunity to go share God's love to those in Isreal. I felt that God was wanting me to get involved in missions somehow this summer, but I wasn't sure exactly where! As I was searching for mission opportunities on the internet, God lead me to adventures.org, then on to the Isreal trip. I knew immediately where I needed to be this summer. I have had a heart for the people of Israel ever since my journies to there in 1996 and '98. God has placed a special place in my heart for the people of Isreal. It saddens me to think that His own people don't believe that His Son, Jesus, was the Messiah that they have been awaiting. In July of 2006, God called me to serve Him in the area of international missions when I complete my schooling. God has blessed me with the opportunity to be able to visit 11 countries over the last 14 years. Everytime to step foot in a foreign land, God continues to remind me of my purpose here on Earth, to share His gift of salvation with those of other tribes and tongues. I have an evergrowing passion to share God's love with those around the world, especially those of the Middle East and Caribbean. Since my surrendering to God's calling, Satan has been constantly throwing obstacles in my path to try to discourage me. In 2007, I had a family tragedy occur in which I got very angry with God over. At that point, I started to backslide and go downhill very quickly. Over the next two and a half years, I remained angry with God and was unable to forgive a close family member of mine. From first hand experience, bitterness will eat you up from the inside out. I literally hit rock bottom. I had no where to look, but up to God. He never left my side, and even though I stayed mad at Him, He was still always there to protect and provide for me. A few months ago, my life took a 180 degree turn in the right direction. I started to get my life back on track, and I began to grow closer to God than I had ever been. I love my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Without Him in my life, I definitely would not have made it to where I am today. He keeps me strong when I am weak, and He keeps me going when I feel like I can't go any further. He's my best friend. God is in ultimate controll of everything, and I know that He has a purpose and a plan for the occurences in my life over the last 3 years. I've learned that sometimes we try to hold onto things that even God Himself is trying to tear apart and get out of our lives. Through this experience God has taught me awesome things about His unconditional love, mercy, grace, loyalty, and forgiveness. I praise Him for who He is and what He has done in my life.

   I know that God has a purpose for placing each and everyone of us on this missions team heading to Isreal. As stated in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and future." I can't wait to see how God moves through us and uses us to spread His gospel to those we come in contact with. I know that God will bless this trip to Israel in ways that we never would have imagined. I can't wait to meet all of y'all very soon, and I'm even more excited about being able to share this experience with y'all in Israel! I'm praying for each of you, and I'll be seeing y'all very soon!