Good Friday

Hello Supporters!
I hope you all have wonderful plans with your family this Easter weekend. I just wanted to take some time to write about today, Good Friday. Today is the day that Jesus was crucified on the cross. This death was for us, while we were still sinners, so we could have eternal life.

Some people wonder does God really love us?
The answer is found on the cross. I think we all need to spend some time today just thinking about the cross. That is the true definition of love. God said, "I love you" to us when he sent his son to die to save us from eternal hell. Now that takes true love.

Today I just want to spend some time praising and thanking Jesus for being the perfect sacrifice for my sinful self.

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. "
— Hebrews 12:2

Enjoy your day and thank you for continuing to support me financially and though prayer.

New total: $2600!!
Left to raise: $400

Where do you go to find rest?

Today in church my pastor talked about something I thought was really cool. I thought I would share with my supporters. After a busy day at work or school, we come home and we just want to rest. When you think of things that bring you rest what do you think of? I come home from a busy day and I want to nap, watch an episode of Gilmore Girls, or talk to my roommate about our days. All things I think will bring me rest. Sometimes I just want to get away from the world thinking these things will make me feel more rested. But today my pastor said the only thing that can bring us rest is Jesus.

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."- Matthew 11:28

Worldly things will not bring us rest. Only Jesus can. I had someone say to me that she couldn't believe I was giving up 10 weeks during my summer to go be busy on a project in Miami. She said her summers were her time to rest after a crazy school year. I had the same goal last year. I went home for the summer to "rest", but really I was more exhausted than I was during the school year because over the summer I spent less time with Jesus. I am so excited for this summer because I will be spending 10 weeks resting with my man Jesus. Today this clicked in my brain and made me understand why after last summer I felt more worn out than my actually busy school year. 

So I just wanted to thank my supporters for giving me this opportunity to rest in Jesus this summer. To spend 10 weeks in a community of people who also want to find rest in Him. I am so close to my financial goal of 3000. I am completely amazing at how fast God's people have helped me. Thank you for supporting me!

New total: $2180!!
Left to raise: $820

Miami Update!

Here are some stats from last year's group that went to Miami:
-38 students went on project
-23 people outside of that group came to know Jesus through initiative evangelism throughout the ten weeks

Those are awesome statistics! I had two friends go to Miami last summer, so I have been asking them all about it for months. Listening to their funny stories, about the friendships they made, and about how God worked in their lives.

I can not wait for this summer! I can not wait to have stories to share with the next group of kids who will go on Miami Summer Project 2014!

Update on where we stand:
Right now I am job searching. I am looking up places online and calling to see if anyone has a job for me over the summer. While in Miami, all the students have part time jobs. The goal is to make the job your mission field. So please pray that I find a job!

 As of today, 31 people and families have joined together to partner with me financially and through pray! This blows my mind! God is so great! Thank you to all who have joined our team.

New total: $1695!!
Left to raise: $1305

New total: $1300!

We have officially reached the thousands! I am blown away by how generous people are. I know that God is going to do great things this summer in Miami! None of those great things would be possible if it was not for all your support financially and through prayers.

"This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God." - 2 Corinthians 9:12

Just think about that verse. Not only are you helping me get to Miami, but then you are also helping all the people who I will meet. All the people who will hear the gospel and hear maybe for the first time that Jesus loves them! You are expressing thanks to God for blessing you by blessing others. I thank you so much for being so kind and so generous! 

New total: $1300!!
Left to raise: $1700


I received this little note attached to one of the checks today. It defiantly made me smile and miss LGPC, my home church. The amount of love the members of LGPC have given to me over the years is just a glimpse of how much love there will be in Heaven.

Thanks for the Encouragement!

I love checking the mail!!
New total: $725!!!!!
Left to raise: $2,275

God has truly blessed me! I am so lucky to have such a supporting home church. So many of the members of my home church, Level Green Presbyterian Church, back in PA have decided to support me financially and through prayer. It means so much to me to see others want to contribute to this project, and most importantly to God's commission.  I have been so encouraged to receive notes from them! Here are some of the encouraging quotes!

"So excited to see what God will do through your ministry, Joy!!!!"

"We will certainly pray for you and your mission. You will be great! You are doing amazing things!"

"We are so proud of you! I would fly, drive, walk - to hear you talk about our LORD Jesus!"

"It is so encouraging to a Sunday school teacher when you have a little bit in the forming of your student's character, faith in Christ, and future plans."


These kind words have meant so much to me! Thank you for sending them!