***Names have been changed to protect those working with persecuted people groups.***
Although born in a small town, Joy has lived in many places around the world, working with people speaking many different languages and dialects. Saved at age five, she has centered her life around the gospel, living as a pastor’s daughter, then a missionary’s daughter, before answering her own call to be a missionary.
While in the eighth grade and living in California, Joy lost her father to a catastrophic heart attack; he was only 40 years old.
Joy’s Father Holding One of Her Brothers
Even after his passing, her father’s commitment to missions and sharing the gospel echoed in each family member’s heart: “You must GO or SEND someone else.” The following year, Joy’s mother felt called to the mission field, and the family landed in Costa Rica.
Joy with Her Mother and Brothers While Living in Costa Rica
Joy fell in love with the people and culture there. When she returned to the United States to study at what is now known as Southwestern Christian University, she began her studies in music, but not far into her first semester, she knew the Lord was calling her to change her focus to a transcultural/missionary degree.
Before long, she met a young man who was studying to become a minister: Pete. The two were paired in Spanish Lab, and they quickly fell in love. Before becoming engaged, the Lord reminded Pete of a dormant calling to work in missions, and as he leaned into that calling, Pete and Joy realized that their futures had aligned. After getting married and graduating, they wanted to head to the mission field, but World Missions guidelines required two years of pastoral experience. This requirement led them to New Mexico to work with the Navajo Indians for three years before moving on to California. From there, they were able to begin the process of becoming missionaries. After accepting a call from the Missionary Leader of the Latin American countries, Elvio Canavesio, they headed to Caracas, Venezuela, with their three young children: two daughters (8 and 5) and a son (3).
Picture: Pete and Joy’s Family, Including Their Children, His Parents, and Her Mother
While living in Venezuela, Pete and Joy received word that she, being the head of the Bible school, would need to attend mandatory training in Mexico. Joy traveled alone and heard a testimony from an Iranian Persian man. He told a story of how he was severely ill and could only eat a limited diet; he was unable to enjoy his beloved Iranian food. In his culture, meals are a form of fellowship, and food is a gift of love. He was encouraged by his wife, a member of a PH church in Tulsa, to visit a local Christian church, and it was there that he received a touch from the Lord. From that point on, he began to tell others of the one true God, and he helped to build churches and share the love of Christ around the world.
As Joy listened to this testimony of the God who loved the Muslim people, her God, she began to feel a deep conviction that she had not been open to loving this people group. She was holding onto prejudice. She began to pray as tears streamed down her face, “God, forgive me for being so prejudiced.” Her Heavenly Father was quick to forgive, and with her heart newly softened and opened, she felt Him impress upon her, “I’m going to use you to be a bridge for Latin Americans into the Muslim world.” Joy instantly surrendered her life to whatever He had in store for her.
Upon her return to Venezuela, Joy told Pete about all that had happened, and Pete was overwhelmed, “I haven’t even gotten ahold of speaking Spanish yet!” But together, they agreed to follow whatever path the Lord placed them on. Pretty quickly, He began bringing Arabs into their path. After their youngest child finished high school, Pete and Joy were called to Granada, Spain. With a long history interwoven between the Muslims and Spaniards in Granada, many Muslims desire to study at the university there. It was here that Pete and Joy were able to teach Spanish language classes for the Muslim transplants.
Pete and Joy’s Souvenirs and Gifts from Around the World
Joy explains that a cornerstone of the Muslim community is their hospitality. She shares that she has learned much following their example, always having a plate of cookies, crackers, fruit, and a pot of tea ready to share. In the Muslim culture, hospitality is a spiritual thing, dating all the way back to Abraham and Lot. Those who follow the Muslim faith do not eat or drink anything from sunup to sundown, but even so, they will offer food to their guests and want them to eat, even if they don’t.
Also, in the Muslim culture, men and women are often separated, making it inappropriate for a young woman to teach or be alone in the same room with men. However, since Joy was older at the time, seen as an “aunt” or even a “grandparent,” she was able to teach the male students without complications (for propriety’s sake, Pete always remained in the room while she taught men). While in Granada, Pete and Joy frequented businesses with Muslim owners, which allowed them to make good friends and minister to the population. Because they were stationed near a college campus, the students always moved on, coming in “waves” from different countries. Even so, Pete and Joy were able to share the Gospel and make life-long friends; now, when they return to Europe/Middle East for a visit, they often stay with these friends-turned-family.
Middle Cross – the Lord’s Prayer in Arabic
After 35 years on the mission field, Pete and Joy retired to the States. So, what does life after retirement look like for a career missionary? Oddly enough, it looks a lot like life before retirement. Pete and Joy have stepped into a new church family, and Joy has begun serving the Muslim (specifically North African and Afghan) community in her city. She works primarily with women, teaching them English. Her compassion for them is apparent as she speaks of their difficulties leaving home and everything they have known, seeking asylum from persecution. These women come to love Joy quickly, as her welcoming, generous nature draws each of them in.
Joy came to live an extraordinary life filled with many surprises and turns in the road. She and Pete are thankful for their many adventures and look forward to seeing what else the Lord has in store for them in the future. Joy shared: “We love walking with Jesus. It’s amazing what the Lord has in store for us when we put ourselves in His hand.”
