Sister Joyce Samuels

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Greetings from YWAM Ships base, Kona, HI! My name is Joyce Samuels and I am a Jamaican who migrated from Jamaica as a missionary since the year 1990.

I lived and served on Floating Hospital ships for over thirty years. I have been blessed and humbled to serve the Lord Jesus for this Godly Organization in Africa and the Caribbean. Seeing lives changed, being able to give surgeries to the poor and needy people, and hope and a future alongside many professional doctors and nurses from around the world who have such passion for the poor. I have the joy of seeing a little boy who couldn't run because of a clubbed foot now playing soccer with a huge smile; or seeing a face of a young woman distorted with a tumor, being shunned by her village and life in danger with difficulty breathing, to now see the beauty hidden of a change to a truly great full smile.

There's no way to describe the joy of seeing those miracles day after day that lead to greater miracles of those precious lives. Accepting the Lord Jesus into their hearts because they've heard or seen HIS LOVE expressed daily as they received treatment and follow-up visits. God has been faithful!

A shift in my life as my capacity changed when I flew from Africa to Hawaii to work as a volunteer at the YWAM Ships training base. It's been more difficult than I imagined, especially with COVID, yet God has been faithful as I've served.

My role here at YWAM is Hospitality Lead. However, I also help train students for work duties. Giving them guidance on how to be more hospitable and teaching them how to prepare for events and getting ready to accommodate guest speakers. In doing so, I would assist them with making beds and making them welcoming to the guests. I also have some time with the students where we meet and discuss what they have learned in class for that day, after which we would spend time praying before starting to do their duties. It's been a joy working alongside these lovely young people as they prepare for their outreach in many locations in the world.

All these years, I've lived by faith, trusting God to provide for me as I served on the mission field as a volunteer missionary. HE has been faithful in providing for me. As we speak, my current visa is about to expire and so I have to renew another one to allow me to serve here with YWAM ships. I am looking to raise at least $6000 in lawyer fees, medical exams, and immigration fees – which can be very high.

My heart and joy is serving the Lord Jesus. Here in Kona, for the past six years, it's been a place that I call home. So therefore, I am humbly asking you to pray, ask, listen and consider if you would be able to help me accomplish this goal. I know this is a difficult time for everyone with so many troubles, especially with the holiday coming up. Yet no amount is too small and I would be so grateful for however you can to help me meet the deadline of December 12, 2022, which would be the time to leave the country. I know that the Lord has me here for such a time as this and so I am believing in Him for favor with everything. Thank you all for your prayers and support during this time.

Yours in Christ,

Joyce Samuels

YWAM ships Kona