JOYMissions

04/11/2026

We hope you all had a wonderful Easter! Christ is risen—and He is still changing lives!

We're seeing incredible things happening in Botswana. One of our Deaf men shared that his sister recently trusted Christ—what a blessing! Churches in Gaborone, Francistown, and Ramotswa are growing, and we’re praying for a full-time pastor in Ramotswa.

God has also opened the door for a new Deaf church plant in Maun, with seed funding already coming together. This is a huge answer to prayer!

Please continue to pray as we travel, raise support, and move forward with the JOY Life Center, living the Gospel, and loving every life.

You can read the full newsletter here 👇

https://joymissions.com/blog/joy-news-april-2026

We ask that you please share this newsletter with your pastor and friends, as we seek to build our support. We are at about 68% of what we need. We have a new page called our "Meet Up" page, where we can schedule time to get together with anyone interested in supporting us here at Joy Missions. Check it out here: https://joymissions.com/meetup

We hope you all had a wonderful Easter! Christ is risen—and He is still changing lives! We’re seeing incredible things happening in Botswana. One of our Deaf men shared that his sister recently trusted Christ—what a blessing! Churches in Gaborone, Francistown, and Ramotswa are growing, and we....

04/01/2026

Sorry for the recent lull in posts—I’ve been down with strep throat since last week.

I’m on the mend and looking forward to sharing some great news with you later this week! Stay tuned!

— Travis

03/18/2026

We need your help today!

God is opening doors, and we are working hard to reach our support goal so we can continue and expand the work He has called us to in Botswana, Ethiopia, and beyond through JOY Missions.

One of the simplest and most powerful ways you can help right now is by sharing our Meetup page:

https://joymissions.com/meetup

This page gives a clear look at who we are, what God is doing, and how churches and individuals can partner with us.

When you share, you help us:
• Reach new churches
• Connect with new supporters
• Tell the story of what God is doing around the world

Every share matters. You never know who in your network God may use to help meet this need.

Would you take a moment to:
Visit the page
Share it on your profile
Pray that God uses it to connect us with the right partners
We truly believe we are close to achieving this goal, and your share could be part of that breakthrough.

Thank you for standing with us and being part of what God is doing through JOY Missions.

The D***s Family
Living the Gospel. Loving Every Life.

03/09/2026

Look at what’s happening at the Life Center in Botswana!
Carella and the team are sharing some wonderful reports. One of the most exciting updates is that last Sunday they had to move into the kitchen area because they were running out of space in the main hall!

They are already saying that more chairs will be needed very soon.

Praise the Lord for the encouraging progress taking place in Botswana. God is clearly at work!

If you would like to partner with us or support the JOY Life Center, you can do so here:
https://joymissions.com/joy-life-center

03/09/2026

Good news is coming from Church@VICKtory! Pastor Michael has been sharing encouraging reports, and the church is doing well and continuing to grow at a steady pace. Please continue to pray for the pastor, the congregation, and everyone involved with VICKtory School for the Deaf in Addis Ababa.

If you would like more information about how you can help or get involved, please contact Faye D***s at 865-919-3330, or email [email protected].

Since Mimi and I remain closely connected to this ministry, we would like to provide occasional updates about what God is doing through the church and the school. One important need we ask you to pray about is the monthly support for VICKtory School. Because of the rising cost of living and inflation in Ethiopia, the school’s budget needs to increase in order to keep up with current expenses.

One of the most urgent needs is helping our teachers and staff receive salaries that reflect the current economic situation. We are praying that God will raise up additional partners who would be willing to help support this important work. Please pray and ask the Lord if He would have you assist in this need.

I currently serve on the board of VICKtory School in Ethiopia, and Mimi and I remain deeply invested in this ministry and the lives it impacts.

All financial support for VICKtory School and Church@VICKtory should be sent through Baptist International Outreach. For more information, please visit:
www.biomissions.org

02/25/2026

JOY Missions – February 2026 News Update!

Pastors, partners, and praying friends — we have exciting news to share from the mission field!

God is moving in powerful ways through JOY Missions, and we’re so grateful to be on this journey with you.

As of March 1st, we’ve transitioned our support network from Baptist International Outreach to Reach Missions, and the move has gone smoother than we could have hoped. Many of our churches have already made the switch, and your encouragement has meant the world to us.

Here’s what’s happening:

In Botswana, the JOY Life Center Church is now standing-room-only most Sundays — souls are being saved, families are being restored, and believers are being discipled!

In Ethiopia, the Victory Deaf Church continues to grow, reaching Deaf individuals and families with the life-changing Gospel.

Looking Ahead:

This September, we are preparing to return to Botswana with our kids graduating soon, and we’re trusting God to raise increased monthly support in the months ahead. Please pray for us as we continue deputation and expand the work already established overseas.

Would you prayerfully consider partnering with us if you don't already?

Your support fuels:
Souls being saved
Leaders being equipped
Churches strengthened
The unreached engaged

Together, we are shining the light of the Gospel in places where darkness once prevailed.

Thank YOU for standing & praying with us!

Read the full update here: https://joymissions.com/blog/february-news-2026

God Is Moving — And We’re Moving Forward Dear Pastors, Partners, and Praying Friends, The Lord is doing something special — and we are incredibly grateful to be part of it with you. As of March 1st, Baptist International Outreach is no longer handling our funds, and we are now operating ful

02/18/2026

Pastors, Churches, Life Groups & Friends — We’d Love to Connect With You!

For over 24 years, God has allowed our family to serve in missions through evangelism, discipleship, pastoral training, and outreach to the Deaf community in Botswana and Ethiopia.

Our heart remains simple:
Living the Gospel. Loving Every Life.

We are currently praying for:
✅ Churches that would invite us to present the ministry
✅ Life Groups who want to hear what God is doing globally
✅ Individuals who feel led to partner monthly
✅ Pastors who desire meaningful, Gospel-centered mission relationships

If you or your church would like to schedule a meeting — in person or virtually — or explore a partnership, please visit:
👉 https://joymissions.com/meetup

On that page, you can:
• Request a church or life group presentation
• Learn more about the JOY Life Center ministry
• Discover how World Deaf Outreach is impacting lives
• Become a monthly partner
• Connect directly with us

Would you help us?
📢 Please SHARE this post with pastors, church leaders, and friends who love missions. You never know who God may prompt to partner in reaching souls for eternity.

Thank you for praying.
Thank you for standing for the Gospel.
Thank you for believing missions still matters.

JOY Missions
Living the Gospel. Loving Every Life. 🤟

PLease Watch this Welcome Video from Travis D***s Missions Packet Download Schedule a Meet Up Welcome, Thank you for taking a moment to learn more about JOY Missions. ❋ Who we are We are Travis & Mimi D***s, missionaries with JOY Missions, serving in Botswana. Our heart is to preach Christ, train ...

02/05/2026

NEW VIDEO SERIES LAUNCH — The JOY Life Center Story
We are excited to officially announce the launch of our brand new video series sharing the story behind the JOY Life Center!

Over the past several years, God has been working in incredible ways through ministry in Botswana. Through prayer, relationships, and God’s clear leading, He has placed a vision on our hearts to establish the JOY Life Center, a ministry hub designed to train leaders, strengthen churches, disciple believers, and reach communities with the Gospel for generations to come.

This series takes you behind the scenes and shares:
How God placed this burden on our hearts
The people who helped shape the vision
The miracles and confirmations God has already provided
The future impact the Life Center will have on our ministry
How others can be part of what God is doing

This is not just the story of a ministry project… it is a story about lives being changed through Jesus Christ.

Watch the series here: https://www.youtube.com//playlists

Please help us by:
• Praying for the JOY Life Center
• Watching and sharing the videos
• Inviting others to follow the journey
• Praying about how God may allow you to partner with this ministry

Thank you to everyone who has prayed, encouraged, and supported JOY Missions. We are grateful for how God uses His people to reach lives around the world.

At JOY Missions, we are committed to…
Living the Gospel. Loving Every Life.

Check us out on the web @ www.joyceskids.org

02/03/2026

We are still moving forward! God has already blessed us with several new supporters, and we have additional meetings scheduled as we work toward our 3x3/20 goal—twenty new supporters by March 20, 2026. You can learn more here: https://joymissions.com/3x3/20

We also praise the Lord for the generous gifts that have already come in toward the JOY Life Center property. The monthly support we are seeking helps sustain ministry operations and allows us to continue developing, maintaining, and expanding the outreach taking place through the Life Center.

To everyone who has joined the JOY Missions team—thank you. We love and appreciate each of you.

How you can help:
Pray for us as we continue moving forward
Pray for new ministry partners
Pray and ask God if He would have you become one of these partners

Donate Who we are … Missionaries Travis and Mimi D***sFor 24 years, the D***s have faithfully served as missionaries and pastors, dedicating their lives to the Great Command by making disciples in Botswana and across the world. After decades of ministry in Africa, Travis is now stepping into a ful...

01/26/2026

What a Sunday at the JOY Life Center!

Last week we had a full house at church—so full that we had to bring in extra chairs from all across the property just to make room for everyone. And you know what? We were glad to do it. There is nothing more joyful than seeing people come together to hear the Word of God.

By God’s grace, one soul accepted Christ, and many others were encouraged, welcomed, and loved. This is exactly why the Life Center exists—to be a place where the Gospel is preached, lives are changed, and every person matters.

Moments like this remind us that the need is real and the impact is growing. As the Life Center continues to expand its reach, your partnership helps us keep the doors open, the chairs filled, and the Gospel going forward.

If you’ve ever prayed about supporting a work that is truly making an eternal difference, we invite you to join us. Together, we are Living the Gospel, Loving Every Life.

Learn more or partner with us today at joymissions.com
Thank you for standing with us and being part of what God is doing!

We still need help reaching our goal of $20,000, if you would like to partner with us and help, you can do so at: https://donorportal.denarionline.com/GivingOption/c_Donate/?givingOption=27EA634F05&COMP_REF=_REACHMISS

All donations are tax-exempt through Reach Missions. We are a 501(c) (3) organization.

Help us live the Gospel and love every person!

01/17/2026

https://youtu.be/iWt6kEWN5cY?si=I5OXMvqljRxi62am

Big shout-out to my friends at The Barnabas Project. This is our new ministry presentation.

We have a new campaign going to gain 20 new supporters by March 20th. The support raised through this campaign will help joy missions with the Life Center and keep us going for Christ!

Learn more at https://joymissions.com/3x3/20.

Will you be one of the 20? If not, please pray with us that God will lead those he calls to join our mission.

🌍 JOY Missions | Living the Gospel. Loving Every Life.Welcome to JOY Missions, where our heart is simple and our calling is clear: to live the Gospel and lo...