Fifteen years ago, Joshua Expeditions was founded on a mission to revolutionize education by inspiring students to recognize how their own lives can transform the lives of others throughout the world. Using educational travel as a platform, JE strives to teach cross-cultural sensitivity and service with compassion rooted in Christ. Our hope and prayer have always been that JE tours will inspire travelers to pursue their divine purpose and individual callings — to be a part of something bigger than themselves.

This season JE will celebrate the 15th anniversary of our first tour, which took a group of mission-minded students to La Fortuna, Costa Rica, for the express purpose of serving one of the poorest communities in Central America. Today, Costa Rica remains the most popular JE destination. Groups from across the United States continue to serve the Costa Rican people on student mission trips and eagerly immerse themselves into the country’s vibrant culture. From the flourishing rainforest and active volcanoes to white water rafting and beautiful beaches, tours of Costa Rica never disappoint.

Within its few first years, Joshua Expeditions quickly developed a full catalog of domestic and international tours. Australia and Belize were added first, followed by U.S. history tours as well as science, language, and arts programs to the Americas and to Europe. By the close of 2000, JE was partnering with schools in over 25 states across America and, during the following year, embarked on its first rescue mission to impoverished residents in Washington, D.C. A team also traveled that year to a Native American community in Arizona and conducted ministry activities for the children and adults living on tribal land. In just three years, Joshua Expeditions had taken students around the globe and shared the love of Christ with thousands of individuals.

Today, mission trips continue to be a core vision of Joshua Expeditions. There have been new opportunities to take students into Eastern Europe, Asia, and Africa for purposes like the church building, children’s camps, and even medical mission trips. Groups have had the privilege to build new homes for earthquake victims in Haiti, restore communities in Southern states after devastating natural disasters, and partner with orphanages in Latin America and the Caribbean. With each new season, JE continues to expand into new regions and develop programs for groups to work directly with global missionary organizations. What was true in the beginning remains today: Joshua Expeditions strives to ignite hearts to change the world!