By Nicole LaBosco
Joe Henry is an Editor/Proofreader here at Nonahood News. He’s originally from Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Flood City, for those from up north.
Extrovert or Introvert? Serious introvert.
Indoors or Outdoors? Indoors (because I’ve lived in Florida, the Philippines and Thailand for the past 22 years, so AC is non-negotiable).
Sun or Snow? Sun. I grew up with snow in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and also lived in frigid Vermont for three years, so I’m good with tundra life.
Dogs or Cats? Dogs, for sure. I’ve had at least 10 dogs in my life and love their joyful attitudes.
Vans or Converse? What? (That was a joke for my millennial children!) Boat shoes, actually.
Coffee or Tea? Neither. I’m the only person in the world who just drinks water.
Adventurous or Laid Back? Laid back, no doubt. I hate heights despite being 6’6”!
Canon, Nikon or Sony? Cell phone.
Books or TV? Both. I was always a book maniac, but my wife has led me to (mostly) British TV shows via Amazon and Acorn. American TV shows are lame.
What brought you to the Nonahood?
I live in Kissimmee but work at Pioneers on Narcoossee Road across from Walmart, so I land right in the heart of Nonahood every workday. I was in radio and newspapers for 17 years before becoming a missionary in the Philippines and Thailand. I returned in 2012 and have been coaching people who want to be missionaries.
What’s your favorite hobby?
Reading and watching sports. Hockey is my favorite – go, Lightning!
What’s your biggest dream?
To serve overseas again one day after my wife’s health improves a lot.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Probably serving as a ministry leader in Europe or another location that has adequate healthcare for my wife.
What are you most excited about in Lake Nona?
Friends who work at Pioneers! They enjoy the area, and I live vicariously through them (although I do live 10 miles from Disney, etc.).
Who’s your biggest inspiration?
Jesus. I live to follow His will for my life and to be more like Him every day.
What’s your favorite book?
The Bible is the easy and correct answer. However, I’ll also say Trafficking in Retribution, which is a novel that I wrote and just released on amazon.com in February! (Cheesy plug, I know, but please do check it out!)
What’s something you’ve done that scared you the most or brought you out of your comfort zone?
We were driving to visit a church partner in eastern Thailand once during rainy season. His village is 15 miles off any legit road in the mountains, so when we were returning, it had poured rain for two days and the “path” was mush. At one point, we (me and five passengers) skidded hard right and came within a few feet of falling off the edge of the mountain. There were a lot of trees, so we likely wouldn’t have fallen too far, but I was glad we didn’t have to test it out!
Describe one of your most memorable experiences.
My wife, Elaine, and I raising our four children in Thailand was a real joy. The people are incredibly kind, and our children have a tremendous vision of a fascinating world that they otherwise wouldn’t have.
Check back next month to get to know another Nonahood News staff member!
