Friday, October 28, 2016

I Thought You Said ...

I love that illustration! I wish I had a dollar for every time I misunderstood someone and or I have been misunderstood. Can I give you a challenge this week? Desire to understand others more than you desire to be understood. 

 

Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV)
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

 Mexico... 
Well, we are just at 9 days out from leaving the country to head to Mexico! The team is ready and getting more excited as the time closes in. We are finishing up all the last-minute details. Please pray for us not to miss anything in this final stretch before leaving the country! The missionary women are just as excited as we are! I think sometimes we forget that our missionaries living closer to home than on the other side of the globe have all the same struggles and sometimes more because people back home assume they can come and go as they please. But, some of these missionaries have not been back to the USA in many, many years. Like us this is their ministry, their life’s work, and they cannot just come and go at will. So, pray for them as boldly as you have prayed for all our opportunities to continue to minister to our missionaries around the world. Never losing sight of the vision He gave Pure Joy International to be a part of helping keep our missionaries/families on the field of service He has called them to.

This past week and half 13 more missionaries got sponsored bring us up to 22 sponsored. Yea, LORD.   That leaves us with only 16 more to go. (We have a total of 38 missionary women coming.) Please, as always, pray to see if God would lead you to give. Several have asked me how much it takes to sponsor a missionary for the 4 days, 3 nights, and all meals paid? $600 per missionary. However, if you know me, what I really care about is what is God telling you? To give less, more, or not at all this trip. (That’s just honest.) Just listen for His Spirit to impress you and obey whatever it is.
Counting it Pure Joy to journey together on behalf of His kingdom work with you!
His,
Vickie                           

Monday, October 17, 2016

Watching.....

Every August during the week that the meteor showers are to flood the skies, I dutifully climb out on top of our garage from the loft and position two lawn chairs, two blankets to cover up from mosquitoes, and a can of bug spray. I then go back in the house and wait for hours to pass for the designated time at which the meteor shower is to take place. At that time, I look over at my mom and say, “It’s time, are you coming up to the roof with me to watch for the meteorites?” And each year we journey out on top of the garage and wait and watch, and wait and watch, and wait and watch. As the mosquitoes begin to realize that they have some hors d’oeuvres sitting before them mom says, “I’m not seeing anything”. I say, “Me neither but keep watching.” (Consider it has only been 5 mins. ha, ha,ha,ha,ha) About 30 minutes later, or less, we decide to go in because it isn’t enough to hold our interest… and the mosquitoes are gaining weight. So, we pack it all in and head back into the house and go to bed. Of course the next morning we get to read about, or hear from others, what a great meteor storm had taken place that night. (REALLY!)

You know, watching requires a couple of important elements to it....
  • One, you have to believe there is something to watch for.
  • Two, you have to make sure your timing is right.
  • Three, you have to be patient.
My mom and I do believe that the meteor shower is going to happen or we wouldn’t go to the trouble every year. However, our timing is terrible. We’re actually selfish because we need it to happen before we are ready to go to bed, and it happens more like 1 a.m. – 5 a.m. for our location. And patience… well need I say anything about that... "we obviously have zero for this situation.” Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
 
You know we are encouraged as believers to be watching for something, “The Return of Christ!"
 
Luke 12:37 (NKJV)
Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching.
 
Matthew 24:42 (NKJV)
Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
 
He’s Coming Back my friend! Don’t be deceived by this world to think that He is not!!
  • Watch! Because His word tells us too.
  • Recognize it will be in His timing which only the Father knows the appointed time.
  • Pray for patience for yourself and others not to become impatient and discouraged in the waiting and watching.  
He will return and it will be Glorious!
 
Please continue to pray for the missionary women that will be attending our conference in Guanajuato, Mexico. We have 9 of the 40 women sponsored as of this writing (Monday). As always pray and see how God would lead you to give. 
Watching...
 
Love You All,

His,
Vickie

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Just Keeping You Posted ... (smile)

We have already had 3 more missionaries sponsored since the blog came out last. We are up to 9 sponsored with 31 to go!

BIG THANKS!!!

P.S. You know I only write a full blog under the pressure of the staff. Ha, ha, ha.

His,
Vickie

Saturday, October 1, 2016

Mexico, here we come!

Hola!

It is amazing to watch how quickly God has us changing hats as we are obedient to follow Him wherever He takes us.

This may be the fastest turn around we have experienced in regard to trips. I suspect our brains and bodies might be feeling it as we landed back in the country on Sunday evening and the early hours of Monday morning for a few of us. All but one trunk made it back with us, and even it was delivered to the Little Rock airport later Monday afternoon. Some sleep grabbed on Monday, then Tuesday back to the office solidifying final details of return from Southeast Asia and opening the book of details for Mexico. God is so good and the details are all falling into place. We have 6 missionary women sponsored out of 40 that have registered so far. God is good! Keep praying and giving.

Someone asked me what my favorite part of the Southeast Asia trip was. My answer would be getting to be a part of watching those women feast on God’s Word and Truths as they were presented throughout the week. They were so eager to hear the Word. You could just see them drinking in every message, testimony, and worship song that was sung. They dove into worship like a peanut into chocolate! It was great!!  

There are NO words to share with you about the impact you have when you participate in praying, going, gifting and giving, but hopefully this sound bite will give you an idea. This is from some of the ladies that attended the Southeast Asia trip. S E Asia audio (click here)

Again, thank you all for loving Jesus, the missionary women on the field, and being a part of every team that heads off to a new location to minister to God’s women serving all around the world!

As one of the ladies said in the sound bite… there are no words to express what goes on in our hearts as you make provision for these women to come to a conference free of charge to them.

Love you all,

His,
Vickie