Portugal Retreat is full and has gone to a waiting list!

We have no more open spots for the Portugal Retreat, and we have gone to a waiting list. Final Registration for waiting list will close March 18th. It is not uncommon for several people to have the chance to move up from the waiting list. So, if God prompts your heart, sign up still.

We still have 43 missionary women sponsored as of this writing. If God moves on your heart to give, please do so. We have 7 left to sponsor. Go to www.purejoyinternational.org and scroll down to Donate.

As we continue to prepare for the trip on this side of the world, I am reminded of how important it is to get your brain to take a breather. If I can possibly get my brain to take a breather. Ha,ha,ha,ha  
Just to show you how on task it can be: Many years ago, when I first got out of graduate school, I was a therapist in a group home setting for kids that were In Need of Treatment (INT). Most of these kids dealt with different levels of mental illness, such as, bi-polar, schizophrenia, major depression, etc. One particular day a young man that was a resident there decided he did not want to go to school that day. I explained that was fine, but he would be confined to his room for the day since he was so sick (his reason for wanting to stay home).

He was not happy about being confined to his room. In the meantime, I got up to go to the kitchen to get a cup of coffee. When I walked out the door of the office, he kicked me from the side across my jaw and knocked me out. The next thing I remember I was lying under a big light in the emergency room at the local hospital with a cracked skull and a concussion.

The house staff told me the following when I returned to work a week later. They said I got up from the floor that day when I came to and went back to the young man’s room and said, “(his name) that type of behavior will not help you get what you want” and  then returned to my office. One of the house parents stuck her head in and said, “Vickie, do you still want a cup of coffee?” To which I responded, “who’s  Vickie?” She said, “you are”. To which I responded,  “I am?”

It was at this point I suspect she thought, “Houston, we have a problem.” Ha,ha,ha,ha

So, maybe my brain will take a breather and maybe it won’t. I can only hope! Ha,ha,ha

In the meantime, please continue to pray for all things Portugal. Pray for the missionaries coming, the team going, the prayer warriors at home, the prayers warriors overseas, those making gifts, those writing encouragement notes, those giving towards the last 7 missionaries to be sponsored, for the messages being prepared, testimonies, the worship being prepared, etc., etc.

Love you all and so appreciate your love for the ministry of Pure Joy International.

His,
Vickie