Pure Joy International Blog

First things first then a "covenant"...

2012-02-14T08:08:00.000-06:00

First let me share with you that we have 11 of our 50 missionary spots sponsored so far for the Dominican Republic (DR)! Praise God from whom all blessing flow! Keep that support for the DR coming in as God moves on your hearts! Nothing is more exciting than to watch God bring in the resources for each one of the trips! I have to say watching His hand move is so totally awesome! Keep praying!!! We still have some team slots open. If you are interested, contact me.

Today when I was reading through my Chronological One Year Bible, there were a couple of verses from Exodus 34:10-26 that hung on my heart. Before I share the verses with you, I want to put them in context. These verses come following chapters 32-33 where the children of Israel made a golden calf because of their impatience with Moses being gone so long on Mt. Sinai, Moses return and the smashing of the tablet, Moses asking the children of Israel to decide who was on the Lord's side, and Moses asking for God’s forgiveness and mercy for the sin of God’s people.

By the time we get to chapter 34, Moses has been instructed by God to cut/chisel stones and engrave them with the covenant God made with him before. Moses then went to the top of Mt. Sinai again and it was here that God’s glory passed before Moses. God then began to speak again the truths of the covenant to Moses in Chapter 34:10-26.

Now my heart hanger verses...34:12,15...

¹²Take care, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land to which you go, lest it become a snare in your midst. (ESV)

¹⁵lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and when they whore after their gods and sacrifice to their gods and you are invited, you eat of his sacrifice... (ESV)

I like The Message Bible translation on these because they are relational.

¹²Stay vigilant. Don’t let down your guard lest you make covenant with the people who live in the land that you are entering and they trip you up. (TMSG)

¹⁵Be careful that you don’t make a covenant with the people who live in the land and take up with their sex-and-religion life, join them in meals at their altars... (TMSG)

The word that stuck out to me in those verses was "covenant." Don’t make a covenant with the people who live in the land.

A covenant is also translated as a contract or agreement between two parties.

God was saying to the children of Israel that He did not want them making a covenant, a contract or agreement with the people He would be driving out of the land. He knew if the children of Israel did so, it would position them to worship false gods.

Can I ask you something today? Who have you positioned yourself with? Has doing so put you in a place where you are now worshiping false gods? Has money become your god? Has position and power become your god? Has your business become your God? Has power of influence become your god? Has a person become your god? Has an area of lust of the flesh, eyes and/or pride of life become your god?

Have you entered into a land and made a covenant with the people God isn’t fighting for but is actually removing from the land? If you have … RUN to God just like Moses did. Confess your sin. Receive His grace, mercy, and love. Let Him reveal Himself to you again. He wants to! But, He is a gentleman. He will not bust your door down, but He is patiently waiting.

I love you guys…Thank you for loving and supporting Pure Joy!

His,

Vickie

You Gotta Love the Word of God...

2012-02-09T07:48:00.000-06:00

Do you ever just kiss your Bible? I do! Not in front of anyone (well, maybe that isn’t true because I have before). But, have you ever wanted too? Because if you haven’t ever kissed your Bible or wanted to, then I have to question NOT your salvation, but your maturity in the LORD. Ha, ha! That is an oxymoron isn’t it…kissing your Bible and maturity. Seriously, though. I was thinking of all the verses and stories and situations in the scriptures that God brings to my mind, those that absolutely can change my whole perspective on things and give encouragement when I’m dealing with or going through something or counseling someone or a family.

This morning as I sit here asking the LORD what to share with you this week (what you need to hear), I found myself reviewing my week. I actually started chuckling out loud to myself and have been sitting here with a stupid grin on my face for about 30 min.

My last few days have been a little crazy. I have had to deal with some issues that, like they would you, wear me out and make me want to pull my hair out. Yesterday I wanted to pull other people’s hair out! Ha, ha, ha! Oh, and there are several stories in scripture regarding hair issues, so I’m ok and encouraged! Ha, ha, ha!

Also, we are having siding put on our house and the workers have been hammering from light to dawn for the past five days. On top of that, the cat has a thyroid problem and is all emotional and crying pretty much nonstop. Hammer – Cat, Hammer – Cat...No stop it! What am I thinking.

Anyway, I remind myself that Noah was on the ark with the pounding of rain non-stop for 40 days and nights and more than one cat whining around. So, I’m good!

I did get away from my home corner office with windows (cubby hole in my mom’s bedroom) and went to Patty and Kenny’s (friends) to work in their conference room on Monday all day. It was nice. Remember Jesus had places He went to rest.

But, above all else, I just flat love Jesus, and He makes me smile. And the Word of God keeps me grounded! So, if you are not kissing your Bible, you are probably not reading your Bible. Because if you are really reading and catching the truths of His Word then you are probably madly in love with Him! And you probably have kissed it once at least. Come on admit it!! Don’t be afraid that people just might find lip prints on your Bible instead of dust (smile).

Starting next week, we will begin meeting weekly for prayer time for our Dominican Republic trip in May. So please join us the next four months as we pray for the women who will register, the resources to sponsor each missionary, the team that God will put together to go, etc. Our theme is Endless Love, and our verse is Psalms 103:12

"As far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us."

Love you guys!

His,

Vickie

Home from Alabama...

2012-02-01T13:25:00.000-06:00

Left last week for Albertville, Alabama where Pure Joy had the great privilege of being a part of First Baptist Church Albertville’s first mission’s conference ever. I must sing the praises of those precious folks in that church! They absolutely did an incredible job of putting the conference together. The hospitality from the homes we stayed in to the conference itself was top notch. It was so awesome to be around other missionaries who came in for the conference. Of course I was in ‘hog’ heaven (woooooo pig razorbacks) hanging out with my people group: missionaries. I was able to make two contacts for trips next year in 2013. We are looking at Ghana, Africa and Belize Central America. So, as you read this, hide those places in your heart. Let me know if God is speaking to you about going! I also had the chance to speak to several different Sunday school departments in different homes. The people were receptive and loving as could be! There was a dear retired pastor at my second house who wanted to know if anything good could come out of Arkansas! Ha, ha! They take their football serious!!

The thing I loved about my time in Albertville is the church family was actively involved during the entire weekend. They were in attendance when opportunities were available for them to meet with us (the missionaries). I am confident that I will be seeing several of the women from the church sitting across from me someday as we are headed overseas somewhere. Again, great time! Thanks FBC Albertville, AL if you are reading this!

Well, we are in the process this week of locking in our hotel/resort area for the Dominican Republic retreat in May of this year. We still have some team slots open if you are interested, but you need to be getting in touch with me pretty soon if you feel like God is putting it on your heart to join us. Also, start praying for all the details of the trip and begin the process of praying for the support to come in for the missionaries who will be in attendance. We already have our first missionary paid for. So don’t just sit back and watch God move on behalf of these ladies, but also be a part of it! If you can’t go but are interested in how your church can do some of the little detail things that make a big difference, then get in touch with me as well.

I want to close with this one thought for the week. Randy Gaither, one of the missionary men who spoke to us during the Sunday services made this comment:

“Every morning I get up and stand at attention and say ‘LORD,
Randy Gaither reporting for service today!’”

You may read that and say, “I can do that.” But, I would challenge you. Yes, anyone can stand up and say those words, but can you really MEAN THEM? Will YOU really report for service or will your lips just show up? Hmmm think about it.

Love you all so much, and I covet your prayers as God is stretching us for His Glory!!

His,
Vickie

The difference a mountain can make...

2012-01-25T13:13:00.002-06:00

This past weekend the Pure Joy Board and Staff met for our annual retreat. It was a time we could pull away and evaluate the ministry and ourselves and make sure we had not moved away from His plans for Pure Joy International. It was also a time of reflection for us as board members and ministry staff to make sure we are following Jesus in our service to Him.

The retreat was held not far from Scotland, AR or Clinton, AR depending on how you want to look at it. But no matter how you look at it, we were imbedded in a cabin on top of a mountain that, had it not been for the fog, would have allowed us to see forever and ever. Fog is an interesting thing, isn’t it! It comes in density levels. It can be so thick you can only see what is right in front of you or it can come in such a way that you can see for a distance but not necessarily clearly. Unless the fog disperses itself, the only way to get out of it is to rise above it. I know I am going out on a limb here, but I am comfortable in saying that most people live in a fog. The density levels might be different but they are in a fog. And most people are not living above the fog…they have just learned to live with it to get some relief. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been there. And this I know: if we would discipline ourselves to go to the top of the mountain more frequently, I suspect we would rise above our circumstances (fog) more often. Rising above doesn’t mean they go away, because you can’t control other people (and most circumstances do have to do with others). It just means you have gotten away from it all to ‘be reminded’ of Who is in control and Who allows you to breathe, regroup, focus, and replenish for the journey of life. So, if you haven’t done it lately, go to the top of the mountain and wait and watch. Things may not clear up down below, but you sure get reminded that you are not alone!

This past Monday night I had the privilege of meeting with a ladies’ Sunday School class from First Baptist Church, Conway AR. We actually met in the home of John and Joyce Magyar, a couple who served as missionaries in Cali, Colombia for 35 years before returning to the Conway area. I don’t believe I have had a more appropriate introduction to a group than I received last night as Kim, their daughter, introduced me to the group of ladies by stating, “This is Vickie and the reason I like her ministry is…as a missionary kid (MK) I saw my mom working alongside my dad in ministry while raising 6 kids, ministering to the local women, and doing many other things. I wish she would have had something like this to pull away from it all and get refreshed and renewed.” As I listened to Kim’s introduction as she sat next to her mom, my heart leapt again as it often does when I think of God’s faithfulness to make provision for those He has called to the front lines and to leave their families and friends in service to Him. I look forward to watching His hand among these ladies who have stated a desire to join us in some fashion in the days ahead.

If you are thinking, “WOW, Vic has had some kind of awesome time with the LORD the last four days!” that would be a right answer!

Details are coming together for the Dominican Republic trip. We should have the location settled by end of this week or first part of next. Then registration for the missionary women will open. If you have been to a Pure Joy Retreat and know ladies in this area or countries close by, pay it forward by letting them know. Also, we are still putting the team together, so please prayerfully seek God in this if you are interested and/or your church is interested in being a part of this trip.

As always, love you all!

His,
Vickie

Such a Sweet Spirit...

2012-01-18T07:33:00.000-06:00

Last night I had the sweet privilege of meeting with a group of pastors and their wives at FBC Vilonia, AR. It really was a sweet time of being able to share with them the need for the ministry of Pure Joy to missionary women overseas. Several of the missionary women from our Peru trip in 2011 are supported by some of the churches represented last night. Once again I was reminded of Jesus’ love for His girls! I have already heard from one of the wives this morning interested in being a part of what God is up to through Pure Joy! I already know some of the churches that were represented last night will be part of what God desires to accomplish with our Dominican Republic Retreat in May. How they are involved is in God’s hands and will be revealed. I can’t wait! I love watching Him work!

Wow! It just dawned on me. When was the last time someone told you that they loved watching you work…someone besides your spouse who expects it from you for other reasons! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! One of the ladies said to me as I was walking out, “I can see your passion.” She probably doesn’t realize it, but what she really said to me was, “I can see Jesus.” Why? Because Jesus drives our passions when we yield to Him.

For example, I went to a conference over the weekend and listened to Lisa Harper speak. I saw her passion for the world. I saw Jesus! And many of our college and young people just got back from The Passion Conference in Atlanta, GA (http://www.268generation.com). They came back on fire for the things of God. Why? Because they listened to worship and teaching from people who are passionate about Jesus. He drives them!

When is the last time you where so passionate about Jesus that someone else could see Him? If it’s been a while maybe the lyrics from the song “Give Me Jesus” by Jeremy Camp will stir your heart back to what is of the utmost importance. I know it does me.

In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise, give me Jesus
Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You can have all this world,
But give me Jesus
When I am alone
When I am alone
When I am alone, give me Jesus
Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You can have all this world,
But give me Jesus
When I come to die
When I come to die
When I come to die, give me Jesus
Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You can have all this world,
You can have all this world,
You can have all this world,
But give me Jesus

Keep praying for all the details of the Dominican Republic Retreat to come together!

Love you!

His,

Vickie

Aliens (Sojourners)...

2012-01-11T13:16:00.000-06:00

When we think of the word alien don’t we conjure up some little guys with bug eyes and a head shaped like an upside down tear drop, and/or things that look like monsters with tentacles coming out of its head from spaceships?

The law defines an alien as “a person owing allegiance to a country other than that in which he lives; also known as a foreigner”

Eastman Bible Dictionary defines alien/sojourner as “a foreigner, or person born in another country, and therefore not entitled to the rights and privileges of the country where he resides.”

1 Peter 2: 11-12 (ESV)
11. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners/aliens and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Sunday night during our celebration service at my home church we sang a new song that has come out on the radio recently called, “Where I Belong” by a group called Building 429. You can listen to the song in its entirety at YouTube if like by clicking HERE.

The thing that captured my heart that night as we sang the song was the chorus.

All I know is I’m not home yet

This is not where I belong

Take this world and give me Jesus

This is not where I belong

May I have the privilege of encouraging you right now? If you are reading this blog you ain’t home yet, sister! So you are not where you belong! And let’s just be real…there is nothing worse than being somewhere you don’t belong. Think of the many uncomfortable moments you have experienced in this life and what it felt like to be somewhere you didn’t really belong. Yuk! It is a yucky feeling! We will NEVER FEEL YUCKY WHEN WE GET HOME!

I like the way Eugene Peterson writes out his interpretation of 1 Peter 2:11-12

11. Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. 12. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.

In summary, don’t get cozy in this ole world. It ain’t your home. And live for Jesus among the natives (those who don’t know Him) so they will be drawn to Him and away from this world as well!

Love you all! Continue to pray for the Dominican Republic as we work on details.

His,
Vickie

Enter at Your Own Risk...

2012-01-07T14:43:00.000-06:00

Today I want to let you into my mind to have a glance into a little of the intimacy between God and me; therefore the warning: ‘Enter at Your Own Risk.’ Each year since my salvation in March 1990 I spend the last thirty minutes of the old year and the first 30 minutes of the New Year in prayer and in the Word with God. During that time I am looking back and forward with Him as the filter. During that time I always ask Him to give me a verse and direction over my life for the New Year. This year I began reminding Him several weeks out that I would need the verse and direction from Him soon. (I know He knows me but I just wanted to get the ball rolling. Ha ha!) On New Year’s Eve during the time of prayer and reading I never really felt like God gave me anything specific. I did sense that He was leading me to an awareness of not letting myself get entangled in so many everyday life issues that draw my attention away from the things of God. As you know, New Year’s Day fell on Sunday this year, so that morning off to church I went to our first morning service. The message was on Philippians 3:12-16. Verses 14-16 are the verses that God through His Holy Spirit hung on my heart that morning.

¹⁴I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. ¹⁶Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

I love that passage as many of us believers do! But this time as I sat and listened to the Pastor, a very clear picture was building in my mind. It was like God was allowing me to not only hear the message, but He was also impressing upon me that this passage would be His Word and direction for me for this year. A picture that I have witnessed in my coaching days and in sports’ pictures came to my mind: a runner. He is in the last leg of a distance run, he has started to move away from the other runners, he is picking up the pace, he is coming out of the last corner headed down the home stretch, his mind is fixed on the finish line, his sprint is smooth and determined. He doesn’t look back at all to see where the other runners are because he knows when he stepped away from them. His mind has shifted from merely running the race to the goal. He sees nothing but the goal at hand. His eyes and heart are fixed! NOW is the time! Run!!!! I have no idea how all this presses out in the physical. What I know is that when it is done, I will know Him more! Amen. So if you see me anywhere around this year you will know this intimate truth between God and me: I’m running because His Love compels me to.

In our ministry staff meeting today we spent some of our time discussing our upcoming opportunity to minister to the missionary women in the Dominican Republic. We are looking at dates at the end of May 2012. Yesterday, we received a check for $300 as our first donation towards sponsoring one of the possible 50 missionary women who will be there. Even as I write these words I ask you to ask Him if you should be a part of giving to this retreat. If so, then just do it my dear followers of Christ.

We are looking to an awesome year of ministering to our missionary women overseas. Please remember to pray for them, their families, ministries, health, finances, etc. Stand in the gap for them in prayer this year as often as God brings them to mind. Pray for me as I travel more and more to tell others about Pure Joy and the opportunity individuals, organizations, and churches have to partner with us.

I pray as you start your New Year that you have sought God for His direction and Word. If not then please, please, stop the bus and wait on Him to move you through His Spirit. He knows and He cares! Don’t leave home without Him!

Love you all, and I am exciting about serving Him with you this year!

Running,

His,

Vickie

p.s. I felt so strong about how God spoke to me I contacted a friend this past week to do me a pencil drawing of that runner. I’ll share it with you when she is done.

What a Year!!!

2011-12-29T08:20:00.001-06:00

Tuesday as I was on the road, I began to Praise God for the many things in my life I have to be thankful for! In the next few days in magazines, newspapers, television, and Sunday services, you will hear people talking about 2011 and looking back. You will also have people (myself included) talk about looking ahead (as is something I discussed in our ‘End of the Year Letter’ which most of you received in the mail and or email. If you did not get it and want a copy please contact patty@purejoyinternational.org.) Before I share anything further with you, I would ask you to consider a story from the Old Testament regarding looking back and going forward.

The story of Sodom and Gomorrah stirs up lots of topics of discussion for the issue of the sin of homosexuality. Most people are so busy looking at it from that standpoint that they lose sight of the fact that the story has a lot to teach all of us about sin, God’s mercy, and time.

Without going through all the passages right here, I would ask you to pull out your Bible and read for yourself Genesis 19:1-30. We will focus on verses12-30 for the purpose of our blog today and the principles I would encourage you to take away from this reading.

Things to be mindful of…

God realizes we are in over our heads before we do (v. 12). - Remember He has a bird’s eye view of all things.
People are praying (crying out to the LORD) for you and your situation when you don’t even realize they are carrying it to God (v. 13a)! - Praise God for intercessors.
He sends help to us even when we don’t realize we need it (v.13b). - Sometimes we are just too close to the situation.
The help sent caused Lot to see the seriousness of his circumstances (v.14a). - Lot was willing to listen.
But just like some of our very own family members, his son-in-laws did not listen to or believe Lot (v.14b). - Some individuals we love and even we ourselves at times, refuse to yield to people God puts in our paths to bring us out of danger!
Maybe Lot himself wasn’t setting too good of an example of taking the angels seriously either, since they had to urge Lot to leave (v.15a). - Isn’t Lot like us…we listen, but when the ‘feeling’ of crisis is over we start to settle back into hesitation regarding change.
The angels also made it clear that punishment was eminent for the city (v.15b). - God has NEVER withheld the truth from us that Judgment is eminent regarding this world!
Knowing what has been told to him…LOT still lingers (v.16a)! - Really! Hmmmmm we are sooooo like Lot!
But, because of God’s mercy the two angels took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand and the two daughters and set them outside the city (v.16b). - Note: The word hold in that passage doesn’t mean they gently guided them out. It means in the original Hebrew language to seize hold of them. To put in terms we can relate to, they jerked their behinds up and got ’em out of there! Just like we would jerk a child out of the path of an oncoming car.
Once they got them out of there the angels tell them, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plains. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed!” (v.17). - In other words RUN!!!! FLEE!!!

In verses 18-20, there is a simple dialogue of Lot whining because he is continuing to trust in his own lack of abilities instead of God’s to get him to safety.

In verses 21-23, we once again see God’s favor, patients, and love extended to Lot in spite of Lot’s lack of trust.

In verses 24-25, we see God keep His word to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, all the plains, and all the inhabitants of the cities and what grew on the ground. (God does what He says He will do!)

And verse 26, “But his wife looked back behind him, and became a pillar of salt.”

I hope I can bring this full circle for you as I close out. Many of us will look back over 2011. For me personally the past year has been like the wildest ride since forever. There are some really great things that have happened and some really hard things that have happened. But, presently they help me be all that God is continuing to work out in me regarding my salvation. Where it all takes me in the future remains in His hands.

Many of you will be tempted to live in the past of 2011. Because of people that have left you behind through death, divorce, circumstances, etc. Some will be tempted to live in the glory of things magnificent that took place in 2011. In either case spending your time looking back or riding the laurels of past accomplishments will harden your heart and keep you from the present. Believe me when I tell you that His blood has covered the past whether it was good, bad, or indifferent. And know that He holds your future. If you read on, you will see that Lot still ended up where the angels instructed him to go: the mountains. Wonder what he missed out on by not doing it in God’s timing.

Precious ones, He has the past covered, He dwells in the present, He holds the future. Living in the past will harden your heart; living in the future will cause you to forfeit His presence revealed in your life today.

Let us make a commitment to heed his warnings regarding our sin, accept His Grace and Mercy to set us free, and Trust His Timing is Perfect!!

He has the Past covered, He dwells in the Present, He holds the Future!

Rest and Blessings to you in this New Year 2012!

His,
Vickie

From: Vickie

2011-12-20T08:14:00.001-06:00

To:

• All our missionary women and their families ( my "people group", smile)
• Every woman that has traveled as a team member
• Every woman that has written a prayer card and or filled a goody bag and or both
• Every woman, man and child that has donated gifts
• Every individual, couple, child, church organization, and business that has given financial and other resources
• Every prayer warrior
• All the Friends of Pure Joy
• The Board, Advisors, and incredible Ministry staff!

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2011

I flat out love you guys!!

His,
Vickie

My Savior's Not a Baby...

2011-12-12T16:22:00.000-06:00

Last week I received the following writing from a dear friend who is also one of our

Costa Rica

team members from this past summer. As I read it I thought, “This is so true, this is good.” I asked her permission to share it with you this week. It has not been edited in detail. Enjoy and ponder…

My Savior's Not a Baby

If Christmas is Jesus' birthday, the birthday of a King,

My mind keeps tossing and turning over what present I should bring.
Maybe a blankie, some teething gel, or perhaps a rattle… maybe,
Because it seems to me that every Christmas we pretend that He’s a baby.
I’ve heard I could give Him my talents, my time, or even a song,
But, aren’t those the very things I should be giving Him all along?
If I passionately love Him then the gift that I should bring,
Shouldn’t be an easy gift that doesn’t cost me anything.

Because my Savior’s not a baby, He’s the risen King of Kings,

And I think on this Christmas He might want some other things.
Perhaps He wants my anger and that seed of bitterness,
Or the hurt I’m holding deep inside where no one else would guess.
Maybe He wants my loneliness or the addictions I hold tight.
Perhaps He wants the tears I’ve cried and the wrongs I’ve not made right.
My worry, my shame, and my heart so prideful and so wild,
They’re not exactly gifts you bring to lay before a child.

But my Savior's not a baby, He is Jesus, Immanuel,
Who battled Satan on his turf and conquered death and Hell.
He didn’t save my life just to leave me in my sin,
He freed me from my shackles and gave me joy again.
He died to take my anger and He suffered in my place,
To heal my broken, tattered heart and offer me His grace.
The part that takes my breath away, the amazing part you see,
If I were the only one, He would have done it just for me.

You see, my Savior's not a baby, He’s Creator of Heaven and Earth,

Who set aside His Godhood to experience human birth.
It’s not about me or the gifts that I could bring,
It’s about a Marvelous Savior who gave me everything.
He understands my heart and the problems that I face,
And He loves me far too much to settle for second place.
An Infinite, Incredible God who hears me when I pray,
How could I not fall to my knees and praise Him every day.

Praise God He’s not a Baby; He’s sitting at God’s right hand,

He’s both God and Man. He’s the Risen Lord. I hope you understand,
I’m not saying we can’t remember, that we shouldn’t celebrate His birth,
And spread the story angels proclaimed all throughout the Earth.
The prophecies of old fulfilled, set the stage for God’s great plan,
So let's remember baby Jesus' birth, but worship the Savior of man.
So this Christmas I think I‘ll give Him every hidden, dirty part,
And accept His peace, His healing, and a clean and softened heart.

Kathleen Jones - 2011

His,

Vickie

Take the Challenge...

2011-12-08T08:46:00.000-06:00

As the Christmas Season is upon us, many times over we hear the following verse read and preached out of the pulpits. In fact, I spoke from this verse to a wonderful group of women in Altus, OK earlier in the week.

Luke 2:10-14

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ^“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

We talked about the difference a person makes. I shared my testimony and how Jesus Christ took a lonely, looking-for-love-in-all-the-wrong-places, caught-in-the-performance-trapping-of-the-world young woman and changed my life for eternity! He also changes my life daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly on the road to eternity!

2 Cor. 5:15 says, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation the old has passed the new had come.”

This list could go on but the challenge is: has the Child born in the City of David made a difference in your life? JEUS makes the difference. No change -- No Jesus.

Please continue to pray for us as we pray through His plans for the Dominican Republic. We are currently praying for the hotel / resort area that God would have for the group of women that attend. So pray He will give us an incredible spot for these ladies to come to and be able to recharge and be filled back up for the battles ahead!

I also want to ask each of you reading this to prayerfully consider becoming a monthly supporter of the ministry of Pure Joy International. The very least amount you give can make the absolute difference in the lives of missionary women, their spouses, their children, their ministries, the nationals, and the world!

Love you all so much!

Jesus Makes the Difference,

His,

Vickie

Then the LORD said, "Put 'em in leadership...That'll kill 'em!"

2011-11-30T13:54:00.000-06:00

After reading that header, I’m sure many hundreds of you out there are already chuckling to yourself, especially those of you who have been in a position of leadership in any shape, form or fashion. And I certainly know our missionaries on the field will appreciate that statement.

This morning a good friend of mine and I were talking over some things regarding leadership in ministry.

I suppose that the LORD has allowed more flesh to be removed from my skeleton frame through the journey of being in a “leadership role” more than any other way. In fact, you realize just how much flesh is on these bones as time goes on! Ha, ha, ha, ha!

For a good picture of what I am talking about, just think about a dead animal (having been hit by a car) lying on the road and buzzards randomly flying in to pick away at the flesh till nothing is left.

Now if you just read this and are a sanguine temperament, you are going to be talking in your head, saying that is a pretty funny word picture and wished you had thought of it yourself (even though it’s gross) because it is relational. You can understand it! In fact, you will use the principle of the story yourself someday!

If your temperament is more towards the choleric side, you are going to be evaluating it with an attitude of wondering what the animal was doing in the road anyway! You will also be frustrated with the person who hit it and did not move it off the road. That was their responsibility!

If your temperament is a little more melancholy, your heart strings have already been moved to the breaking point for the poor little fellow on the road, and you’re thinking that those big bad buzzards need to leave it alone! It’s bad enough that it’s dead. And even more than that, who killed it to start with? You want the details!

If your temperament is phlegmatic, you don’t really want to say how you feel about it, because you don’t want to make anyone mad, and you don’t like conflict going on about anything. You just want it to all go away and everybody be happy!

Ok, having had a little sidebar of fun with the temperaments on the illustration of the road kill and buzzards let me conclude with this principle. God really does want “nothing” left of our flesh to be at work in our daily walk with Him. He uses our family, friends, peers, circumstances, and yes, the very ministries He has called us to in this world to be a tool not only for lifting up His Name and bringing glory to Him, but also for removal of our flesh!

So my dear sisters and brothers in Christ, near and far, do not grow weary in doing good!

Stay the course He has purposed for you!

Please be in prayer right now for our sisters in the area of the Dominican Republic. We are praying and working back and forth with a contact in that area for a possible retreat in the spring of 2012. Also, if you are reading this right now and your heart is moved regarding this area of the world and you believe God might be speaking to you about going, please contact me at vickie@purejoyinternationl.org.

Love you guys!

His,

Vickie

Thanksgiving 2011...

2011-11-22T07:30:00.000-06:00

As I sit down to write this blog I know that it is Thanksgiving week and many will sit down to give thanks this week. Many will slow down for the first time all year to think of the things they are thankful for and for some it will pass by just like any other day of their life.

Looking around me, thinking back on the life, thinking present life, and future life, one word rises up in bold letters to me and that is what I am most thankful for - “Grace”.

I like the simple definition given by Holman Bible Dictionary:

Grace: underserved acceptance and love received from another, especially the characteristic attitude of God in providing salvation for sinners.

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!

How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er,
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!

Here is something for you to chew on this week besides turkey…meditate on that last verse and what it is really saying to us, “Oh, for grace to trust Him more!” Don’t assume you get it, really think about it!

Blessings on you and your families this Thanksgiving Week!

His,

Vickie

Just a Little humor...

2011-11-15T07:22:00.002-06:00

On Sunday my mom received a phone call from Pastor Steve, a friend of mine from Round Rock, TX. He explained to my mom that he was trying to reach me suspecting I had already left for church, but he thought he would just try the house. He went on to tell my mom that He and his wife and daughter were driving back from the University of Texas/Missouri game when just outside of Leslie, Arkansas he hit a bear on the road. My mom said, "You mean a deer." He said, "No I mean a bear." She said, "A bear?" "Yes, a B.E.A.R., bear"! he replied. Understand it was natural for my mom to think she heard him wrong because we are in deer season around here, and the best chance of getting a deer is not in the woods this season. It appears your best chances are to just take a drive and your cleaning knife. Ha,ha,ha!

My mom then instead of going to church actually was the church by getting in her car and going after the pastor, his wife and daughter and bringing them back to our home. (Their car will be in the repair shop for some time.) I was very surprised to walk in from church and find Pastor Steve, Karen, and Laruen sitting in our living room. It was great to see them even though I suspect they would have liked it to be under different circumstances. We took them to our family lunch at my Aunt Myrna’s and then on to Little Rock, AR. to a rental car facility to get them back to Longview, TX and then on to Round Rock, TX.

Of course, Pastor Steve likes to add a little humor to all that happened to them from hitting the bear to the local authorities, to the Arkansas Wildlife Management that had to be called, to the toll truck driver, to the local man that showed up to make sure that we didn’t forget we were in AR by saying, “So you got yourself a BARrrrrrr!”

I told Pastor Steve as I dropped them off at the car rental place at the airport, "You know brother, you just had to pull the Bigger and Better Texas thing didn’t you! You couldn’t just come through Arkansas and hit a deer like everyone else. You just had to come through Arkansas and hit a BARrrrrrr!" Ha,ha,ha! I was still laughing as they drove off.

We are three weeks out from Peru and the emails from the ladies there just keep coming! It is so exciting to see how God moved! I want to encourage all of you who are reading this blog and have a missionary friend in a foreign country, and believe they could use a Pure Joy Retreat, get them to the blog and have them contact me.

We are praying about and looking forward to where God is leading us next!

Love you guys!

His,

Vickie

Look at Me...

2011-11-10T07:43:00.000-06:00

I suppose none of us wants to wake up in the morning thinking this day is going to be hard. But the truth is, some days are just hard. I have had several of those days stacked on top of each other for about the past month. Today was really a tough one. But that happens when we are dealing with our teenage loved ones, doesn’t it? The cool thing about God is HE KNOWS. Tonight as I sat down to evaluate the day, conversations, actions, etc., it is like the LORD is saying to my spirit, “look at Me”.

I can just see Him taking my face ever so gently in His hands and holding it so as to be fixed on Him. Holding it so as not to allow me to be fully carried away by the circumstances of life, holding it so I will not turn to the left or right or look behind me but holding it in a fashion that would not allow my eyes to be able to deny His LOVE for me.

Again, the words “look at Me”.

Friend, trust me that I am not foolish enough to think that anything I’m going through is a drop of water in a bucket compared to some of the things some of you are going through even as I write these words, but I do encourage each one of you no matter how big your circumstances or how small your circumstances, “Look at HIM”. He Loves you!

In reading back over this blog I thought, “Wow, Vickie...This is kind of a downer of a blog.” But then I decided that if we are going to journey together, our relationship must be authentic. Authentic relationships are filled with life, and life can be hard, fun, silly, frustrating, awesome, crazy, etc. Today was a hard day. So be it. This too will be gone in about 40 minutes and we will start a new day! Ha, ha, ha! One of my favorite verses from Scripture is, “His mercies are new every morning.” I Love that truth.

Look at Him and Have a God Day!!!

His,

Vickie

The Grand Finale…Day 8 (Saturday), Day 9 (Sunday), and today (Monday)

2011-10-31T22:24:00.000-05:00

Well, pour yourself a cup of Java and enjoy this wrap up of our Peru trip. Missionaries reading this from Peru, we love you ladies! OK, I actually love all the missionary women around the world from all past trips and those to come because you are ‘my people group’. Yes, you are!

Day 8 (Saturday)

We finished up Saturday with an awesome time with the ladies. Ruth brought a teaching time on scripture memorization that was absolutely good for us! I have heard her speak on it before and tried to put it into practice. Don’t get me wrong…I memorize scripture, but whole books?!? No. But, this time I was very convicted by God that this is the time. Do it. So please, any of you feel free to question me on that with some accountability from this day forward. I’m thinking Jesus will be back before I down that many books! Ha, ha, ha! I did ask God in prayer about what book HE would have me start with, and while warming up a bowl of rice and chicken for my mom today, I believed He put Galatians on my heart. So Galatians it is.

The last praise and worship time together consisted of a combination of all the songs the women wanted to sing again, and it was awesome! I then closed out with a final message on the theme verse: 1 Samuel 3:10b. I joined that with a little nugget from Revelation 2:17 that was stirred in my heart by Kenny, one of our board members for Pure Joy, and that which was propelled by my last pastor, Bro. Bill. The key words that God marinated in my heart that came from that verse were “hidden manna”. And let me tell you, God taught us truths that will preach from that!

We then had our last meal together when the ladies received the cards that so many of you had written notes for. They were so excited! Thank you again from Pure Joy for taking the time.

The team then packed everything up and waited for our bus to the airport. In the waiting time, several people made it back to the market places again: Penny, Kathy, Nikki, Karen, Deb, Kim, Sharon, and Jerre. There will be some really happy kids and grandkids in that bunch! Patty, Jan, Ruth, Janice and I made it to the Starbucks and chilled for a few hours. We all headed to dinner together and then on to the airport.

Day 9 (Sunday)

We all arrived home safely to Houston around 9 a.m. or so. We all finally made it to our home by middle to late afternoon on Sunday. Before leaving the Houston airport I had already received the following emails from some of the ladies….

"I’m not much on good-byes, so I skipped as much of that part of the retreat as possible and opted to send you this hello email instead. Thank you for making a timely difference in my walk. Now I’m praying for your continued joy as you come down from the intense spiritual investment of this retreat and step back into your stateside world. - Jennifer"

"Hey Vickie, You and the team have been in my prayers. I was able to be tucked in bed by 10 p.m., and it was so great to be home, but I knew you were all still traveling and I know what that night flight is like…the worst being the wait in the airport when you just want to get on that plane and sleep. God indeed ministered to me at the retreat! Bless your hearts! After these events or speaking there often comes a bit of a low time. I am committed to praying for you and the team in these next weeks that God will continually remind you how He used you to refresh the hearts of the saints. May God grant you clear guidance and absolute peace as you proceed in this transition period. “The LORD confides in those who fear HIM, He makes His covenant known to them.” Psalm 25:14 Rejoicing in Him, Vegas"

Today (Monday)

Well, it is Monday and life goes forward. It will take most of the team and the missionaries several weeks to process some things, and then some of those things will have changed our lives for eternity!

I have one more load to take to storage today from the office. And then I will wake up tomorrow without an office to go to for the first time in well over 30 years. Wow! I can say the words but I know it has not all sunk in yet. You might want to pray extra hard for my mom since I will be doing whatever it is I’m going to be doing from home. God and I are in for some kind of journey! I always tell that you know it’s God when you don’t have to shove it, push it, drag it, etc., because when it’s God you better ‘hold on’ because your hair will be blowing in the breeze! I’m not saying that it’s easy…it’s just that you’re not straining to make things happen.

Here’s another sweet email I received this morning from one of the missionaries…

"Good Morning Vickie, I hope that this email finds you well and back home safe and sound. I just wanted to write to tell you how much I appreciated the opportunity to attend Pure Joy. Thank you for your ministry to me and to the ladies in Lima. Your team was of great encouragement to all of us. Praying for your niece and will continue to pray for your ministry! - Susie Austin"

God is faithful isn’t He! Hope all of you don’t go into withdrawals as I return to the once a week blogs. But, the trip blogs wouldn’t be as much fun if you heard from me every day otherwise. Trust me…I live with me every day, it can get boring! Ha, ha, ha!

Love you all,

Holding on in Arkansas!

His,

Vickie

Day 7 Peru...

2011-10-30T14:47:00.000-05:00

Friday was a great day in the LORD! God has really moved on our heart as a group! I love watching the women worship, it is so incredible. I must say I take great Joy in it! It is so sweet to listen to the ladies share at the meals about how God is working in their lives.

Well, I experienced my first earthquake on Friday. I was in my room working on some details of my message for Saturday’s close out when the floor seemed to shift a little. I kind of sat there in wonder and it shifted some more and the bottles on the fridge were shaking and I thought, “We are having an earthquake, cool!” Then I thought, “Should I get out of the building?” But, by the time I thought through all that it had stopped. About 10 minutes later one of the missionary women came in to visit and asked me if I felt the earthquake. It was a 6.9 she said. I told her yes and I was to mesmerized, to get up and get out of the building. She said, “Well, at least we know you don’t have a spirit of fear.” I said, "Yeah, just of stupidity!" Ha,haha,ha,ha,ah

On Saturday Ruth will finish with scripture memorization and I will share what God showed me about Samuel in Samuel 1:3 and the “hidden manna” from Revelations 2:17.

I think most of the team is going to have to join weight watchers when we come home we have had some great food here!

Love you All,

His,

Vickie

Peru Day 6...

2011-10-29T07:13:00.000-05:00

Well, Thursday was our first full day with our ladies. Everyone is so excited to be here and so excited to be meeting other women from the surrounding areas. We have several women that flew in from Panama to attend the retreat; others have traveled 18 hours on a bus to get here. God is so good to bring in the ladies He would have at each retreat.

Praise and Worship was so sweet throughout the day. I’m thinking we might have touched on the portal of Heaven during the night session. But also during the morning worship as I was walking by a young missionary I could have swore I was hearing an angel sing. This encouraged me to request and impromptu choir for the any of the women that had a voice to sing. Meaning I really asked for those who knew they had a voice to come up not those of us who knew better! Ha,ha,ha,ha

I then asked Nikki our worship leader to lead the ladies in singing the song over us the song we had just finished singing (the song was Still) It was AWESOME! Later one of the dear sweet ladies among those of us that didn’t choose to sing in the choir song wondered if we could have a choir song for those that can’t sing. Hmmmmmmmm, NO. Ha,ha,ha,ha,ha

Ruth brought a message to us regarding leaving things behind and used such a sweet story woven into the fabric of her journey on and off the mission field.

After Ruth we had a time of pairing the ladies up through a little activity to allow them to visit and get to know others in the group that they have not know and then in return they shared with the large group what they learned. Sweet time!

At lunch we had a local dish of some kind of fish called Ceviche. The dish was the appetizer. It is a raw fish thinly sliced with a sauce of lime juice and something else. I personally loved it. However, the end result is we had one team member and two missionaries that became very ill after lunch. They are all doing a little bitter tonight! Praise God there is a pharmacy on every corner here and the other missionary women just jump in and say, “I’ll go to the pharmacy and get them exactly what they need.” In the

U.S.

you would need an appt. and an hour in the waiting room before you saw the doctor and then you would get the same medicine.

Praise and Worship and another message by Kathy followed our free time. The message was really focused on what it means to “Take the Mask Off” and how difficult that can be for us. We then had an awesome time of conversational prayer with the women before going to dinner. After dinner Praise and Worship was incredible and Ruth stepped in for Sharon to give her more time to recover from her above mentioned illness. Ruth spoke excellent words over us from God that evening.

All and all it was a Great day! We have laughed our heads off with the missionary women and their stories! I must say I am the closest to heaven on earth when I’m with these ladies. God is so good to let us be here. I do love Him so much!

Thank you all for your continual praying. Keep it up! We have Friday and Saturday and God has only just begun! Love you all…

His,

Vickie

Peru Day 5

2011-10-27T13:43:00.000-05:00

The ladies arrived Wednesday! It is so much fun for me to see “my people group” enter the building, to be able to share with them in our opening that God has designed this retreat specifically for them, that the team is specifically God’s team for them, the worship, messages, fellowship, etc., just for them. That people have been praying for them and continue to pray for them (you), and that these next four days are theirs for a time of refreshing, recharging, reflection, and rest!

I told them after dinner that I felt confident that we were on track already because during dinner time ladies shared with me these conversations:

“I didn’t even ask my husband if I could go. I just signed up and told him where I was going.”

“When I was leaving today since we don’t live to far away from the hotel my husband wanted to know if I’d be coming back to the house at different times during the next four days. Why, she replied with an apparent attitude of are you crazy of course not!”

Others can’t believe they are here and feel somewhat guilty about leaving their husbands with the kids. Not guilty enough to go home however! Ha,ha,ha

It is so sweet to watch the women interact with one another and visit and catch up with everything they are doing in service to the LORD in this area of the country.

In our opening message I put together a little survey for the ladies to kind of help them get to see that they aren’t alone in some of their struggles on the field. It was a survey to address the “mask” we hide behind, in our marriages, family’s, finances, etc. Patty and Karen got their computer brains going and Deb and I got involved in helping them get things done so on Thursday we will be showing the women graphs of the results. It was very interesting to see.

Praise and worship was good and it is always a joy for me to worship with the women and see them worship with one another. I purchased a video by the ‘skit guys’ that my home church had shown a week ago called “God the Chisel” and included that in my opening tonight. It wa such a powerful tool to minister to our hearts. Wow!

Well, continue to pray for us on Thursday. Ruth, Kathy and Sharon will be on the schedule to share today with the ladies. Each one of them bring a different style but an awesome heart for God. Can’t wait to hear what God has put on their hearts to share with us!!

Hope each of you is having a good week! Kaye, thank you for being such an encouragement to us while we are here! We are taking you with us sometime!!!!!!

Love you All,

His,

Vickie

Day 4 Peru...

2011-10-27T06:13:00.001-05:00

On Tuesday I allowed the team to sleep in and do whatever they needed to do until 12:00. As you can imagine several them got up early enough to go shopping again! Ha,ha,ha,ha This place was kind of Peru’s version of a Wal-mart. It is called Wong.

Everyone else just kind of hung around the hotel and did stuff they needed to get done. At lunch we went to an eatery across the street and guess what they served….You got it chicken and fries. And yes some even had it on a stick this time too. However it was a real kabob and had some vegetables to go with it.

After lunch we kicked it into gear. Penny got us organized to go through all the trunks and get everything read for each day of the retreat. We had activity going on in four different rooms, it was awesome!! We will be able to get into our conference rooms first thing in the morning and then we most likely won’t breathe again until late Saturday afternoon. Bring on the prayers!!!!!! But before we get serious I need to share something with you to funny to pass up.

Ok, so I have to tell you about the Alien Space ship in my room. Linda, our Administrative Asst., has figured out that if she can get me into a suite it works well for putting all the trunks in one place and is best for all the counseling I do during free times. Saturday night when we arrived I came into the door to the outer room with a couch, end tables and lamps, into the bedroom area with a king bed, desk, etc. etc. Then out of the corner of my eye I saw blue lights. I turned to look in the direction it was coming from and it was my bathroom. I walked into the bathroom and lo and behold my shower looks like an alien spaceship, no kidding!!! I went into the hall and said, “You guys have got to see this.” (If you get the blog via email the photo may not show up but you can go to the blog site here to see it.)

It took me forever to figure out what knob to turn to get water. I was afraid to touch anything. Then I finally found a knob that when I turned it on the water came down directly over my head, interesting. Then I found a knob that turned on a hand held shower head. Beyond that I was afraid to push or touch anything. So, I have been content to just be able to get a shower from it all. However, it is obvious that it has a Jacuzzi to it, and a bunch of other water sprayers running all over the place, and then there is the radio, and a foot box that has rollers on it that water goes through somehow, and who knows what else. I’m serious it is Wild! Ruth decided she is going to come in and use the Jacuzzi. Of course after 10 minutes she has figured out she doesn’t know what knobs to turn or touch either. By now several other team members have entered the launching pad of the spaceship. It really was so humorous!!!!! I finally realize that I will not be getting to go to bed unless we figure this out so I step into the spaceship tennis shoes and all and decide to just go for it. The first knob I turn turns on 3 to 4 different sprayers that shoot plum out of the spaceship into the opposite wall! We are all cracking up with laughter. Realizing I was in danger I decided to seek help from the front desk. I walked out of my room just in time to see a young man that worked the front desk or door. I asked him if he could come to my room. Remember I don’t speak Spanish so I was actually doing sign language while guiding him with a hand on his elbow. Imagine his surprise when he walked into the launch pad area with several other women present. We somehow got him to understand that we didn’t understand how to work the spaceship. I left to go back out in the hall for something but when I came back the gentleman was standing outside the spaceship with the women laughing and he was just a tad bit wet!

He had turn on the knob while in the spaceship that released the water from directly over head! Can’t believe I missed that! When it was all said and done we knew nothing! Finally Ruth did figure out how to turn on the water to fill the tub and how to turn on the jets. By this time it was late. I told her I was going to bed and said, “When you get out of there just close the door behind you on the way out.” Less then 15 min. goes by and she comes walking out. I said, “I can’t believe you went to all that trouble tonight to just stay in there 15 min.” She said, “Well, I closed my eyes and when I opened them the bubbles where up to my eyes.” What! I said. Yeah, she said, don’t ever put bubble bath/shampoo soap in your hot tub. I’m thinking, Really! They were finally gone in the morning when I took my shower. Did I ever tell you not to let me leave the country with some people! Ha, ha, ha

On Tuesday night we closed out our time of fun things as a team by attending a meal at a restaurant that included a dinner buffet and a spectacular show of Peruvian dance, music and folklore.
Please pray for us as we change gears going in to the retreat on Wednesday. The women will begin showing up around 12:30 p.m. We can’t wait and God has such a time of refreshing planed for them! Thank you again to all of you for praying, supporting and going when it comes to Pure Joy International. I love telling the ladies about your hearts!
Lifting Off, ha,ha,ha

His,
Vickie

Peru Day 3...

2011-10-25T10:55:00.000-05:00

Greetings to all! The team spent Monday morning doing some shopping for family and friends. There is nothing like turning a group of women loose in a ‘foreign market’. Most of them have been with Pure Joy on at least one occasion, therefore they have learned to ‘haggle’ on prices. The cool thing is that the store owners expect you to haggle with them.
Because of being exposed to this process overseas, last week during my garage sale for office stuff, books, knic -naks, etc., I decided to apply the tools I have learned over the years about haggling. I had a wall mirror and coffee table set that I had marked for $25. A lady came up to me and said, “Would you take twenty for that?” All ready to negotiate, I said, “I don’t really believe I could”. At that time she was supposed to reply, “How ‘bout $22 or $23?” But instead she looked at me and said, “Ok” and walked off.

My friend from Dallas who had come to hang out and help with the sale came up to me later and I told her what had happened. She said, “Why didn’t you take the $20?” I told her it was because I was trying to haggle with her. She looked at me dead pan serious and said, “It’s a garage sale! … Move the stuff!!” Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! Sister, let me tell you that I moved it after that! You should have been there!

Back to Peru. We had lunch Monday at a restaurant close to where we were shopping. Our guide had never eaten there, but we decided to be totally authentic, so we ate there instead of McDonalds! Well, we had to eat safe so we all ordered chicken. Some ordered chicken kabobs…others ordered just chicken breast. The chicken breast and fries that came out first looked great. Imagine our surprise when our kabobs came out only to be the exact same thing, only on a stick with no vegetables on the kabob, just chicken and fries. It was pretty funny. You just had to be there.

In the afternoon we took a tour of Lima, by day…

ANCESTRAL LIMA: We started our tour with a panoramic view of the “Pucllana Pyramid” a magnificent ceremonial and archeological center built in the 4th century A.D. and considered a “Sacred Village” by the Incas. The Viceroyalty of Perú was the most important of the Spanish Empire and Lima was its capital.

COLONIAL LIMA: We visited the Historical Center of Lima, where we saw more than fifty monuments and Colonial edifications, such as the Paseo de la República, the San Martín Square, the Main Square, the Government Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace, the Cathedral Basilica, and the City Council Palace amongst others.

We visied the monumental SAN FRANCISCO CONVENT, which displays the largest collection of religious art in America. The highlight was visiting the underground vaults, known as “Catacumbas” or Catacombs.

CONTEMPORARY LIMA: We visited traditional residential areas of Lima, such as El Olivar of San Isidro, Miraflores and Larcomar.

The tour was good, but the team was really glad to be back at the hotel and rest some. We had a pizza supper and some really sweet prayer time for the retreat.

Tuesday we will spend our time putting order to all the things we brought from the states for the ladies. It will be organized chaos for most of the afternoon.

Pray for rest Tuesday morning for the team as they have a chance to sleep in a bit.

Pray for the speakers as we continue to prepare and look over messages.

Pray for the worship team as they come together in practice.

Pray for the missionary women as they are trying to make their home ready to leave.

Pray for several team members who have several serious issues going on at home with our own families. Pray that we will cling to our knowledge that God is in control. He gave us peace about being out of the country, knowing that these events would happen in our family’s lives.

Love you guys,

His,
Vickie

Day 2 Peru...

2011-10-24T08:57:00.000-05:00

The team had the sweet pleasure of attending Calvary Chapel Lima’s English Service on Sunday morning. The worship was in English and the church crowd was primarily young adults with children and that was exciting to see! The Pastor has an obvious heart to train his flock up in Godly truths. It was neat to watch him equip his sheep to beware of false teachings about the “One Triune God”. Ok, true the team was really tired from getting in late on Saturday night and several of us nodded of a bit and Kathy C. actually took a siesta but who’s looking! Ha, ha,ha

We then went and had lunch along the board walk of the Pacific Ocean. The lunch was incredible. We tried some new things we really didn’t know what it was but it was good! We then took a mile plus walk back to the hotel and rested for about an hour before heading off on a tour of downtown Lima and their Water Fountain Light Show which is incredible. For a taste of what we saw here is a link to a short clip of it on YouTube http://youtu.be/QzFoq_c3CN8.

The team is really enjoying their time together and getting to know each other. We laughed a lot yesterday. I probably have more clowns of humor on this trip then I have had on any team put together over the years. It for sure is NEVER boring.

Please continue to pray as we will begin to really change gears later this evening in order to get our minds focused on the one purpose of this trip, ministering His Love and Truths to the missionary women.

Today will be the team’s day to go the market. Please pray for safety for the nationals here!! Ha,ha,ha Seriously, have you ever seen a group of women turned loose in a market place in a foreign country? We are not talking food here. Pray for the bartering that will take place that we don’t get taken and we don’t take.

Have a great Day in the LORD!

His,

Vickie

Greetings Family and Friends of Pure Joy...

2011-10-23T07:28:00.000-05:00

It is 1:56 a.m. the team has arrived in Lima, Peru. We had good flights and all our luggagearrived. What more could a girl ask foron the first day in. Thank all of you somuch that have been praying for safety getting here and getting here with allout luggage.

I want to encourage you to go the web site www.purejoyinternational.organd click on the retreats section and then click on Peru Team. As the week goes on and I mention names alongthe way it will help you have a face to go with the name.

We are so very thankful for Sharon Smith that speaks Spanishfluently and thus we were able to come through customs and get all our stuffloaded on the bus to get to the hotel. Spreading butter on a good olehot slice of homemade bread could not have been smoother.

The team, while exhausted from the day of travel and airportsis doing well and is healthy. RuthMcWhite came into the trip with a pretty good cold but the antibiotics have heron the road to recovery.

In the morning we are traveling to a local church whereSpanish and English are spoken. Then wewill travel to the ocean front for lunch along the Pacific Ocean with a couple of missionaries that actually will not beattending the retreat because they are headed by to the states for a while.

Tomorrow afternoon we will all probably crash for a fewhours before take a brief tour of Lima, Peru.

Please continue to pray for the team. If you have followed us before you realizethat the next couple of days are very important to the team building process aswe prepare to minister to the women.

We have met a couple of medical missions teams that aregoing into the mountains of

Peru

to minister. One bunch was out of Memphis, TN, a churchcalled, High Point,great group of brothers and sisters in the LORD.

I’m headed to bed to grab about 4-5 hours of sleep. We'll report back to you tomorrowevening. Please remember chances are youwill get these blogs right at a day later than it happens. So as I write this blog consider it Saturdaythe 22^nd our travel day.

Pray without Ceasing,

Love you all,

His,

Vickie

P.S. WooooooHooooooo All themissionary women were paid for as of yesterday afternoon!!!!! God is so very Faithful!

Headed to Peru and Burning Bridges...

2011-10-17T21:10:00.000-05:00

Five days and we are headed to Peru to encourage our sisters in Christ as they follow God’s calling on their lives to serve Him in that area of the world. To say we are getting excited would be an understatement!

As you know I have been in the process of closing down my counseling office in Morrilton, AR in obedience to His direction to get on the road regarding Pure Joy International. Last week I began going through and moving a few things to storage, and over the weekend I had an office garage sale. By 3:00 p.m. Saturday, all the things I had accumulated from 30 years of counseling and church ministries of Christian Ed, and Evangelism were gone. I have a few items to take to storage but the office officially shut down Saturday. As I was going through one of my old journals last week, God really spoke to me through one sentence out of an excerpt of “His Utmost for His Highest” I had referenced in my daily writing. The sentence simply said, “burn your bridges behind you”. Isn’t it funny that one line could speak so boldly? In my spirit God ministered to me deeply…Burn them all. I used every one of them to get you to this moment and time in your life, so leave them and journey with Me in this new direction I have for your life. Trust Me. Rest in it. Then yesterday in my Sunday school class (I absolutely love my SS class!), we had a missionary visiting from Africa. Now I know for most people in our class it was a missionary visiting from Africa but for me it was much more! Why?

Because at the end of the SS hour Larry, our teacher, asked Adu Boahene and me to come stand up front for the class to surround us to pray for us. Larry asked Adu to pray for me in his native tongue in preparation for me leaving for Peru on Saturday. It was sooooooo sweet. Then Steve prayed for Adu as we surrounded him. That whole scene was like a “kiss on the cheek” from God to me affirming the ministry of Pure Joy International going forward and the plans He has for me!

In closing, I want to encourage all of you that are not getting this through email to subscribe today because we will be using the blog to update you while we are in Peru.

Also, we have a big praise! We are down to only 3 more missionary women that need sponsorship. So if God has been speaking to your heart to give and you have been putting it off, you can do that from the blog home page, www.purejoyinternational.blogspot.com, where we have set up an easy Donate button that is designated for the Peru Trip.

I love you guys and can’t wait to share with you daily all that God will be doing as we head to Lima, Peru! Keep the missionary women and the team in your prayers daily that we will all know the love of God in an incredible way through Affirmation, Challenge, and Conviction.

Bridgeless, Standing on Solid Ground!

His,

Vickie

More than just sponsoring a missionary...

2011-10-11T08:09:00.000-05:00

A few minutes ago (Monday morning) I got a phone call from Patty to let me know that more sponsorship had come in and we are down to only 10 more missionary women that need be sponsored for the Peru trip! Totally incredible to watch God’s hand work! Please continue to be sensitive to the LORD regarding giving for these last 10 missionaries. As I said last week, when God moves on your heart to give please act on it and give. It is very easy to give by going to our home page www.purejoyinternational.org and clicking on “Donate Here”.

At this time as we are in the last 100 yard dash for our departure date to Peru, for me, sponsorship is about more than just money. It is an affirmation of God’s direction to me to close down the counseling office in Morrilton. It is continued affirmation that He is Faithful to equip and provide for the call He puts on our lives to accomplish the good works He prepared beforehand that we should walk in them! It is affirmation that the heart of God’s people can still be moved by the Spirit of God to accomplish His good and pleasing will. It is affirmation that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills and He can provide abundantly above and beyond all we can imagine when we are walking it out according to His will as best as we know how to as a human being. I love watching Him bring the cattle in off the hills! It is His Testimony of Himself! Gotta love that!!!

TIME LAPSE: I started writing the blog this morning (Monday) at 8:00 a.m. Due to life circumstance I am just now getting to finish this blog. It is 10:15 p.m. Here is God for you…since I wrote the top part; I have been made aware that we have another missionary woman sponsored. So now, we only lack 9 more! Yea, God!! Sell some more cattle!

In closing…I received an email from one of the missionary women who is reading our blog and who will be attending the Peru Retreat. She said, “So excited about what God is going to do at the conference. What a blessing to be able to go! Looking so forward to it. See you soon. J”

Resting in the Chaos of Life

His,

Vickie

It has come to this...

2011-10-06T07:36:00.002-05:00

Tonight when I got in from the office, my mom and I headed to Wal-Mart to do some shopping before my brother and his wife come in tomorrow visiting from California.

While at Wal-Mart one of the things I picked up was a new toilet brush. When we got home, my mom and I were putting away the groceries. The toilet brush became a very amusing topic of conversation when I walked into the kitchen from my mom’s bedroom saying, “I’m getting old.” “Why?” she said. “Well, because I actually had the thought while I was putting the brush away in the bathroom that it is going to be kind of fun to have a new toilet brush to work with.” After a few chuckles between us on that statement we finally summarized it isn’t really that I am getting old…it is just that I obviously need to get a life! Ha, ha, ha

All kidding aside…PERU, we are headed your way! We are finalizing things that need to get done in the home stretch. It is so much fun to see how many people are praying and giving. We only have 17 and ½ missionaries left that need to be sponsored by Oct. 26^th so if God moves on your heart to give, please be obedient! Don’t put it off. You can click “Donate” on the right side of this page or you can mail donations to:

Pure Joy International

P.O. Box 36

Plumerville, AR 72127

The team is getting excited, and as for me personally, I am already there in my heart! I told our

Peru

prayer team in Morrilton last night that I’m ready to leave the country! For those of you in Peru who will be attending the retreat and you are reading this blog….God is up to some stuff for you! I see Him doing so much stuff on this side that I told last night’s prayer group and the prayer group in Ft. Smith today that I don’t know what God has for you girls through this retreat and for us as a team, but it must gonna be something to behold. So I encourage you ladies there in Peru who will be attending the retreat to ask God now to start preparing your hearts to receive all He has for you!

I also continue to covet your prayers as I am closing down the counseling office before we leave for

Peru

. Have a great week, and if you find yourself excited about the thought of a new toilet brush…well…“get a life”! Ha, ha, ha, ha

Love you friends.

His,

Vickie

He Never Ceases...

2011-09-27T14:59:00.000-05:00

Several weeks ago I shared with you that God was up to some interesting things in my life, but I couldn’t share with you back then due to helping transition my folks involved in the counseling ministry. At this point I think I’m good to go.

While in Uganda back in the Spring of this year, God put it on my heart to close down my Morrilton counseling ministry and be on the road with Pure Joy International. Getting the word out about the opportunity for churches to partner with us, go with us, and pray with us and anything else God might be up to that we are clueless about! Which could be endless! Ha,ha,ha,ha

Anyway, I came home from that time totally freaked out about shutting down my counseling office. So, I chose not to tell anyone but Jennifer Halbrook, our financial advisor for the Board of Pure Joy. I then chose to not talk about it again and pretend like God never moved on my heart to do that. Well, as so many of you know, you can’t pretend with God! Following our return from our Retreat in Costa Rica this past summer, God really went to work on my heart. Actually, I should say He was silent, and it made me crazy! It would be like your husband and you (those of you that are married) not talking, yet you live together day in and day out. (Hmmmmmm, some of you might be doing that as I write this.) Anyway, I was miserable with no peace and no joy. One day as I was driving to Ft. Smith, AR where I provide counseling one day a week, God allowed me to come to my senses and confess my sin and repent, which meant turning back towards the time He and I had together in Uganda and what He put on my heart. That very week, I talked to my mom and a couple of Board Members just to be able to say out loud, “I am closing down the Morrilton Counseling Office”. All that to say, “I am water walking now…I’m out of the boat! I am excited and yes my flesh is still wacky sometimes, but God always reminds me through so many things that He is my provider and He has a plan for Pure Joy International and me. It is so beyond what I can even imagine, the thing He has laid on my heart of how He wants to minister to missionary women overseas. Sunday I was watching Charles Stanley before leaving for church and he made this statement, “Be obedient...leave the consequences up to God.” We all know that and have heard that in different forms and fashions along the way of our journey, but that was one of those “God was speaking to me moments”. I felt like a Nike commercial recipient, “Just Do It!” ha,ha,ha,ha

If you have figured out anything about Pure Joy International over the times of reading this blog, you will know it is all about ministering to the missionary women overseas and providing them a place to come be fed spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally at “NO” cost to them. It is also an incredible place for them to minister to one another in ways we could never even begin to understand! Over this past year we have been encouraging the ladies at each retreat on the last day to follow our web site so they will know where our next retreat is going to be so they can “pay it forward” by telling another missionary in another part of the world about being able to attend a retreat 4 days and 3 nights free of charge to them.

There is nothing more exciting than seeing them encouraging one another. Thus our ministry verse….(Hebrews 3: 13), “Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called, ‘today,’ so that none of you may hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”

Today, we received the following letter in the mail addressed to Patty our Financial/Technical person and the Uganda Team along with a check for $1000 dollars from a missionary that attended the Uganda Retreat. She has given me permission to use her letter to the ministry.

Dear Patty and team…

God was apparently trying to remind me of his ability to provide for me when He gave a windfall from (of all places) the U.S. Government! Remembering how y’all blessed us in Uganda earlier this year I would like to pass along a blessing.

Please feel free to use it on salaries, office rent, paper clips, the upcoming retreat in Peru or wherever a little oil will make the ministry run better.

With Love,
Vicki

Did you catch that comment from her, “or wherever a little oil will make the ministry run better!” Isn’t it true that a little oil makes a big difference!!! We will use our dear sister’s money to go towards sponsoring two more missionaries for the Peru trip. Also know this: God used her in a mighty way today to oil my heart as I continue on this faith walk of obedience regarding Pure Joy International.

Is the oil of the Holy Spirit of God working through you to encourage others? If not, maybe it’s time for an oil change!

Love you so much,
His,
Vickie

Don't be stupid!

2011-09-19T15:11:00.000-05:00

As I write these words to you I am sitting on the side of the road on I-40 waiting for my mom to bring me some gas. When I first realized I had run out of gas, I started looking for all the spiritual reasons for why this happened, what God is trying to tell me, etc. And I could come up with some very spiritual reasons and do believe God speaks to us through our circumstances. However, God did give me a brain and the ability to use it! The warning signal for the gas gage went off 18 miles ago. Hmmmm, I skipped the next exit because "I" thought I can make it to the next town. But then I got side tracked listening to the Praise and Worship music that Nikki is putting together for Peru and did not get off at the next town and there you have it! Stupidity!

Ok, so as not to continue in a mode of stupidity, I just remembered that my hair stylist lives in the next town. I called her to come help me so my mom wouldn't have to make the 40 minute drive. Since I am waiting, I might as well go ahead and add a few spiritual thoughts to the situation! “Why miss an opportunity,” I say!

You know...we kind of do this with God in our lives at times when we are off track or involved in something we shouldn't be, or we just aren't taking time for Him. He is such a Gentleman. He will give us a warning just like that gage gave me a warning so we can address the situation before it gets out of hand, before we end up with a consequence we don't like. But in the same way I ignored the warning signal in the car, we ignore the warning signals of the Holy Spirit! And then there we are to deal with the consequences. I regret I didn't take action when I received that warning, but no matter my regret I'm still sitting on the side of this Interstate. Remember I said God is a Gentleman. He isn't out to humiliate us, embarrass us or shame us. He gently tries to get our attention before regrets and/or consequences, but He loves us enough to stop us in our tracks to get our attention. Is there an area in your life that He has given you a warning in? Don't end up sitting on the side of the Interstate! But if you are sitting there in life right now, call a friend!! We need each other!!

Peru is closing in and we are all getting so excited!!! Please continue to give!!!! We have just over half of the 50 missionaries sponsored!! Yeah, God!!!!

I love you guys,
Reporting live on location from I-40 (ha ha)

His,
Vickie

God and Peru...

2011-09-14T09:27:00.000-05:00

I love to watch God going to work on behalf of that which He has called us to do! The Peru trip is taking shape and I want to encourage all the missionary women that are reading this blog that will be attending the Peru Retreat to get excited about watching HIM move on your behalf. He does love His girls!!!

Below are two stories from one of our team members that I think you will really enjoy and is evidence of what happens when His servant is listening. The first story Deb tells is how He showed her she was to be going on this retreat. The second is how He is working on gifts for the ladies that will be attending. By the way I had to take some words out of the second story to keep things a surprise for the Peru ladies.

Please remember to pray and give! Love you all!

His, Vickie

Enjoy! Story #1

"Two Sundays ago, I woke up at 5 am, unable to sleep. As I do sometimes, I grabbed my iPhone and decided to see what was on Facebook since I had been on there in a day or two. It had been a busy weekend with holiday parties and company. The first thing I saw was Nikki Boyd posting to Jan Tabrizi about seeing her name on the Peru team list. I had this twinge of something – was it jealousy? I’m not a jealous person, so it just seemed odd. Earlier in the year, when I heard that PJI was going to Peru, I had been very interested in the trip, but got busy and didn’t keep up with what was going on, except that I had head the team was “full.” My husband Carl and I both got around early that morning. Over breakfast I just happened to mention that Jan was going to Peru on her first trip with PJI. He asked, “Is that something you need to be doing too?” I just blew it off and didn’t let the thought take root. Our daughter and son-in-law had come to stay with us for the weekend and they were still asleep. They had plans for later in the day and had to leave to go home that morning. We decided to leave them a note and went on to Sunday School since we hadn’t been there in over a month with our summer travels. As I neared the Sunday School classroom, I ran into Kristy Pinion. She had the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on her face. She excitedly told me she was going to Peru. There it was again, that strange, not-quite-jealous feeling. I think I mumbled something about my earlier interest in the trip. She said, “You ought to talk to Vickie, there were some openings.” Once again, I didn’t let the thought take root; I just went on in to class. Our teacher, Harry Layden, is such a great practical Bible teacher. He was teaching out of Colossians 2 about walking shoulder to shoulder with each other for the cause of Christ. He reviewed some points about how to step out in faith that he’d made in previous weeks “for those who’ve missed Sunday School lately.” (That was me!) I like those “4 point” kind of lessons so I got my pen and started writing. First, what does God’s Word say about the decision? Second, what does your spirit say about the decision?

Third, what does your authority say about the decisions? And fourth, what are the circumstances. He said that when all four are present, we probably ought to go ahead and take that step of faith. Hmmmm…..now that was taking root in my mind. Carl and I went on into church and I didn’t say anything until the greeting time when everyone was going around shaking hands. I grabbed his hand and said, “Would you pray for me about going to Peru?” His answer was, “If God told you to go, go! That’s it.” Okay. So point one, two, and three were taken care of, almost. After church I talked to Linda Roach, one of the PJI leaders, and she said she thought there was still an opening, to “call Vickie.” I could hardly wait to get home to check my calendar (point four: circumstances). It was clear! We had just set aside some money for ministry work. I called Vickie and left a voice mail, then I texted her. I wanted her attention! I needed to know if there was still an opening (I guess you figured it out, I didn’t read the blog that week!). When she finally called (about 10 minutes later), I told her my story and she said, “You know my two questions, is God calling you and does your husband support you going?” Those were two Yesses! Vickie was the final authority and she said YES! It was the next day when I opened the team information that I saw the scripture we are using for the retreat: “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (1 Sam 3:10b). God certainly got my attention and that scripture is the basis of my prayer every day. “ Lord, I want to listen to you. Help me to have ears to hear when you call me for the small and big things in my life.”

Enjoy! Story #2

"As I was cleaning of my (rather messy) desk before our PJI team meeting last Thursday, I found a $50 ----------- rewards certificate I’d forgotten about. I decided I was going to use it for some -------- --------------- to put in the retreat bags for the missionaries. I had ---------------- and --------------------- in mind when I went. The -------------------were on a terrific sale and I found ‘matching’ ------------. When I got to the counter I asked the lady waiting on me (her name is “Promise”) to put the PJI stuff in a separate bag from my other purchases and told her those items were going to Peru. She asked if I was going on a mission trip and I told her what we were doing. She thought it was amazing. And then, she gave me a $20 off coupon that she had laying on her cash register. That and the reward certificate covered the entire purchase of PJI stuff. Now isn’t that just so cool! God never ceases to amaze me in the things He makes happen and how He makes me just want to giggle when I pay attention to what He is doing."

Reposting Our Weapons...

2011-09-09T08:56:00.000-05:00

We know that those of you that get the blog via email and on Facebook were not able to see the video posted with yesterday's (9/8) blog. It did work on the regular Blogspot site but we don't want anyone to miss it so we are reposting the entire blog entry below with a link to the video instead of embedding it in hopes that you can enjoy it now.

This morning, as I write this blog, my mom and I are sitting in a hotel room just a little over an hour outside of Knoxville, TN headed to Williamsburg, VA to watch my godson’s wife run in her first Triathlon. I can’t wait to see them and be one of her cheerleaders!

Anyway, as I was preparing to have my quiet time I received a text from a counselee dealing with a difficult situation. After responding I set down to my quiet time and began reading God’s Word. One truth that burned in my heart from the reading is something I have found myself telling my counselee’s and friends a lot lately and that is we, as believers, cannot deal with life from a physical world view and walk victoriously! If our eyes are only on the physical we will crumble, be defeated, give in, give up, and give out! The enemy is out to destroy us! He doesn’t have to destroy lost people He already has them. But you and I he has to destroy because we are God’s tools for reaching them and proclaiming that JESUS IS THE HOPE OF THIS WORLD! Therefore, life is not going to get simpler. In fact, the very people we are trying to minister truth too most often are the very people the enemy uses to distract and overwhelm us, such as a spouse, child, sibling, parent, friend, etc.

I say all these things to encourage you and remind you we are in a battle daily! The enemy loves to lull us to sleep with no gun-fire for a season and then drop a grenade and or a missile! But we have the victory through the shed blood of Christ! Therefore, remember the words of 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 which says: “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and we take captive everything to make it obedient to Christ.”

What are those weapons…check out Ephesians 6:10-20 (Spiritual Armor). In short, get dressed friends…..we are in a WAR!!!!!!!!

We have 43 women signed up for Peru as of today! It is so exciting to us to watch those slots fill up! The team continues to be in the prayer and preparation mode. It is so fun for me to watch the team starting to get excited. Give it about two more weeks and they will be like, “I can’t believe we are going to Peru to minister to missionary women.” Oh, wait, that is what I start saying about 4-6 weeks out! Ha,ha,ha,ha Anyway, please keep us in your prayer as we continue all the detail work of preparation. Also, do not miss out on an opportunity to be a part of this trip by giving towards helping sponsor the missionary women to attend the 4 day-3 night event free of charge to them. I wish all of you could experience what this opportunity means to them. Follow the link below for a video that will help you get a glance into what God desires to accomplish through the ministry of Pure Joy international from out trip two months ago to Costa Rica. Enjoy! (Tip - If the video doesn't play smoothly try pausing it and allow it to load for a few minutes then start playing again.)

http://www.screencast.com/t/bvHSnozUxm6

And remember to pray, go, and give to missionaries all over the world!!!!

Love you all like crazy!!!

His, Vickie

Our Weapons...

2011-09-08T13:45:00.000-05:00

We have 43 women signed up for Peru as of today! It is so exciting to us to watch those slots fill up! The team continues to be in the prayer and preparation mode. It is so fun for me to watch the team starting to get excited. Give it about two more weeks and they will be like, “I can’t believe we are going to Peru to minister to missionary women.” Oh, wait, that is what I start saying about 4-6 weeks out! Ha,ha,ha,ha Anyway, please keep us in your prayer as we continue all the detail work of preparation. Also, do not miss out on an opportunity to be a part of this trip by giving towards helping sponsor the missionary women to attend the 4 day-3 night event free of charge to them. I wish all of you could experience what this opportunity means to them. Here is something that might help you get a glance into what God desires to accomplish through the ministry of Pure Joy international from out trip two months ago to Costa Rica. Enjoy! (Tip - If the video doesn't play smoothly try pausing it and allow it to load for a few minutes then start playing again.)

Unable to display content. Adobe Flash is required.

And remember to pray, go, and give to missionaries all over the world!!!!

Love you all like crazy!!!

His, Vickie

I'm Laughing...

2011-08-31T17:26:00.000-05:00

So, I spent this past weekend with some dear friends who have a marriage retreat ministry called “Let’s Get Real-Marriages” (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lets-Get-Real-Marriages/264310908290), and they do get ‘real’ in the teaching time. No I’m not married, but I have been counseling married couples for almost 30 years now with 21 of those years being Biblical Counseling. The reason I attended was to observe what was being taught, because I have some of the participants in follow up counseling. It was very scripturally tight and the presenters were excellent (and I’m not just saying that because they are good friends. You that know me know that’s true). I’m laughing out loud because God has clear teaching in His word regarding the principles of marriage. You only need to be able to read or listen to a CD to get the information. Ah, but it is receiving the information that gets everyone in trouble. Why? Because by the time most people get the information, their mind’s filtering system is already full of worldly lint! I mean some big lint balls that got passed on from parents, friends, peers, books, TV, magazines, etc., that weren’t doing life God’s way. Lint balls that say things like, “Hey if you don’t like it, you know were the door is!” At this point I think that statement would make me want to regress into a tad bit of drama where I immediately start flinging my arms in the air in front of me while saying something like, “Where am I? I can’t see? Where’s the door?” Ha, ha. Anyway, I pray that the couples were able to receive the truth that was taught and will put it into practice daily.

We are booking team tickets this week for the Peru trip. Please pray as a few ladies are still in decision mode regarding their part on the team. It is so cool to look at how God positions us for the trips. When we left for Costa Rica, the team was full. As you know last week I shared with you that we had a few places open back up for team members. He has filled several of those this week. I love how HE KNOWS!

As of today there are 39 missionary women registered for the retreat. I suspect the final 11 places will fill up by the end of next week. Please begin to prayerfully start seeking the LORD to see if He would have you give to help towards sponsoring the missionary women that will be attending. I know I say this often. We would be lying to you if we said we didn’t need your resources, but more than that, we need your hearts! Hearts that truly understand the need this ministry meets for the missionary women as we go each time. Hearts that can really pray with us in the preparations process as we ask for prayers for the details. So, yes, give us your resources if God so leads, but above all else give us your hearts!!

I shared with you earlier our theme is “Take Off the Mask”. I wonder as you read this how many of you out there are hiding behind a ‘Mask’? You look happy, content, confident, self-assured, in control; you are leading music, bible studies, women’s ministries, homeschooling, running businesses, etc. and you walk in fear daily that someone is going to find out that your marriage is falling apart, your children are living in the world, your job is about to be terminated, you’re at the door of bankruptcy, etc. What you are hiding?

Love you All and Covet your Prayers,

His,

Vickie

Peru On The Horizon...

2011-08-26T08:04:00.001-05:00

We have 39 missionary women signed up for Peru with registration having opened up to them just last week. Please pray as the remaining 11 openings are filled. Please join us in praying for God to put women in those openings that will need what He has put on our hearts to take to Peru as a ministry team! If you know a missionary woman serving in the Lima, Peru area and/or surrounding countries, please direct them to the web site for registration: www.purejoyinternational.org. Once they are at the home page they can click on “Registration is now open for our next retreat in Peru!” Please let them know that the retreat is for missionary women serving in the Lima, Peru and surrounding areas. There is no cost to the missionary women except each is responsible for their transportation to and from the retreat facility. The retreat is four days and three nights in length. Again, send them to the web site for information.

All of that information concerns women that would attend the retreat from in and around Peru. As for the rest of us who are reading this blog, please as always be in prayer for the trip and be praying about giving towards sponsorship of the missionary women. All donations are tax deductible.

Also, please tell a friend about this ministry and allow God to stir their hearts! I learned along time ago through wise counsel not to decide for people what they do or don’t want to be a part of, because we don’t always know what God is doing in a person’s heart and life. So, share, pray, give. And here is a seed for you out there in blog land...we have a couple of spots still open for team members to Peru. If you are interested you will need to contact me at vickie@purejoyinternational.org ASAP and I will be glad to give you details.

Also, many times people will ask us what Pure Joy International does. The simplest explanation is: we wash the feet of our missionary women that serve overseas. Why, because they too wash the feet of others. Why, because all of us recognize the significance of the word ‘so’ in verse 4 of John 13:1-5.

Starting with verse 3, "Jesus knew the Father had put all things under his power, and that he (Jesus) had come from God and was returning to God; ‘so’ He (Jesus) got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciple’s feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him."

Do you understand why Jesus could humble Himself and serve? Because, he (Jesus) KNEW where he came from, who his power came from and where he was going when the curtain closes. ‘So’ he humbled himself and served others!

We as believers must KNOW where we came from. Psalm 139 tells us God created and made us; we must KNOW our power source is God the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8 promises "We will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes", and finally we must KNOW where we are going because John 14:2-3 tells us, He (Jesus) is preparing a place for us to dwell with him for eternity!

"So" knowing this are you serving?

A lot is going on with Pure Joy International right now but I have to wait a couple of weeks to share with you what God is up to. I can tell you this…God has increased the vision He gave me 11 years ago regarding our ministry. Therefore, there are many changes taking place even as I write these words. I can’t wait to share with you in a few weeks more details but for now just KNOW THIS (especially if you are a missionary woman reading this blog and/or you have a daughter, sister, mother, wife, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, and/or niece who is a missionary on the field)…GOD KNOWS YOUR NAME and He has called this ministry to come to you bringing you times of refreshing and encouragement so you can come out of the storms and challenges of everyday life on your field of service. And rest, regroup, breathe, and be renewed, strengthened, reminded, encouraged, loved on, and, yes, so you can laugh out loud with other ladies of like mind at life, yourself, and even with each other.

Why?

So you can return to your marriages, children, and family with a new attitude so that His Name may be HIGH and LIFTED UP in all you do on the field that others might KNOW HIM! That others might KNOW HIM is what it is all about!! It is hopefully why any one of us as His children, beloved, followers of Christ, do anything we do so that we may make Him known! Pure Joy is here to for you to help encourage you to be the best at what God has called you to do!

Love you all!

Blessings,

His,
Vickie

Good Wednesday Morning to all you bloggers out there!

2011-08-17T13:36:00.000-05:00

I know the blog is late getting out this week but if you get to know me you will understand that I can’t just write for the sake of writing. I want to be able to share things with you that are from my heart. The last couple of days my heart has been really heavy due to some of my counseling ministry and things people are going through that grieve my heart to the bone. I didn’t want to grieve your hearts because I suspect some of you are already experiencing that in the circumstances of your life. I wanted to try to write something uplifting but that didn’t seem to be coming to me either as I waited on the Lord for the words for the blog. (Yes, I believe He even cares about the things I put in this blog!) Then this morning the answer came through an email from a dear friend. She sent me the following story about her husband Roger and it is worth a smile, especially if you know that this man always has one of the most awesome gardens around and is kind enough to share with some of the rest of us. Here was what she wrote me. Enjoy!
Love You All,
Vickie

I wanted to share a tale with you about Farmer Roger or maybe that should be Gardener Roger.

Once upon a time, in 2011, Farmer Roger (that sounds better) planted a garden and included cantaloupes. The weather turned hot and dry and very little in the garden survived. But being tenacious (ok he's not but that sounds good, too) Farmer Roger finally succeeded in getting two cantaloupe vines to grow. One produced two cantaloupes and he watched them carefully, checking on them twice a day, and even breaking his cardinal rule to never water the garden, he watered these precious vines. One day he decided it was time to pull one of the cantaloupes, but it wasn't just right, so he decided to wait one more day. The next morning when he checked his two cantaloupes, one was completely missing. Some varmint had taken his precious cantaloupe. Well not to be outdone by a varmint, Farmer Roger took some wire and bent it in an arc and put it over the remaining cantaloupe, and then as a further measure to insure it would not be overripe, he covered the wire with weed blanket that lets in water but not bugs and varmints.

When he checked the next day, everything was fine. The next day I heard him say, "Laura, come and look. You won't believe this." Being the dutiful wife I am (well most of the time) I went and looked and sure enough there was the evidence the varmint had outwitted him again. Not being able to take the whole cantaloupe, the varmint had eaten half of it. He entered through the end of the arc and got to the prize. So learning his lesson and spotting another cantaloupe about to develop, he shut up both ends and placed the wire arc over the developing cantaloupe. Only time will tell. And after recalling these events I would have to say he is tenacious at least about gardening.

Now when I reflected on this I saw a spiritual meaning. We can put our all into something but there is no guarantee that things will work out like we plan. Maybe God just wants us to look after the cantaloupe but the end result has to be His plan and not ours.

Love you,
Laura

Repost of Thoughts from Costa Rica Team Members...

2011-08-02T07:15:00.000-05:00

(There were some text issues in Monday's post for those that receive it via email so we are reposting it to correct - hope you don't mind reading it again!)

Last week I asked the

Costa Rica

team members if they could find time to share a few thoughts on what it meant to them to serve as a team member during the retreat. Several of them responded back over the weekend and here is their view…..

I keep trying to find an adequate way to describe the team member experience on a Pure Joy adventure. All the words that form are insufficient. God was at work from the beginning, His hand putting all the pieces in place, the big pieces and the little pieces, who needed to attend, who needed to work and even who needed to stay home this time if only to allow another to participate. I feel blessed and honored to have been a part of what God did in Costa Rica this year, in the women that attended, the team members and myself.

Pure Joy was amply named from blessings received, lives touched and the hearts affected. Thanks, Vickie, for continuing to let God use you in this ministry.

Denise

As I look back on the trip with Pure Joy I am amazed at how 12 people, most of whom had never met, seamlessly came together to be a team. Each person had their job and yet no one grasped at being more important. Instead each person did their job, but also folded in to make sure each team member was successful. Huh, many parts- one body- I think I've heard that somewhere before. Ha ha. I know a large part of this was because of the incredible prayer coverage for Pure Joy's trips. It is truly an amazing experience. As incredibly beautiful as Costa Rica was what went on inside the hotel with those missionary women was equally as beautiful.

Kathleen

Being on the Pure Joy team was a "mountain top" experience for me. Having known about this ministry for several years, I would pray that someday, when the time was right, I would get to help with a retreat. From the start of the journey, which began several months before the actual trip, God confirmed over and over that this was the time! Boy, I had no idea what we were in for!! Through preparation for the retreat and my personal role, I was stretched and pulled in directions I was not completely (or at all!) comfortable with. That just lead to more prayer and total dependence on a God who I knew had called me to this and who knew I could Not do it without Him! That puts you in a place of humility where God will use you for His glory in ways we cannot imagine and that is exactly what happened. The missionaries on the trip were so personally blessed and refreshed, but at the same time, so were the team members.

So much prayer was behind all of the speakers, and I know the goal was to speak to the hearts of the missionaries, but it felt like the talks were just for me. I had known for years that there was something holding me back from fully believing that God is good. I would certainly say that He was good and could tell you lots of reasons why I thought so, but there was fear in me that proved deep down, I believed otherwise. The person I loved the most in the world was taken from me when I was six. 27 years later, during a prayer time at the retreat, God revealed what was holding me back and I was finally able to truly thank God that He was sovereign, He knew best, and because of and in spite of this tragedy, He has been glorified. He is so good! That is a major one, but there were several ways that my perspective was challenged and changed. This was an experience I don't think I will ever get over and I'm pretty sure I don't want to. :)

Heather

I hope reading these ladies hearts has encouraged some of you to take the challenge to become part of a team in the days ahead.

Please remember to pray for our Peru trip. Registration will begin in a few weeks. Pray for the team that will be going. Already God is up to His awesome ways! Please begin praying for the missionary women that will register, the team going, and as always sponsorship of the missionary women in attendance. We have 13 sponsored with 37 more to go.

Recently it was reported to me that someone felt that we shouldn’t have to ask for sponsorship of the women for each trip, that we should have the trips built into our budget for each year. Well, truthfully we do have the sponsorship built into our budget each year because we trust God that He gave the vision for Pure Joy and that He will make provision for what He has called us to. We never know for sure how many trips He will call us to take in a year. But when He does, we go! Truly, every trip we are completely dependant on God for our resources for that trip. It keeps us in prayer and it keeps us humble before Him because ONLY GOD through HIS people could make this happen each time. It is an incredible thing to be a part of. However, if any of you feel led to give us a donation to cover all the trips before Jesus returns we will count that as from God, too! All kidding aside, if HE ever stops providing then we will have to suppose He has a different plan. Until then we will do as the song says, “Trust and Obey”, because there is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.

Peru or Bust!

Love you all so much,

His,
Vickie

Thoughts from the Team from Costa Rica...

2011-08-01T15:42:00.000-05:00

Last week I asked the

Costa Rica

I keep trying to find an adequate way to describe the team member experience on a Pure Joy adventure. All the words that form are insufficient. God was at work from the beginning, His hand putting all the pieces in place, the big pieces and the little pieces, who needed to attend, who needed to work and even who needed to stay home this time if only to allow another to participate. I feel blessed and honored to have been a part of what God did in Costa Rica this year, in the women that attended, the team members and myself.

Pure Joy was amply named from blessings received, lives touched and the hearts affected. Thanks, Vickie, for continuing to let God use you in this ministry.

Denise

As I look back on the trip with Pure Joy I am amazed at how 12 people, most of whom had never met, seamlessly came together to be a team. Each person had their job and yet no one grasped at being more important. Instead each person did their job, but also folded in to make sure each team member was successful. Huh, many parts- one body- I think I've heard that somewhere before. Ha ha. I know a large part of this was because of the incredible prayer coverage for Pure Joy's trips. It is truly an amazing experience. As incredibly beautiful as Costa Rica was what went on inside the hotel with those missionary women was equally as beautiful.

Kathleen

Being on the Pure Joy team was a "mountain top" experience for me. Having known about this ministry for several years, I would pray that someday, when the time was right, I would get to help with a retreat. From the start of the journey, which began several months before the actual trip, God confirmed over and over that this was the time! Boy, I had no idea what we were in for!! Through preparation for the retreat and my personal role, I was stretched and pulled in directions I was not completely (or at all!) comfortable with. That just lead to more prayer and total dependence on a God who I knew had called me to this and who knew I could Not do it without Him! That puts you in a place of humility where God will use you for His glory in ways we cannot imagine and that is exactly what happened. The missionaries on the trip were so personally blessed and refreshed, but at the same time, so were the team members.

So much prayer was behind all of the speakers, and I know the goal was to speak to the hearts of the missionaries, but it felt like the talks were just for me. I had known for years that there was something holding me back from fully believing that God is good. I would certainly say that He was good and could tell you lots of reasons why I thought so, but there was fear in me that proved deep down, I believed otherwise. The person I loved the most in the world was taken from me when I was six. 27 years later, during a prayer time at the retreat, God revealed what was holding me back and I was finally able to truly thank God that He was sovereign, He knew best, and because of and in spite of this tragedy, He has been glorified. He is so good! That is a major one, but there were several ways that my perspective was challenged and changed. This was an experience I don't think I will ever get over and I'm pretty sure I don't want to. :)

Heather

I hope reading these ladies hearts has encouraged some of you to take the challenge to become part of a team in the days ahead.

Please remember to pray for our Peru trip. Registration will begin in a few weeks. Pray for the team that will be going. Already God is up to His awesome ways! Please begin praying for the missionary women that will register, the team going, and as always sponsorship of the missionary women in attendance. We have 13 sponsored with 37 more to go.

Recently it was reported to me that someone felt that we shouldn’t have to ask for sponsorship of the women for each trip, that we should have the trips built into our budget for each year. Well, truthfully we do have the sponsorship built into our budget each year because we trust God that He gave the vision for Pure Joy and that He will make provision for what He has called us to. We never know for sure how many trips He will call us to take in a year. But when He does, we go! Truly, every trip we are completely dependant on God for our resources for that trip. It keeps us in prayer and it keeps us humble before Him because ONLY GOD through HIS people could make this happen each time. It is an incredible thing to be a part of. However, if any of you feel led to give us a donation to cover all the trips before Jesus returns we will count that as from God, too! All kidding aside, if HE ever stops providing then we will have to suppose He has a different plan. Until then we will do as the song says, “Trust and Obey”, because there is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.

Peru or Bust!

Love you all so much,

His,

Vickie

God Never Ceases to Amaze Me...

2011-07-25T16:16:00.000-05:00

This morning, as I arrived at the office and began getting things in order for the day, I checked emails before my first client came in. There was an email from a friend, and one from one of our board advisors, asking if we had room for another person on our team going to Peru. If not, she asked if we had a waiting list for the team. Well, just so happens that for the first time we do. So we now have two people on our waiting list to go to Peru as a team member if someone should have to drop out for some reason. I know that God always knows. Just like the waiting list with the missionary women He always knows who will end up moving into the retreat. In Costa Rica we had at least 6 women move up from the waiting list to the actual retreat before we actually left the country. God knows when something is going to cause a woman to have to drop out due to ministry needs, family needs, etc. He is so good to have just who we need on the team for the group of missionary women attending and just the women that need to be attending! He KNOWS!

Remember our theme for Peru is “Take the Mask Off” and our verse is 1 Samuel 3:10b “Speak LORD for your servant hears”. Can’t wait to see what God is up to with our precious women in Peru to minister to their hearts!

Ok, so I had a visit with a cardiologist when I returned from Costa Rica. He says my heart is strong (in the LORD I’m thinking, tee-hee) and he isn’t sure of the source of swelling in my feet. However, he would like for me to lose some weight (so would I!) and eat healthier (been doing that for 6 months and just recently lost 10 lbs before seeing him!) Also, start exercise and see him again in a month. You know the weight dilemma don’t you, every woman’s nightmare……. Don’t you just want to say, “ hey buddy”, you go through breast cancer, chemo with its steroids, radiation, 5 years of tamoxifen, a complete hysterectomy, menopause, hot flashes and GET BACK WITH ME ON THAT! ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha.

Hope you have a Blessed week!

His,

Vickie

We're Back...

2011-07-20T19:14:00.000-05:00

Days #8 and #9 finished up wonderful in Costa Rica. Being home is good too!

Saturday was a great finish to the retreat. God really impressed on my heart to utilize Susan and her husband, Russell, in the final hour to share some things to minister to the women regarding marriage issues.

The choir girls did their final song A Cappella and it was heavenly!!! Also, the ladies were totally overwhelmed by the last gift they received because so many of you had taken the time to be a part of it! You will never know how much their hearts were touched!!

We left Costa Rica on Sunday afternoon. Because our team members came from churches in Oklahoma, Arizona, Texas, and AR we all had to separate and head different directions in Houston after passing through customs. The team was so absolutely incredible and specifically what God wanted for this group of women. Oh, the sweet stories we could share with you. Again, thanks to each one of you who were a big part of the team through your giving and gifts!

In the next few days I am going to ask a couple of the team members to share what being on the trip meant to them. Be watching the blog!

Also, I want to encourage you to keep those prayer hats on because Lima, Peru is on the horizon. Our team is already together. It will be made up of women from North Carolina, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Jonesboro, Ft. Smith, and Morrilton Arkansas. Registration for that retreat will open up in a couple of weeks. Please begin now to pray about how you can be involved in this trip. There are many ways the ladies in your home church can be involved without leaving the country!

Also, begin now to pray about donating to this trip to sponsor a missionary woman to attend. Every little bit helps because it all adds up towards sponsoring a missionary! Again, it costs $500 to sponsor one missionary to attend the conference for 4 days and 3 nights free of charge with all meals and materials taken care of! We believe that we will have 50 women sign up for the conference. Pray, Pray, Pray that God will have just who He wants to be there. Our theme for the retreat is “Take the Mask Off”.

Hope each one of you is having an incredible summer in the LORD!!

His,

Vickie

Costa Rica Day #7

2011-07-16T08:53:00.000-05:00

We had a great day in the LORD today (Friday). The missionary women are absolutely overwhelmed by the gifts that have been given! Thank you so much to all who have invested in the ministry of Pure Joy.

Today the ladies that have been doing choir with Denise and Debra, about 8 – 10 of them, have been the best!!! Wow, they have given some wonderful ministry to us. Also, Stacey continued to share her story. If you would like to understand a small amount of her story you can go to http://www.21stcenturypress.com/least.htm and gain some insight into her heart. This week we have been allowed to know the ‘rest of the story’ of how God eventually brought her back to the states and then how she and her family experienced the loss of her brother Zac soon afterwards. You can see Zac Smith’s testimony in his own words at http://youtu.be/b4Qb1qdXn4o . Stacey’s ‘story’ is a story of great loss and incredible faith!

Linda, Janice and I also continued to pour information into the heads and hearts of the women. I’m sure they have so much data in there that they are experiencing brain freeze! Heather gave them another new craft idea and they did Zumba again. Russell and Judy continue to record and snap a picture of everything moving. Kathleen keeps the gifts and chocolate moving, Shawna gave a great devo on Jonah this morning, and Susan and I have made ourselves fully available for times of counseling with the ladies. The women themselves divided up into their Providences tonight and were able to encourage and minister to each other. So as you can tell we have had a great day FULL day in the LORD!

Keeping praying as we enter the final stretch of our time here, we so desire to finish strong.

His,
Vickie

Costa Rica Day #6 Recap

2011-07-15T07:38:00.000-05:00

Today (Thursday) was a great day in the LORD. The praise and worship was awesome, Janice taught a great message on forgiveness, Stacey shared her story about how God has worked in her life, and I was able to teach and counsel on marriage and parenting. During their free time many of the ladies did Zumba, others went shopping, or swam, and some took advantage of the time to catch up on reading. The meals have been great and the fellowship wonderful. We have done lots of laughing and crying together today. We also heard the group of ladies that are doing choir sing their first song and it was AWESOME!!!! So God!

Please continue to pray for God’s Glory to come down on our time here! Not only are the missionary lives being touched, we as a team are being touched too!

Long day…time for rest!

His,

Vickie

Costa Rica Day #6 - Looking back on Day #5

2011-07-14T08:19:00.002-05:00

Our ladies have arrived! We had a great time of worship last night and serious time in the word. It is always so exciting to see their faces and how they soak up worshiping in their native tongue of English. To all of you out there that are the gift givers they are loving it! Many stories to tell when we get home regarding their comments and we are just in the first day of the conference. Boy are they going to be surprised!

The team is all doing well. Denise has a choir, YES, a choir. She obediently put a choir song in a set each day because she believes the LORD told her to do so. Last night about 5-6 ladies came forward to do the choir songs with her this week. They practiced last night after our craft time. Wow! They sound angelic! God KNOWS!

Heather got her first craft time in last knight. OK, so I told her that it was possible that only a handful of ladies would involve themselves in crafts. WRONG. Well, over 40 of the women engaged themselves in the craft project. They LOVED IT! Yes, Heather might have been a tad overwhelmed! Welcome to Retreat Heather! Ha,ha,ha,ha

Baby Tico is doing well. Mom has looked a little on the pale side a few times but because she is a good mom, she has no problem coming and asking to take some time to go rest! I so love women that start taking care of that little one even before they see the light of day!

Rita Mae, they loved the flowered book mark. I explained about how you pick up those wild flowers along the highway, dry them out, and do whatever that process is. Ok, so I didn’t explain the process part because I don’t get it! Ha,ha,ha,ha

Also, one of our team members has a friend that believed God put it on her heart to donate journals for the ladies. Conscientious of our need to watch the weight of the trunks she looked for the thinner journals, however God kept leading her to a specific one. So, she had them shipped to us just a few days before we packed. We brought them, weight and all. Last night it was clear that God has a plan. The women absolutely loved them!! HE KNOWS

Please pray for the worship, messages, fellowship, and counseling that will take place today. Pray for the team to have an extra measure of strength and to be rested in our minds! Our bodies won’t get to rest till we get home!

Keep Praying…

His,

Vickie

Greetings from Costa Rica Day #4

2011-07-13T07:26:00.000-05:00

We had a good and busy day yesterday (Tuesday). We started our day in the local markets to look for gifts to take home to family and friends. We met back at the hotel at 12:30. The rest of the day was all about preparation and ordering the things we brought with us for the missionary women that so many of you were apart of!!!! They will be sooooo Blessed!

We were then able to get into the main conference room we will be working from to get the sound system, keyboard, tables, etc., set up for tomorrow. We then had a sweet time of worship as a team, prayer over the room and all its contents, prayer for the missionary women coming in tomorrow, and then dinner before retiring to our rooms. It was a long day but a lot was accomplished! The team is tired but excited!

Please spend an extra amount of time in prayer today (Wednesday) as the ladies prepare to come to the Hotel leaving behinds husbands, children, ministries, etc. Pray that they will be able to come without feeling “guilty” about being here to be refreshed while the world keeps spinning! Pray that God will speak to them and minister to them through this team from the minute they step on the premises. Pray that what God accomplishes in their hearts while they are here will bring refreshment to their homes, husbands, children, ministries, etc. Pray for the team through the rest of this week that they will feel rest even when we aren’t getting enough rest! Ha,ha,ha,ha

Thanks to all of you friends and family members that are writing your prayers and thoughts to us on the blog. It has been really fun for us and an encouragement to the team. We talk about it amongst ourselves. In fact baby Tica mom made a personal journey down the hall to my room to see what I meant when I said that baby Tica was growing. Ha, ha,ha,ha,ha,ha

Please pray also for Stacey, she has had a little bit of a bug since flying out Saturday. She felt somewhat better last night. Don’t worry mom and dad, we are making sure she gets the rest she needs and whatever else.

We love you all and covet your continued prayers.

His,

Vickie

Costa Rica Day 3

2011-07-12T11:11:00.000-05:00

Well, the team was up and at it this morning (Monday) early as we traveled the Pan-American Highway toward the city of Alajuela. The sites along the way were beautiful as we saw the lushness of the land; the ferns and flowers were unbelievable. We also hiked up to the site of the Poas Volcano. It was a good hike and a great opportunity to see the Majesty of God. It was awesome!

We have nicknamed Shawna and Nate’s little one to be, Baby Tico. When we were in Ecuador several years ago we nicknamed one of our team members little one to be, Baby Quito. Nate I hope you are ok with that for now. Ha,ha,

When we left the Volcano we went to the Doka Coffee plantation. It was of course one of my personal favorites! We also had lunch there on the coffee plantation. It was really great! We then traveled through Grecia and into Sarchi to do a little bit of shopping. Most of us held out for the ‘Market’ place in the morning (Tuesday) so we could do a little bartering.

Tonight several of us are working on our teaching messages. The rest are visiting in the hallways because I can hear them! Ha,ha,ha

Tomorrow morning will be the teams last few hours to shop and look around before we start setting up for the retreat to begin on Wednesday. Please pray as we organize and coordinate what has been prepared for the ladies this week!

By the way, the team members love looking at your blog comments. It is so good to know that each one of you is out there praying for us. I’m sure the missionary women feel the same way, knowing that so many are praying for them.

His, Vickie

P.S. Some random things:

A squirrel jumped up on my hand and ate an almond today.
Baby Tico appears to have gained some weight the past couple of days.
Heather demonstrated some ‘Zumba’ steps for the restaurant staff at Dakota coffee today.
We watched a man trim his hedge with a machete today. Very interesting.
Russell shot a picture of every flower we passed today and we saw lots of beautiful flowers!
Watching 7 out of 12 people sleeping on a bus following a long day is an interesting sight. Do all of us breathe with our mouths open when asleep? Ha,ha,ha,ha,ha

Costa Rica Day #2

2011-07-11T07:13:00.000-05:00

Great day today! The team divided up and went to three different churches with some of our missionary women that will be attending the retreat this week. It is such an awesome thing to worship our LORD together in different languages. While we may not understand the language very well, we do understand the presence of the Spirit of God and it was present among us.

After church we walked from our hotel room to a place in the downtown heart of San Jose and had lunch. It was wild to see all the people and vendors on the street. Then at 5 p.m. 8 of us took advantage of an opportunity shared with us by one of the couples that took us to church. It wasn’t on our agenda but it was such great fun! We attended a concert by a group call Masterkey in the National Theater on the ‘Plaza De La Culture. It is a beautiful building constructed in 1887 and is considered San Jose’s Architectural gem. The group performed Motown hits such as; Stand by Me, Have You Seen Her, In the Still of the Night, I’ve Got Sunshine, Lean on Me, Oh Happy Day, and many more! They were incredible. Click on this link if you want to see them ministering in their local church. http://youtu.be/tHk9j-EC2y0

We then headed back to our hotel and had an awesome sweet devotional from Shawna and then some precious prayer time. The team is really becoming one Spirit more each day as we prepare our hearts for the missionary women to come.

Continue to pray for good health, everyone is doing well so far. Also, pray for our moms that are here. It is difficult for them to be apart from their children this long and we are just getting started. Also, pray for the dads left behind because their week is just beginning! Ha,ha,ha

Love you All,

His,

Vickie

Team Arrives in Costa Rica (Day 1)

2011-07-09T20:32:00.000-05:00

As I pen these words the team has settled down in their hotel rooms and decided what they would like to do before dinner at 7 p.m. For some reason I think sleep enters our minds!

God was absolutely with us from the beginning this morning regarding each state our team members were departing from. The Arkansas team has a few trunks that might have been a tad heavier than our allotted 50 lbs. But due to circumstances regarding a check-in machine we didn’t even have to weigh our trunks! Only God! We also met mission teams coming out of Little Rock, Arizona, Houston, etc., all headed to Central America. We sat with teams going to Belize, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua. It is so cool to see all the team t-shirt colors and designs. And to see so many people, from the young to the older (and more mature J), giving of their time and resources along with each of you to get the Good News laid at the doorstep of the people’s hearts in Central America.

Friends and family members please know that everyone is healthy and tired. The team will have their first ‘long’ team meeting tonight after dinner so pray for us as we build relationships with one another to be able to better serve Him.

Please pray for the team: Linda, Denise, Debra, Russell (shooting video and pictures for us for a Promo Video) his wife Susan, Heather, Shawna (whose husband just got out of the hospital yesterday), Stacey, Janice, Judy, Kathleen, and myself. We so desire to be TOTALLY YIELDED to HIS PLANS for these missionary women!

Four of the team ladies just stepped in to report they are taking a stroll to the market. Of course it is the younger ladies because this older lady is propping her feet up to knock out some of the swelling! Ha,ha,ha,ha

I will keep you posted….

His,

Vickie

Crossing the Line...

2011-07-07T13:42:00.000-05:00

Costa Rica here we come!!!! We are only two days from ‘crossing the line’ of preparations into the realm of watching the Holy Spirit of God work His wonders!! If you have traveled with Pure Joy on a trip before, you know that I am counting the seconds until all team members arrive at a central airport where the team will meet each other in person for the first time. It is such an incredible moment to watch those hearts all become wrapped up together in preparation for being a living sacrifice for the MOST HIGH GOD!

Someone else has been ‘crossing a line’ too - the enemy! The spiritual warfare this team has experienced in the last two weeks has been incredible! I encouraged the team over the weekend to get out their stomping boots! We don’t war against flesh and blood and this team doesn’t fight the battle with horses and chariots but by the power and strength of the LORD OUR GOD! Therefore, pray for us as we leave the country. We have a team member whose dear friend lost her mother this week, one team member whose husband was hospitalized this past week and is still hospitalized as of this writing, one team member who had a major family issue, one of our missionary lady’s precious 4 year old had an emergency appendectomy and may have to have another surgery before this week is over, and I got terribly ill last Thur. night and have just been back to the living since late Monday afternoon (today is Thur). So pray, pray and pray some more for this team as we love on those missionary women!

Also, thank you for your faithfulness to sponsor these women with your prayers and financial support. God has been faithful as ALWAYS to move on the hearts of His people! We have 44 women sponsored with 6 to go. Honestly, I am so thankful for your hearts! You make my heart smile!

If you haven’t signed up as a Friend of Pure Joy please go to the web site and sign up so you will receive updates while we are on the trip.

Love you all So Much!

His,
Vickie

P.S. Slow down this week and really become aware of those God allows to cross your path. If you do, you will probably see some ‘sad eyes’, ‘weary faces’ and ‘lonely hearts’ just to mention a few. “Give them a Drink,” JESUS.

Really. Really? Really!

2011-06-27T20:00:00.000-05:00

Don’t words just take on the most interesting meanings when you have teenage children, teenage grandchildren and/or you have nieces and nephews that are teenagers. I never cease to be amazed at what this generation of teens has done to take the English language and make it over into a whole different style of communication.

There is one word that is a part of their vocabulary these days that I feel strongly that we as adults have rightly taken from them and we OWN IT as a response statement to some of the things they say and do! Ha,ha,ha,ha,ha. It is the word, “Really”.

It can be translated in many more voice tones than I can probably pen here but I think if you have teenagers you will understand what I am talking about and have used all of these 3 forms of “Really”.

The first “Really” response statement is a one word point which basically translates as: (1) Ok, (2) I get it, (3) I got this, (4) For sure, (5) Done, etc.

The second “Really?” response statement questions the very core of the conversation you were just exposed to and is a short cut to not having to make the following comments such as: (1) are you really asking me that again, (2) Am I supposed to believe this, (3) so “everyone” else is doing this and their parents approve, (4) I question this, (5) Haven’t we been here before?

The third “Really!” and my personal favorite response statement to the ridiculous stories teenagers come up with (seasoned with just the right amount of voice inflection) says so much that doesn’t have to be said, but if it was being said it would be something like:

(1) Do I have stupid stamped on my head? (2) You’ve got to be kidding me, (3) So you actually expect me to believe that? (4) Do I look like I left my brains at the house this morning? (5) ARE YOU SURE YOU CAME FROM OUR GENE POOL!!!!

You don’t have to be a trained counselor to recognize that I may have had to deal with a teenager today. REALLY! Ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha

We are getting closer in on our trip to Costa Rica. We are in that home stretch! Pray as we are getting the trunks packed. Because the team is spread out across several states, Oklahoma, AR, TX, and Arizona, it has been pretty interesting getting the weight distribution correct. Pray for us as we continue to accomplish that! Everyone is getting more and more excited! Pray for all the DETAILS and Praise God HE is in the details.

We have 31 Missionary women sponsored. Praise the LORD! We have only 19 more women to be sponsored for this trip. God is Good and His timing is perfect!

Love you.

His,

Vickie

From the Heart of a Missionary...

2011-06-20T16:01:00.000-05:00

As I began to prepare the blog today I thought about how we are once again so close in and with 21 missionary women that still need to be sponsored. Again, leaning not on my own understanding but trusting God that HE will provide, I know my part is just to keep the need before everyone. As I was thinking about this I like to remind myself why we go to minister to those on the front line. I think one of the missionary women said it best from our last trip in Uganda and I wanted you to see why we don’t stop going, we don’t stop asking, we don’t stop giving, we don’t stop praying, we don’t stop because HE IS!
Here is a missionary from Uganda’s response to the Evaluation Questionnaire when asked, “What, if anything, would you recommend that we do differently or better?”

And I quote,

“Sorry, nothing. It was so amazing. Every time when I think back, I still can’t believe that some ladies in the world just came over here and overloaded us with love. I praise God for you every time when I think of it. He really is amazing. It took some time for me to fill in this evaluation because I was traveling straight after the retreat (P.S. I missed a question in this form about the little (and bigger) gifts we found every time on the table….I would have answered with: Amazing, it just never ended!) Now, five weeks after your visit, I am still having many times when I smile and thank God for what He did through you. May He continue to bless you, and all those ladies involved who made cards, presents, brought gifts, prayed, or supported in another way. May He bless your ministry when you go for other retreats to be a blessing for other ladies as well. You are very special!”

We, at Pure Joy, love to receive comments like this on the evaluation forms following a retreat but also know it is from the combination of affirmations of this level and constructive criticism that have continued to propel us forward with excellence as unto the LORD! I shared this one with you because it reveals the heart of 98% of the missionary women regarding their attitude about the teams that go, those that give, and those that pray.

We are in the home stretch now for Costa Rica. Packing will take place in approximately two weeks. Wow! We have had about 5 women that have had to remove themselves from attending due to life circumstances. But those places are already being filled by women on the waiting list. I love to watch how God works in the home stretch to have just the 50 women He intends to be at this particular retreat! HE CARES!

Love you guys….Give, Give, Give

His,
Vickie

Preparation...

2011-06-13T17:18:00.002-05:00

I never cease to be amazed at the importance of preparation. Today I sit at the hospital with a dear friend as she and her husband await the arrival of the fourth child to their family. The delivery room has the bassinet prepared for little Sophia’s arrival into this world. The nurse has prepared mama for the delivery by connecting her to every possible machine in the room. The extended family members and family have rescheduled their day’s events in preparation for Sophia’s birth. Everything is in place for the celebration of Sophia’s entrance into this world. I pray even as I type these words that it is a safe and quick journey for all! Ha, ha,ha,ha
Preparing for a Retreat is much like this experience….First step is conception…just like there are several ways to conceive physically these days there are several ways for this to take place with Pure Joy as well. We get a request directly from a missionary woman, a friend, another missionary, a church family, etc., requesting us to bring a retreat to their area. Second step is dates....just like you try to figure out the due date of a child, we work with our contact on the field to determine the best time to come. The third step is telling people .......we do the same thing. We get the word out to the missionary women serving in the countries close to our contact person as well as potential churches and team members here in the states. The fourth step is the process of preparation….just like an expectant family gets things ready for the arrival of the baby; we get things ready for the arrival of the women to the retreat. The fifth step is the water breaks so you head to the hospital…. We are just short of the water breaking for Costa Rica. We have a few more preparations and 21 more missionaries that need to be sponsored for the trip. I am so excited to see God, as always, working on behalf of the women that will be attending! The team is getting more and more excited as the delivery draws near!!!! Please continue to pray and rejoice with us as God shows Himself during the final days of preparation!

Love you all so much and thank you for the privilege of walking together for Him!

His,
Vickie

God Day...

2011-06-08T22:53:00.001-05:00

You ever had one of those days that you just know in your heart God was walking with you just like a friend and talking as you go. Well, yesterday (Tuesday) was one of those days for me. Just Him saying “ ‘Hey’ I’m here and I’m mindful of you.”.

On Tuesdays I travel to Ft. Smith, AR, which is about 1 and ½ hours from our home, to provide counseling for married couples. My mom usually packs my lunch - yes, you heard it correctly, ‘packs my lunch’ - because she knows I get about a 30-45 min. break during the day and she is sweet to pack that lunch for me while I am getting ready early in the morning to leave out. Yesterday when I pulled my lunch out there was a snack of banana and almonds for later, and a hamburger patty, steamed yellow and zucchini squash and sautéed spinach. But it was what was sitting on top of the sautéed spinach that touched my heart. There, as plain as day, was about a teaspoon or less of mayonnaise. Yes, mayonnaise! (NOT MIRACLE WHIP). Don’t get me started on the difference between the two!! Anyway, when I saw that mayo on top of that spinach I got a lump in my throat. My mom had not only fixed my lunch, she had intentionally -‘knowing me’ - put a little dab of mayo on that spinach because she knows I like that on spinach. I took my lunch and walked across the building to visit with Melinda Sparkman-Hawkins (Asst. to Kathy Coleman, Founder of the Worldwide Mom’s Day of Prayer www.momsdayofprayer.com ) and was sharing with her how my mom had been so thoughtful. As we visited she asked me where all Pure Joy had been in Africa. I shared with her the places we had been and then she proceeded to tell me about an opportunity she had been a part of in ministering in Senegal, West Africa. She then told me a story about something she had tried to ship to Senegal but the cost was going to be ‘outrageous’. Then she said, “how would you like to take what is in the box with you to Costa Rica!” Wow! Of course I would like to take it!!!! (I can’t tell you what is in the box because the missionary women also read this blog and they need to be surprised!) However, I can tell you that we have NEVER taken such a thing before! Would not have even had the thought. ONLY GOD!!! Now I can’t wait to hear from one of those missionary women about that box and the purpose for what’s in it! Because He didn’t just do that for no reason!

Yesterday afternoon, as I waited between clients, it was like the LORD said "Vickie, I love you and those missionary women. I know exactly what they need. Remember I am in the details, the little things that make a big difference." The little things that add my touch, that say, I am with you. I care, I know, I see, I can. Wow! It is so funny how He shows up, isn’t it! Last week He showed up in my office through a very dear friend just hours after I had cried out to Him in prayer over an issue. He actually spoke to my spirit during the prayer but He sent this dear friend as a ‘period’ at the end of the sentence to say…..And what I revealed to you, I meant! Girls, He LOVES US! So don’t forget…He is in the details and HE will show Himself to you!!!

In 4 weeks we board the plane to head to Costa Rica! This week I have settled down into my countdown towards boarding the plane and all the team members coming together for the first time at Houston International before we leave the country! Can’t wait to get with the missionary women!

Please continue to pray for the details! Pray for the team, pray for our flights, pray for all the final planning that takes place in the home stretch. And get excited about what God is up to in the home stretch! Pray for the packing which gets kind of crazy when the team is spread out everywhere. We still have 26 missionary women to sponsor so don’t put off giving if God has moved on your heart about it. Get it done!

I love you guys bunches.

His,

Vickie

Freedom...

2011-05-30T19:25:00.000-05:00

Today as I write the blog I would be remiss not to salute the men and women that have fought, are fighting, and will fight so that you and I can enjoy our freedoms. Oh that those that tear down the ones who fight for our country would recognize that because of these men and women they even have the freedom to gripe!

Today I also want to salute another group of soldiers. I salute Christian soldiers; men, women, youth, and children that fight for the truths that God has given us in His Word!

Those of you that fight for His standards! Those that are flying His Banner over your marriage, family, churches, and communities! Yes, we are in a ‘spiritual war’ daily and it’s not getting any easier to fight. Especially when we are losing loved ones to the lies of the enemy forces. May I encourage those of you, as well as myself, that have a spouse, children, a family member, and/or friends that have succumbed to the lies and pleasures of this world to ‘keep walking’. Don’t give up and don’t give in!

Galatians 5:1 says: Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you. (TMSG)

Don’t give up because we already have the victory! Don’t give in by allowing the world to dress you!!!!!!!! God has told us how to dress daily…Ephesians 6:10 tells us to put on the whole (full) armor of God! Every day we as Christian soldiers have a choice to put on the Armor of God or to let the world dress you. Who is dressing you????

Switching gears, we now have 22 missionary women sponsored for the trip! I get excited when I see God working on behalf of these ladies! He is so Faithful! Please continue to seek the LORD and give accordingly.

The team is working hard in regard to preparations and getting more and more excited! It is so fun each week to watch the emails that float back and forth between the team regarding different aspects of preparation. This week has been a busy one! Thank you so much to all of you that are on board with this ministry and thank you for loving the missionary women and their families!

Have a great week and remember to not be running around naked! Put on the whole (full) armor of God! If you don’t…..the world will dress you! Be intentional about what you wear!

Love you all,

His,

Vickie

Egg Salad...

2011-05-25T14:12:00.000-05:00

I don’t know how things work at your home but probably a lot like ours even if you have kids. We get into a routine even if it is a crazy routine! In our home it usually looks something like this….. Get up and go the bathroom. Mom is making coffee. Take my daily ritual of pills. Mom and I both sit down and do our daily Bible reading and then read out of whatever devotional book we are each interested in for now. Then the news channel, Local and World, gets clicked back and forth between to see if we have been raptured or not. (oops, tehehe) I fix our breakfast. I then go take my shower, iron my clothes and head to the hair and make-up area. One particular morning as I was coming through the kitchen from the shower my mom was cooking something. As I’m walking through I say to my mom, “What are you making?” She responds, “Egg Salad”. This conversation happens in one fluid motion because truly I was passing through the kitchen. “Is it for us or the church?” I ask as I head on into the bedroom. “For us” she replies. When I get to the bedroom I have this amusing thought…so I go back in the kitchen with a grin on my face and I tell my mom, “You know you have a Christian household if you have to ask who the food is for that is being cooked!!” My mom looked at me and said, “I was thinking the very same thing!” We both had a good laugh!!!
I shared that story that night with my friend, Mandy, from church. Our home group meets in their home. She immediately smiled and proceeded to tell me that her kids had just recently asked her the same thing regarding some pies she had made. They were even more excited when they found out they ‘actually’ were getting to keep a WHOLE PIE for themselves instead of it all going to the church! It’s the little things, isn’t it! Ha,ha,ha,ha

I don’t think that all food dishes and baked goods being sent to the church is truly the plumb line for a Christian home. But let it be a simple reminder to us that our kids are watching our actions and how we invest our resources and time. Don’t forget to leave a pie for the family lest your gesture is only for the ‘eyes of man’s approval’.

Ok, Costa Rica is on the radar and things are getting wildly crazy with the team as they are working on all the details and fun things that we get to do in preparation for the trip. I will have to say that we are doing something on this trip that we have “never” done before. Can’t wait to hear the feedback from the ladies after the retreat! I’m still praying about whether I’m actually going to give it a try. Hmmmmm You missionary women from Costa Rica reading this…you will see!

We still have 30 missionary women to sponsor so please prayerfully seek the LORD. I realize that there are many things going on in our world today all around us as Tornado Victims and Flood Victims try to get some sense of order back in their lives. I realize that we have hungry children to be fed in our communities, states, nations, and countries. We have people with needs throughout this world and that isn’t going to change. There are needs everywhere we turn our hearts. But, I have said this before and I will say it again over and over……Our God is Sufficient to meet all the needs. Please take time to seek Him about giving to this trip. Also, be obedient to WHEREVER He wants you to invest your prayer, time and resources. There is ENOUGH because HE is ENOUGH!

Love you guys….Please let us know how we can pray for you here at Pure Joy!

His,
Vickie

What's that Smell...

2011-05-17T17:31:00.000-05:00

Can you even begin to tell the stores behind the answer to that statement “What’s that Smell!”? And/or the question “What’s that Smell?”
Well, let me add one to it! Last night when I got home from our Costa Rica Prayer time meeting, which was awesome because we actually Skyped the team members in Austin, TX at the end of our time as they were getting ready to start their Prayer time! This is when I love technology! If you don’t know what Skype is look it up on-line because it is so fun to bring your friends and family right into your home even though they are thousands of miles away!!

Anyway, back to that smell! When I got home last night I went in and fixed a cup of coffee and went out to the bathroom/laundry room. When I walked in my mom was there and I’m like “What’s that Smell!” Can you smell it she asked? Hmmmmmm --- well sort of since it about knocked me out and was reason enough to have an oxygen mask! Then the next famous question “Where’s that coming from?” Ever notice how those two questions usually partner in a situation like this? So we began the proverbial search. You are in the bathroom/laundry room area so you are going to start with - is there a bathroom or shower problem? No luck. Then you are looking around everywhere for something dead. No luck. Next question…..is that smell any place else, outside or another part of the house? No. So, you KNOW by the smell something is DEAD! You know what room it’s in and you can’t find anything dead lying around. Well, I told my mom, I can’t imagine what it is and where it is. Then my Mom remembers a situation she had with the dryer the other day. Yeah that’s right….all of a sudden something is coming to mind like……When she turned the dryer on she heard a thumping sound as if you were drying tennis shoes! But she didn’t see anything in the dryer that would cause that so she just continued on. Well, tomorrow we will have to have Cousin Doug come out and look at it because there is something dead in this room and it’s coming from the dryer area. We both agree and go to bed.

Today (Tuesday 17th), I’m headed to work and I get a call from my mom. Cousin Doug has made his way down to the house and turned over the washing machine to find a 3ft. plus cotton mouth snake the size around of a golf ball caught up in the dryer motor! DEAD no doubt! PRAISE GOD!! Seems that he or she must have made it through the dryer vent last week when we had all the flooding going on. Probably was just looking for a safe place to rest from all the water. Wrong Choice! I’m sure it never knew it would experience Death by Dryer! Ha,ha,ha .

As I drove on in to work with that whole story on my mind I thought about how we are kind of like that snake sometimes. We recognize we need a break, or a rest, and or a place to get away to. But if we are not surrounded with the right people, places, or resources we can end up in more trouble than we had to start with. I see that a lot in my counseling ministry and I’ve seen it in my own life before as well. So, I encourage you…KNOW the people, places, and resources that are healthy for you to get away to and rest. If you don’t you could end up with “Death by Dryer”!

Don’t forget Costa Rica. Pray for all of us to know all the details God would have us attend to and pray for finances to come rolling in!

Love you guys…

His,
Vickie

Always the affirmation...

2011-05-11T16:53:00.000-05:00

As we prepare for the trip to Costa Rica I never cease to be amazed at how God’s hand is at work to provide affirmation that He is in the details of this trip. He does that for every trip that Pure Joy goes on but I’m always amazed at how He does it! I love that He does it because it is such an encouragement to me personally, to the team, to the missionary women and to all that invest in Pure Joy with time, prayer, and resources. For me it just affirms that He knows, is in charge, has watch care over the journey, is in all the details and that He cares.

You might be wondering what brought that on and why I’m saying that this morning - a bright sunshiny, no rain, Tuesday morning of the week. Let me share with you a situation that happened. I got an e-mail at the end of last week forwarded to me from Patty letting me know that there had been a donation made. When I saw the name on the email I realized the person that made the donation was from my Sunday school (SS) classroom. I assumed the person had made a donation to Pure Joy for the missionary women in Costa Rica until Patty and I visited a little more and she told me the donation had been made toward a team members cost for this trip “specifically”. I then assumed it was for a woman in our SS class that is traveling overseas with Pure Joy for the first time. Then the BIG AFFIRMATION came……. The donation was toward one of the team members coming out of Austin, TX. What? How does this person in my SS class in Conway, AR know one of our team members out of Austin, TX when I just met that team member myself over 3 weeks ago when I met with a group of women there to see if they were interested in being a part of the Costa Rica trip? Also, I hadn’t even told my SS class any information about team members at this point! How did she know? Well….

I had to contact the team member out of Austin to ask her something that God had put on my heart about her role on our trip to Costa Rica and I asked her at the same time if she knew this person. She said yes, that is my aunt, my mom’s sister. I tell her you aren’t going to believe this but your aunt is in my SS class in Conway, AR. At this point, we are both cracking up – like NO WAY, absolutely NO WAY! The team member didn’t even know I knew her aunt and that we were in the same SS class. I didn’t know she had an aunt in AR. Isn’t that so God and so wild! I met this person one time and now find out her aunt is in my SS class. That is so God!! SO GOD! I’m so excited. What are the chances of that? ……..With God, 1 in 1! Amen!

That is just one of the many things that happen as these trips start to unfold. Remember I shared with you last week to just get ready and hang on because once the team is put together then God just starts showing up everywhere! I also, got an email from friend of Pure Joy asking if she could give a gift to the 50 missionary women and what it was. I told her absolutely! Of course I can’t tell you what it is because the missionary women coming to Costa Rica are reading this blog too, and it is a surprise!!

As always I want to encourage you be praying for the missionary women, pray for the team, pray for God to show up more and more. We have 20 missionary women sponsored so far – we still have 30 to go. We had 19 when the blog went out last week. Now we have 20 sponsored as of the writing of this blog. There’s nothing more exciting than watching God at work when we are headed to another opportunity to minister to our missionary women overseas! There is no greater Joy than watching Him bring in the resources for the trip, reading the stories that come from you, team members, and the missionary women themselves as they track the blog. It is all so God!!!! So, get in the prayer closet and seek the Lord and see if you should be part of giving for this trip! Don’t hold back those resources! Pour them into the kingdom work that God’s doing through this ministry!

I love you guys and thank you for being apart of the Vision for Pure Joy! Just think…..we are already having God fun and we haven’t even left the country yet!!!!!!

And if God is doing sweet and amazing things as you journey with us…send me your stories.
vickie@purejoyinternational.org

His,
Vickie

Costa Rica 2011 …….Here We Come!

2011-05-02T20:34:00.000-05:00

To all the ladies that have signed up for the Costa Rica trip you will be excited to know that your Costa Rica team is formed! By next Monday you should be able to go to the web site and check us out! Please be praying for your team as we are praying for you collectively and in our personal prayer times!

To those of you that are followers of Pure Joy, it is time to Rise Up and seek God on how He would like for you to be involved in this particular trip! I love it that we get to journey with so many of you out there! There are those of you that I still marvel at your commitment to help sponsor the ladies for these different retreats. As I shared with you before, we have approximately 20 women sponsored out of the 50 that are coming. So, let’s watch those numbers increase weekly starting with this week! I get excited just thinking about the stories that will start coming in and the testimony of how HE works with fulfilling the ministry vision!

I would be lying to you if I didn’t tell you that sometimes I think, “LORD, things are really kind of crazy and unsafe in this world and getting crazier. The economy is crazy. People are struggling at every level. Are you really going to keep bringing women forward that their husbands will let go on these trips, and single women that go, and are You really going to keep putting it on people’s hearts to sponsor these missionary women and give of themselves regarding gifts, etc., LORD, are you?” Yes! It is His Vision! And HE will do it! As long as single women, married women, married women with families are willing to GO share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in foreign lands, Pure Joy will go! Our theme for Costa Rica is “Give the World a Drink!” We at Pure Joy want to go and fill up and refresh those women overseas so they can “Give the World a Drink” because that is what God has called them to do! Satan would love for us to look at the world from a physical perspective but NO, we are NOT going to….We have been given Spiritual Eyesight and we won’t give up helping each other! Some plant the seed, some water, some harvest! Yet…..GOD GETS THE GLORY!

Also, please remember all the families and individuals in need from the storms of this past week here in the South. Lots of prayer needed, resources needed, helping hands needed, and for many, a Savior is Needed! Pray that many will come to know Him in the middle of this destruction.

Love you guys…..

His,

Vickie

Storms...

2011-04-26T16:21:00.000-05:00

Last night storms passed through our state (Arkansas) in the form of tornados and flooding. A community (Vilonia) just 30 minutes up the road from us experienced a possible F2 or F3 tornado. In the northwestern part of the state several lost their lives to flood waters. These same storms continued across the country to bring destruction to other communities and lives as well. Tonight (Tuesday) it is said that we are to have a continuation of these storms.
Isn’t that just like life? Storms hit us out of nowhere. Last week I shared with you a storm from my life…the storm itself passed and all is back to normal again. Well, except for me. I have learned over time that God really does do a work in us through the storms if we will allow Him and it will be for His Glory and our spiritual maturity.

It seems like many of the children of God are experiencing major storms and trials in their lives all around us today. Take heart that HE knows us so well and knew we would need His Word to walk on for our sure footing! These are the stones He used in my life this past week to encourage me to keep walking! These two verses James 1:2 and 1 Peter 4:12. I like the two renditions below.

ESV James 1:2
2 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial (storms), for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

The Message Bible James 1:2
2 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. 3You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. 4So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

ESV 1 Peter 4:12
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

The Message Bible 1 Peter 4:12
12 Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. 13Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.

Tomorrow is the deadline for our Costa Rica Team coming together! Please pray as a few people are still in the valley of decision! I am so excited about the team God has brought together for this trip. Every time He just hits it on the mark! Imagine that!

Starting next week we will be in the “get down to business” stage for this trip. I will be making you aware of prayer requests and what you can do to be involved in this trip besides giving. We always need the finances to start coming in for the women at this time. However, there are some other things that I want to encourage you to do that I have not done before. I’m looking for it to be incredible because I believe only God could put this stuff on my heart! If you knew me you would understand that because I do not have much of a creative bone in my body! Some would say not even ONE! Ha,ha,ha. But I do try to have a tender ear to the LORD and His direction!
This week please pray for the final team members to come on board and then for all the details that will start up within the next week and forward!
Costa Rica……Here we come!!!!!

His,
Vickie

P.S. Keep Walking my friends!!!!!! Remember; don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job!

Monday...

2011-04-18T20:06:00.000-05:00

Remember all the jokes about Mondays over the years of your life? Well, truthfully I haven’t had a “Monday”, if you will, in my life in some time. Praise God! But today I had one during the morning hours that reminded me that every second of every day can end up being a “Monday” apart from the grace of God.

I started my day with an interaction with my 16 year old niece that was anything but pretty. (16 year old is the operative word here and should tell you everything, ha,ha). Yes, anyone would have seriously considered me as having tipped the scale of losing it! The words I spoke were ugly and the actions weren’t any prettier!

When I returned to reality I was totally ashamed of my behavior before the Father, the testimony of the LORD in my life to my niece (which I’m sure she questioned at the moment) and absolutely angry with myself for not responding differently.

I sought the LORD’S forgiveness and KNOW it is always there when we go to Him pure of heart and repentant! I wrote my niece (because she is not talking to me for now J) a letter of confession and asked for ‘forgiveness’ and am sure she will forgive me when she is over being mad at me and/or when she needs me for something again, whichever comes first. (Did I tell you she is 16 years old? Enough said!) I also have forgiven myself, which is the hardest for us, isn’t it?

But mostly I have received that reality check that we all need sometimes that says…”Remember apart from HIM, it ain’t pretty!” I am so thankful that these difficult times are the reminder in our lives that HE does LIVE! And HE LIVES inside of you and me as Believers! I’m so thankful I feel the need to confess, repent and seek forgiveness when things don’t line up with TRUTH! As we go into the Easter weekend may we not forget the POWER OF THE CROSS AND RESURRECTION! Praise God HE is in us and we are in HIM! +++

I had a great time over the weekend in Austin, TX. Got to spend time with several of the girls I have had the privilege to disciple over the years. Also was able to talk with several ladies from Great Hills Church that are praying about being part of our team for Costa Rica! Pray this week as many of the ladies are making that decision to go or not go depending on how God is speaking to them. I am excited about what God has in store for the time with the Missionary Women in Costa Rica. I want to close out today with an email I received from one of the ladies that will be attending the retreat….

"Thank you so very much for all that you and the other ladies of the team are doing for all of us here in Costa Rica. When I received the notice of the retreat and began to pray about the possibility of going I felt and continue to feel great emotion. Each time I read the invitation and looked at the website and even now as I write you this email, great emotion wells up within me and I begin to cry. I cannot explain it. This has rarely happened to me. Again thank you. May God abundantly bless you all."

Love You All and Covet Your Prayers,

His,

Vickie

Take the mask off...

2011-04-11T12:30:00.000-05:00

One of the things that God has led me to do when we go into a conference overseas is to start by helping the missionary women “take the mask off”. You know what I mean by that…stop playing the game of everything is “ok” when it really isn’t. Stop pretending your marriage is ok if it is not, stop pretending that everything is ok in your ministry if it is not, stop pretending everything is fine with the kids if it is not, stop pretending you are ok if you are not, stop pretending you are joyful in the LORD if you are not. Stop pretending you are not struggling with a stronghold if you are. Stop Pretending!!

I looked up the word pretend in the Webster Dictionary and here is the definition of the word pretend.

• To give a false appearance of being, possessing, or performing.
• To make believe
• To claim, represent, or assert falsely.

Wow, that about summarizes it! You know the enemy wants believers to pretend! Why? Because pretense is deception and Satan is the Father of deception! Pretenders never run to God and the family of God. They just hide out and pretend, which is exactly what the enemy desires us to do.

Well, my precious ones, stop pretending. Stop hiding! Stop being deceived into believing our God is not big enough! I don’t know your specific situation and/or trial but I know we all have them! I’m smack dab in the middle of one as I write these words that come from my heart! “Take the Mask Off”, run to your Father God and cry out these words which He already knows but we need to get honest about - “it’s me”, me without the pretense, me without the mask, me your daughter! Run to Him, Consecrate yourselves (confess and repent from everything that does not line up with the truth of His Word), rally your Christian troops in prayer and Stand! He will fight for you!

Friends, the enemy is waging WAR against the Family of God! We see it in all the areas I mentioned at the beginning of this blog and more! He wants us to wear the mask, he wants us to hide out, he wants us to believe we are all alone in the battle and he wants us to believe we are defeated!! Rise Up!! The power of the resurrection indwells us!!!

Costa Rica here we come! This weekend I fly to Austin, Texas to meet with ladies from that area that are interested in becoming involved in our trip. I know of one young lady that already has received the word from God and her husband that she is on “go” for Costa Rica. I suspect we are going to have several more team members from that area. We also received another team member from my home church Antioch Baptist in Conway, AR. She, too, received affirmation from the LORD and her husband this week.

I have another lady from Tulsa, OK that is praying for affirmation from God to go. She is single. Us single girls get a two for one because if God affirms we can go then it is without question that our husband is a yes too! Isaiah 54:5 Our maker is our husband! Got to love that truth!

Please continue to pray for all the details of the trip. We have 19 and half missionary women sponsored so far. So, 19 total bodies and either arms and or legs of another! That leaves 30 total bodies and the rest of that other person’s body to be sponsored! Ha,ha,

This is assuming that I haven’t miscalculated due to my dyslexia with numbers! If I have I can promise you that the staff won’t let that get by!

Have a GREAT week in the LORD and be ever mindful of these weeks that preceded His journey to the Cross because a lot was going on!

I love you guys…

His,
Vickie

Today...

2011-04-04T15:46:00.000-05:00

As I write this blog I am looking out my office window at the calmness after the early morning storms that came through. There may or may not be more to come before the day is over.

It makes me think of a book I’ve been reading by Billy Graham written several years ago but now in a new updated version called “Storm Warnings”. The book is more relevant today than it was in its original writing but only because we are continually moving towards His Return!

The chapters I am in right now have to do with deception in the last days. One thing that He said that really rings true to my soul is that we have been deceived today in the church by the “Love and Forgive” mentality. Please don’t jump on this statement before hearing me out. I, like most any of you, am all about Love and Forgiveness because that is JESUS’ very message! I praise God for these Graces! Dr. Graham, however, is talking about how there is no genuine confession and repentance. Instead there is an attitude that He has to Love and Forgive me. (Italics mine) Dear Ones, HE owes us nothing! We owe HIM everything! Do not be deceived, God will not be mocked! We, as the church of the living God, cannot continue to live with blatant sin in our lives and claim His love and forgiveness apart from true confession and true repentance! There is nothing hidden that won’t be revealed! We must stop believing we are hiding our sins because they aren’t hidden from the ONLY ONE that can make a difference in our life. Run to Him, Confess to Him, Repent and HIS Love and Forgiveness will abound!! Believe me when I tell you I understand this truth and it is a run that will change your life for eternity and daily!!!!

Some of you are probably saying, “put the book down!” ha,ha,ha,ha,ha.

Moving on - let’s turn to Costa Rica. We have our 50 women and have started a waiting list. The team is starting to form and that is exciting to my soul! Met with some ladies from Morrilton yesterday and had some sweet prayer time for the missionary women and the trip. God is already putting some things on my heart for this trip and this group of women. It is so exciting how HE makes it so personal! I love how HE loves us! I have already received a couple of emails from ladies who will be in attendance, excited about Pure Joy coming and what God has in store for them! So put on your prayer pads and begin asking God to direct you on the prayers you are praying for this group of ladies, giving to help towards sponsorship of the ladies, and also, there is possibly still room for a few of you that might be interested in being part of this team!

Love you guys and excited about the days ahead….

His,
Vickie

Pay it Forward...

2011-03-28T10:26:00.000-05:00

It is so exciting to watch God at work and be a part of kingdom work that you know He is driving! I love it!

Monday, March 21, 2011, we opened up registration for our Costa Rica retreat that is coming up in July. As of this morning, March 28, 2011, we already have 46 missionary women signed up. As you know we have a ceiling of 50 participants. The thing that is so exciting to me is that some of the missionary women attending the Costa Rica retreat are signed up because a missionary from East Africa paid it forward and contacted them and said you need to sign up for this retreat. I love that because one of the heartbeats of this ministry is to encourage the women to encourage each other on the field.

Another way I am watching God work in paying it forward as we bow the knee and look to Him for direction on the up-coming retreat is 19 of our Costa Rica missionary women are already paid for because of the overflow of giving to the East Africa Retreat as you can see by the thermostat graphic included with the blog today. This means only 31 to go because I suspect by the end of this day we will be at 50 participants for the retreat. I love this evidence of God’s hand at work on their behalf and the kingdom’s behalf and the affirmation it gives us at Pure Joy to stay the course He has called us to. We serve an awesome God!!!!

Also, this month is a busy month as I travel to Austin to meet with ladies that are interested in being part of the Costa Rica Team and Houston for some exciting plans God has for Pure Joy. Please pray as our team continues to come together for Costa Rica. I started to say there is nothing more exciting than watching a team come together but there is also nothing more exciting than watching the resources come in for the missionary women, but then there is nothing more exciting than watching the women when God fills them up and meets their needs eternally. As I write this I am realizing even more just how exciting it is to serve God in the thing He has called you to!! Thank You, LORD, for the “works you prepared for us to do in advance!” Eph. 2:10-11

LORD, right this minute I just pray for all my brothers and sisters wherever they are laying their head each night. LORD, help them to know You so intimately that they, too, know that they know the “works You have prepared for them in advance”! For there is no greater Joy than serving You, Father, according to Your good will and pleasure! Amen!

Ok, friends this is how you can begin to pray for Costa Rica. Pray for the ladies that have signed up for the retreat that God will begin now preparing their hearts to receive. Pray for the team as it continues to come together with team members possibly as far away as Arizona, Texas, OK, and here in AR. Pray for the messages that God would put on the heart of the speakers, pray for the worship music, and all other things that God would have in store for this specific group of women! It is always fun to find out the extras He does just for the specific retreat!

Have a Great Week in the LORD!

His,
Vickie

Washing each other's feet...

2011-03-21T15:00:00.002-05:00

Before we turn our attentions here at Pure Joy to our next Retreat coming up in Costa Rica, July 2011, I wanted to share a few thoughts and another blog site from one of the missionary women that attended our East Africa retreat.
We have been back in the States almost 2 weeks this Wednesday coming up. Wow, it has been something! The fragrance (of Nard John 12:3) has continued to linger and I am supposing it will linger until His coming!

One evening Kathy K. that did our team devotionals for us came with her bowl and towel as we took turns washing one another’s feet and as she sang over each one of us as the foot washing took place. It was an incredible experience.

That picture of foot washing is very much symbolic of this retreat as a whole. While we were in the country God allowed us to wash the feet of the women through prayer, fellowship, worship, messages, times of relaxing, laughter, tears, humor, and serious stuff. Now that we are home the women are washing our feet with the sweet testimony of how God has worked in their lives through our time with them. There is no way to post all the foot washing that is going on but I must say it is for HIS GLORY!!! There is no greater object lesson for teaching giving and receiving and receiving and giving like foot washing. It is truly a humbling experience on either side.

I want to refer you to the following blog for yet another extensive recap of what God did in East Africa. Thanks…Kelly for your awesome blog and I loved the video that was posted!

http://kellyrompel.com/index.php?id=003

Don’t forget to let your missionary friends in Costa Rica know that registration began on-line today, Monday, March 21, 2011. Go to http://www.purejoyinternational.org/ then click on Retreats.

Also, I want to say a great thank you to those of you that are making Pure Joy a place to invest your resources for kingdom work! May we always be honorable to HIM with every penny!

Love you all,

His,
Vickie

Home again...

2011-03-14T08:11:00.000-05:00

We are back from East Africa with our cups overflowing with the JOY of His presence throughout our time with the ladies in that area. We are already receiving emails from them with words of thanks and encouragement for the ministry of Pure Joy. There are truly no words to explain the Most Awesome Presence of the LORD as we journeyed together there with the ladies. Their hearts were so open and ready and in need of all that HE sent us with in gifts, music, messages, prayers, fellowship, etc.
Many of these ladies have their own blog. Yesterday we received an email from one of the ladies sharing her blog and what she had written about the Retreat. I’m thinking it would warm your hearts more to hear from one of the ladies that actually experienced all the prayers, giving, and going! So, click on the following site and enjoy.

http://tothebridgeandback.blogspot.com/

What a great treat to walk with these ladies as they share their stories and to have the privilege to pray for them! Again there are no words sufficient enough to tell you what took place during our time there but know this, not one drop of your prayers, giving, and going was wasted! In fact I feel confident in saying it will all be multiplied many times over for the kingdom’s sake!

Please pray for me personally as I walk out the things God has placed on my heart while in East Africa for Pure Joy Ministry. Pray for wisdom, strength, fortitude, faith, and total reliance on HIS WORD, HIS PROVISION, and HIS COUNSEL!

Loving you all MUCH!

His,
Vickie

Greetings from East Africa...

2011-03-08T02:59:00.000-06:00

There are no words to explain what our Loving Father has been up to in the hearts of the missionary women and the team members as our time together comes to a close today. The week has been full!
The gifts that they have received from those of you back in the states have overwhelmed them! They have been in AWE of how God moved on your hearts to be a part of their journey! I wish I could just let you see the looks on their face every time we share about something you did and or they open a new gift from you. The thing that is always so tender to them is the Prayer Cards they will receive today that so many of you took time to pray for them and write them a card. They treasure those things in their hearts.

The messages have all been incredible and just what God has for this group of women specifically. He has been a VERY PERSONAL GOD TO THEM THE LAST FOR DAYS AND TO THE TEAM!

God has also spoken very clearly to me while I have been here in East Africa and has many awesome plans for Pure Joy International in the days ahead. I covet your prayers, continued giving, and GOING as He moves us forward in the home stretch of our time on this earth!!!

Love you all and can’t wait to get home and be able to get some pics posted for you of the trip!!

His,
Vickie

P.S. The crackers have been Great!!!!! You know who we are talking to!

Unbelievable...

2011-03-02T14:34:00.000-06:00

We are here! Which some of you that are signed up as Friends of Pure Joy already know. Our flights were excellent! God did some awesome things getting us through the airports. As I kept telling the girls it is like being on angels wings. Today, we spent time with our contact missionary learning about her work in this part of East Africa. Awesome, work is being done through Wycliffe Bible Translators to get the Word of God to all peoples in all Nations. Praise His Name!
We are also having excellent team time as well. Actually, as I type this blog I am sitting in a room with some of the team while they are trying to contact family through the internet. Today, some of the ladies took a taxi ride through the area looking at the country. By the way, Taxi here means a motorcycle with a driver from the local people and as many people that are willing to ride behind him! Seriously!!! Sharon, Kathy, and our contact missionary took the plunge each with their private driver. The rest of us rode safely in the van, all the wives confident that their husbands would not want them in such peril riding without a helmet.

We are having a great time getting to know each other as a team. Please pray that God continues to strengthen us as a team while we spend one more day out in another area tomorrow before we begin getting ready for the ladies to come in.

Because we are spending time together we have been sharing stories. Today, during our team devotional time Kathy asked us to share about how God called each of us to serve on this trip. Below is a great story! It is a great story because of when God begin to deal with this precious young mom’s heart about this trip and her journey of faithfulness to the LORD!

Keep Praying! Love you!

His,
Vickie

Colleen’s Story...

What a blessing to be of the “called” of the LORD. As we gathered today to share of the Lord’s call for each of us to take this journey, I had the privilege of sharing His call to me. About two years ago, Vickie came to our church to share of the ministry she was doing all over the world. As she spoke, the Lord whispered into my heart that this would be a place for me to serve. I have been a Christian since I was a small child, but never heard the Lord call me abroad. I have learned through my years of walking with the Lord to wait for His timing. He shares the direction and then I wait on His “go”. My precious friend Janet went with Pure Joy to Poland that year and came home with stories of the missionaries and I again heard the Lord saying I could go and serve. Again I waited for a specific destination, but began preparing myself to go. The next spring I applied for my passport and began getting my shots for travel. The travel Dr. was somewhat baffled at how I could be preparing for a trip I had no destination for, but did inoculate me for the most common ailments. Then this past December my friend Janet let me know she had been invited to attend another mission trip and it would be Uganda. This trip would take place in March. I smiled and commented about how good that would be for her and went on my way into the Christmas holidays. In the meantime my husband and I had been reading several books. I was almost finished with Experiencing God and he was finishing up Radical. We had just been talking about how we needed to be looking for opportunities to “go” and serve the Lord when Janet called to ask if I might be interested in going. It didn’t take us long to meet with the Lord to have an answer. How good God?s timing is for me. He took time with me to be able to plan and prepare. He knows my heart and He knows my ways. He will patiently wait for the heart that seeks Him. “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Eph 2:10. I also praise God for my husband and children who carry on in my absence and support me with their love and prayers.

Heading to the airport tomorrow...

2011-02-27T10:51:00.000-06:00

Well, it is finally here friends. We leave for East Africa tomorrow (Monday). But, let’s get real; we have been on one fantastic journey on this side of the world without leaving the country. It has been amazing to watch God at work in His Faithfulness!

I don’t know what it has been like following the blog for the last 5 weeks, but writing the blog has been one of my greatest joys!!!! Just giving testimony about HIS HAND , Woooooooo Whooooooooooooo!

I wanted to remind you that if you want to keep up with the Retreat sign up as a Friend of Pure Joy on the web site. That gives you the opportunity to see what is going on while we are away!

Also, wanted to include one more letter from another heart after God that I know makes Him smile! In fact, I think a lot of you have made God smile in preparation for this Trip! Now I pray the missionary women will experience that smile as well before the next week and a half passes.

Love you all and remember us in your prayers! There is a prayer guide in the Friends of Pure Joy letter just sent out for this trip.

Loving you guys, Oh so Much!!!!
His,
Vickie

Vickie,

I just wanted to email you and tell you that we had the privilege of giving towards the sponsoring of the last missionaries who are going to the retreat in East Africa, We heard about your awesome ministry through a friend, and we have such joy in getting to be a part. My husband and I, are adopting from Ethiopia and our eyes have really been opened to the desperate world need as we have gone through this process of adopting. Our heart aches for the spiritual and physical needs of the people in Africa. We want to find more ways to help. We believe that what you are doing in strengthening the hands and hearts of the women missionaries who are already there is so wise.

I read through your blog and I love your trust in God to provide and your boldness in asking people to give. (Some could see those as contradictory, but they aren't.) You said, "Truthfully, in the past neither did I do well with that, but God has just given me this boldness going into this New Year to not be ashamed to seek donations for the things of God and kingdom work. As I have been saying for a month now, dab nab-it, we throw tons of money into things that have no eternal value! "
Amen. It is like when Paul says in Phil 4:17, "Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account." You are just looking out for what can be credited to their eternal account. We agree. We would like to make a deposit in our eternal reward account. We would like to store up treasure in heaven where no moth or rust destroy or thieves steal.

I was just reading Radical by David Platt and he said, "They believe that God has shown them great grace in order that he might use them to accomplish the glorious global, God-exalting, purpose that has been primary since the beginning of time, and they don't want to settle for anything less than radical abandonment to that purpose." page 82 That pretty much sums up why we are giving to Pure Joy. God has lavished His grace on us. By His grace, we know Him and love Him. He has given us material resources to help make the riches of His mercies known among the nations. We are thankful for you and your desire to honor the faithful servants of God like Philippians 2:29 commands us to do.
In His Joy!

Your Friends

OVERWHELMED……….!!!!!!!

2011-02-23T15:04:00.000-06:00

Ok, honestly I don’t even know where to begin this blog! Let me just start by saying the missionaries attending the Pure Joy Retreat in East Africa are ALL sponsored as of the writing of this blog on Wednesday Feb. 22, 2011 as all the committed sponsorships continue to come in.

This morning when I opened my emails I opened it to an email that was titled, “Praise God! The red line gets to go up! And that it did to overflowing because the 17 remaining missionary women were sponsored! Wooooooooooooo Whooooooooooooo!

Every retreat God puts a phrase or words in my heart that just come to the top throughout the trip in preparation. Wooooooooooo Whooooooooooooooo wins the prize this time!

I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve started this blog - I am so overwhelmed by everything He has been up to on this trip and we haven’t even left the country yet. Praise His Holy Name!

I had a blog ready to send out late yesterday to let everyone know that we had

36 sponsored and 14 more to go but Patty had not posted it yet. So when the person in the email read our blog they saw the last blog that shared the need for 17 missionary women to still be sponsored and they responded to that need. I have asked that they send me a short story of the testimony of how they responded to God without revealing their desire to give in secret. That will come later in another blog.

I do, however, want to share a few more stories of God at work in preparation for this trip!! This one is from Becky Davis, team member to East Africa. I just received it a little bit ago! Enjoy!

As a journalism/graphics teacher, I try to get my students involved in as many real world activities as possible. So, when I found out at the end of January that I would be going to Uganda to minister to missionaries, I saw this as the perfect opportunity to get my students involved and to talk about Jesus with them in the process. I teach a lot of different classes at my school, six different ones. One of these is a graphics/screen printing class that makes t-shirts.

In one of our meetings, making a t-shirt for the conference was motioned. What better way could there be to get my students involved? The day I introduced the idea to my students I announced that there would be a competition to see what the t-shirt design would be. My students were so excited. The room was buzzing with questions. Questions came up, such as: “What is a missionary?”, “Why are you going to Africa ?”, “What kind of conference is this?”, etc. It also gave me a chance to talk about the verse Hebrews 11:1 at length about what it means and the feeling the design should have.

Doing this project really opened doors to talk with my students about God. I loved it.

We narrowed it down to two t-shirt designs, and had a donor that gave money to cover the cost. The t-shirts look great and one of them even glows in the dark.

I can’t wait to come back and speak with my classes and share pictures of what we did and tell them how the missionaries felt about the shirts.

Many of my students are praying for the conference and getting things together to bring. Working in a public school, talking about God is prohibited unless prompted by a student. I am so glad that I was given the opportunity to go on this trip. It has opened so many doors with my students and I haven’t even gone yet.

Becky

And another email I received from Kathy...

Vickie,

I am continuing to be amazed at the favor of God as we prepare for this trip to East Africa. The outpouring of support is phenomenal. And the generosity of people is humbling.

My church, St. Timothy, (that I won't officially be a member of until Sun.) is helping sponsor missionaries.

My daughter, Jenny, and her Sunday School class are leaving me speechless at the gifts they are providing as God impresses upon their hearts to give and to give generously.

People are excited to be a part of blessing others who are sold out to missions.

The body of Christ is joining together to provide for all the details of this retreat. And God is blessing me (and the team) as I (we) see so many people working together to make this retreat His retreat. I feel like I am experiencing a huge slice of heaven on earth with the cooperative, joy-filled effort of my friends and family.

I am so thankful to be able to see God in all the details.

We serve an awesome God.

Blessings,
Kathy

In closing out this blog please know I am Praising God for you His Servants! Also, know any monies that come in beyond that which were needed to sponsor a missionary for the East Africa retreat will be put towards sponsoring missionary women to attend either the Central America Retreat this summer or the South America Retreat this Fall.

Loving you guys!

His,
vickie

Hang On!

2011-02-21T13:58:00.001-06:00

Well, my dear friends, we are truly heading down the home stretch! We leave the country 1 week from today! I can’t believe it is here! I am so excited watching God work in people’s lives through this journey together.

So, here is the up-date. We have 33 missionaries sponsored. A Big YEA GOD!!!!! So we need to get 17 more sponsored! As I told you before it is awesome to watch the stories unfold of how God is working on behalf of the missionary women. If you have not been keeping up with the stories please take time to read the blog from the last 4 weeks. Truly, you can see God’s hand at work! If you would like to share your story on the blog write me at vickie@purejoyinternational.org and let the rest of us in on how God has directed you in giving for this trip.

Remember I told you I would keep you up to-date as the sponsorships come in. This should be one WILD and CRAZY week of watching HIS Hand!

Below are two more stories of God working in and through His people to accomplish His will regarding the missionary women in East Africa. The first story is from a Friend of Pure Joy named Jan…….The second story is from a friend in my Sunday school class named Kathleen.

#1

Well, Vickie, I don’t really have a story of how this came about, but I saw the need from the P.J. email and God led me to respond. We are so blessed to be able to give generously each month to several situations. Originally, I was going to give 10% of what I am giving, but God gave me the idea to switch some things around this month to give to P.J. It is not normal for me to make known my giving, but I wanted you to know now so you would be encouraged and so you would know how to plan.

God opened my eyes big time to what He is doing around the world when I took the Perspectives course in 2008. I have a friend who is full time on the mission field in Papua New Guinea as a Bible Translator, and I know the dryness that can come on the field. I know how meaningful the Pure Joy retreats have been to hundreds of women, and I am very blessed to be a small part of His ministry of encouragement through you and the Pure Joy team. I hope to go with you all one day!

#2

I usually have a "squirrel" fund. It is all the money I can shave off here and there. You know the $7 extra dollars from groceries or the $2.50 mail in rebate. Anyway I squirrel that money away, then use it later to send the kids to camp or for family vacation. This time God told me specifically to give it to missions. I've been praying where to give it for four weeks. Today He told me to give it to Pure Joy. As I took it out and added the extra from this week I counted it. It added up to exactly $503.00. Isn't God amazing!

As our week goes on I cannot wait to see how God will meet our needs according to His riches in Glory! I expect Him to meet them abundantly above and beyond anything we could hope or imagine! Why? Because He is God! That which He puts into motion He also equips for the journey.

Keep praying! Be obedient to the leading of the Spirit. Keep giving….and always be open to the truth that God may have you GOING with us someday! O, Yeah!

17 and counting it down!!!!!!!!!!

Love you all!!!

His,
vickie

Blog Update...WoooooooooHooooooo!

2011-02-17T12:50:00.000-06:00

Ok, so if you know me I am having the time of my life right now watching how God is bringing everything into being for the East Africa trip. It is ALWAYS amazing for me to watch! I Love Him so much! Remember I told you I would keep you updated on the journey down the home stretch….well Buckle Up!!

So, yesterday afternoon I talked with Janet, one of our team members out of Longview, TX and she shared with me that they had received money for 3 missionary women. That raised the thermostat to 26 missionary women fully sponsored. Then when I got to my Wednesday night small group from church, they had taken up money and had a missionary sponsored plus an arm and leg of another! Hee-hee. Then when I was leaving, another one of our group members gave me the gift of another missionary women being sponsored. So I went to group for fellowship and the breaking of the bread of God’s Word and He gave abundantly more that I could even imagine!!! So we are up to 28 missionary women paid for. I tried to tell you ….watch the home stretch!!!

Ok, then yesterday I get this totally awesome story from Kathy down in Houston, TX about how God is moving and going before her as she continues preparations for the trip….I attached her email to me below! KEEP PRAYING, TRUSTING AND OBEYING!

Before I paste that in let me say this to each one of you …..This is why I love the ministry of Pure Joy International! It isn’t just about what God is doing in the lives of the missionary women when we get there but what He is doing in the lives of the team before we leave. It is an inside-out ministry! We could not even leave the country and already lives have been touched and changed through praying and giving and telling! Enough…the email from Kathy.

Vickie,
I just love God sending His blessings when we walk in obedience. I love that He shows us that He is walking ahead of us preparing the way. God has been delighting me with all the ways that He is bringing provision for the items for the missionaries. God's favor has been going ahead of me and I have been astounded by God's goodness and the generosity of friends, family, and strangers.

My toothpaste story was just the beginning. It was just so God. I had emailed my dental hygienist over the weekend to ask her about getting toothbrushes and toothpaste donated. She said that their supplies were low and she didn't think they could do it but she would check. When she went into her office on Mon. there was a tube of toothpaste with the words "Donate" on it. When the hygienist asked who it was for the answer was "whoever". She asked how much they had and she was sent to a closet full of supplies that she didn't even know existed. So, praise God, 50 toothbrushes and 50 tubes of toothpaste. On Tuesday, I went to get my hair cut. I had emailed Heather, my beautician, about getting salon shampoo and conditioner. I had no idea that she was able to get them. And the provision was double. One of her suppliers sent little packets to her for free and another supplier split the cost of little bottles of shampoo and conditioner. While I was getting my hair cut, another beautician came in and when she found out I was going to Uganda asked if I needed little gift bags. Did I need gift bags? That was a request I had sent out the day before to my friends. She did not know me but is donating 50 African looking bags-25 zebra print and 25 leopard print. God is simply amazing. After that, I went to Walgreens to check on candy. I enquired about an additional discount and was told that maybe on Sat. they could help me. I thanked them for their help, grabbed up 10 pounds of candy and went to check out. (The candy was already 50% off but I was looking for donations or a bigger discount.) When I was checking out the manager came and asked if I was the lady going on the mission trip. When I answered yes, he said he would split the cost of the candy with me. Not the store, but him personally. I was so humbled when he took out his wallet and laid his own money down at the cash register to help pay for the candy! God's favor again from someone that, again, didn't know me.

I have a cousin that felt a desire to sponsor a missionary when she found out that I was going to Uganda. Even though she wanted to give, she knew she couldn't because she had unpaid hospital bills from when her son was hospitalized in the fall. She went to lunch and when she returned to work she looked at charges on her computer. To her amazement and delight one of the bills had been reduced by $489.20. So can you guess what she did with her savings? She sent a check for $500 to sponsor a missionary. How God honors a pure heart. Wow, Wow, Wow!! God is so awesome.

I can't wait to see what God does next. I am falling more in love with Him each day!

Blessings,
Kathy

KEEP PRAYING, GIVING, AND WATCHING!!

His,
vickie

Keeping our eyes fixed...

2011-02-15T16:01:00.000-06:00

We are two weeks out from leaving for East Africa. We now have 23 missionary women fully sponsored! Yeah, LORD, and yeah to all of you that are responding to the need! I love watching God work. That leaves us with 27 to go! The next 13 days should be so very awesome to observe! I will keep you posted as the sponsorships come in so you, too, can get excited with me! I don’t know how HE is going to do it, I just Trust Him to do it! If He is moving your heart to give, obey. Remember the song, ”Trust and Obey there is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to Trust and Obey”. So, Be Happy!!!!

Well, I just got back in from Elko, Nevada Monday night where I have been since last Thursday night doing a Marriage and Family Conference. Now I hope you catch the humor in this since I have never been married and have no children, though God has blessed me with many spiritual children! I was sharing with someone last week that I remember the first Marriage conference I was asked to give for a church about 15-17 years ago. I told them I felt sorry for the people back then because I really had not been a believer very long at that point. However, God blessed it. I told them now that I’d been a believer for almost 21 years I felt even sorrier! Before I didn’t know enough, now I know too much! Ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha I tried to be easy on them, though! Don’t know if they would agree! If you know my heart you know that I am passionate about families! Specifically, children and the needs they have emotionally! Save a marriage…Save a family…..specifically the children!! Our theme was M.A.S.H. Making a Solid Home. I loved the bi-line they had under that…..Warring for Families with Counselor Vickie Arruda. I love that because they absolutely summarized my heart….Warring for Families. That really is the beat of my heart to fight for that which the enemy has stolen away from the family system. Love, Trust, Security, Self-Worth and Value, Morals, and Discipline. The enemy is wrecking the foundations of our homes BUT our God has given us everything we need to build them back! Ok, sorry, I could SO get carried away here!

So, back to our East Africa trip….Don’t forget to pray for the team, the missionaries, the messages, the worship, fellowship time, activity time, flights, and all the details that come together for His Glory!

Love you all,

His,
vickie

Tapping into those Heart Early...

2011-02-08T15:42:00.000-06:00

Sunday afternoon I had the privilege of speaking to the Girls Missionary Auxiliary (GMA) at my home church, Antioch Missionary Baptist Church. What a sweet group of young girls. I shared with them about Pure Joy International and gave them a little bit of insight into how Pure Joy began and how we are led to put together teams to go overseas to minister to our “m’s” on the field. Also was able to share with them lots of details about our trip coming up in several weeks to East Africa.
Can’t tell you the Joy it puts in my heart to see their faces and know that they are having the understanding of what a missionary does from the community level, to state level, to national, and to the ends of the earth! Great heart training for these young girls. They will be praying for us, giving, and someday maybe going with Pure Joy International. Several of the girls have already been on a mission trip out of the country. That is awesome to me!!!!

Well, we are in the home stretch for the trip. We have 20 missionary women sponsored as of today. So, 30 more to go! Don’t stop PRAYING and Don’t Ignore God if He directs you to give. Don’t assume someone else is taking care of it. Ask God if HE wants you to take care of some of it! Also, it is wild to watch God in the home stretch! He does amazing things!!

Keep Praying! Be obedient to give at His prompting!

Love you all,

His,
vickie

P.S. Ok, I want to share with you another Team Member’s story of how they felt God lead them to join the Team to Africa. Meet Kathy Kolkhorst….

Vickie was in Houston recently and she gave her criteria for going on a mission trip. She said you must know that God called you and you must also have your husband's blessing. (Did you hear from God? And is your husband totally on board? ) My husband, Gary, and I signed up to go on our first international mission trip this June, so I never thought that going on a mission trip before that time would be anywhere in the realm of possibilities. I did not feel any pull to go. I didn't even know where (name of country) was for heavens sake! But the one thing I was sure of was that Gary would be supportive of it. It seems like Vickie mentioned the East Africa trip to me and asked me if I was going at least 10 times (I’m sure it wasn’t that many but it seemed that way!) and I said NO every time because God had not told me to go. But then on the last day Vickie was in town, God got my attention and my heart and He began to show me that He wanted me in (name of country). God’s call actually started a week before this but I just didn’t realize it. When a friend was working on her Bible Study, God laid me on her heart and she felt that one of the paragraphs was to be passed on to me. So she typed a letter and mailed it to me. This is what she wrote from Priscilla Shirer's study of Jonah:

"Your story starts with God. The mark you make and the eternal significance will be found in yielding to the intervention God sends your way. When the Lord speaks over your life, separating unto Himself for His purposes consider it your invitation. You have been given an opportunity to write a story beyond your expectations....Your story begins with God's call. It is not your legacy or lack thereof that makes you significant. It is God's call and your willingness to obey it. Like holy hero's you have an outcome you can't make out. The fog of life's journey will clog your spiritual sight, and the fear of the unknown is bound to make you consider bowing out. Don't back down. Correctly viewing and appreciating God's awesomeness and his love compel you to realize the distinct privilege of being used by Him".

When I first read this I didn't get it. Then I reread it and thought it had something to do with something totally unrelated. But looking at it now, I know that this was God's invitation. Over the time Vickie was here she said things like, "if you go to East Africa I can see you doing ............” Ok, I'm flattered but I'm not going.

Sometimes it is hard to miss God speaking to you and I feel that this is the case with this trip. In my quiet time on Wed., God spoke to me about going to (name of country. When I tried to change the voice in my heart and head I couldn't. My heart became so tender for the missionaries who have been called to spread the gospel but who live in conditions that we can't imagine. The thought of these women without a girl friend to talk to, the constant threat of disease, and the lack of things we take for granted (flush toilets, running water that you can drink), the loneliness, and the lies of discouragement that Satan can speak, brought me to tears. My heart wept for these women.

Shortly after that, I was talking to my sister-in-law about (name of country) as I was on my way to Bible Study.. She said, "I bet this is what God has been preparing you to do."

Another cracking of the heart-was I supposed to go?

I walked into Bible Study and the teaching leader was saying, "Is God asking you to go and serve somewhere?' Tears rolled down my face.

On the way to lunch where I was meeting Vickie, God started putting ideas for the East Africa trip in my head-"What is this Lord?"

Another friend called on Wed. and left a message saying she had never seen me have such "Pure Joy" on my face as I had on Mon. night at the event Vickie was speaking at. I talked to her later and she said that when Vickie had said that maybe God was calling someone from Houston to go to East Africa she immediately thought, "Kathy is going to go."

I fasted and prayed on Thursday and my answer was clear-I was going to East Africa.

Psalm 57:2 spoke to my heart—“I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills His purpose for me. He sends from heaven and saves me. God sends his love and his faithfulness”.( I was in tears over God pursuing me and loving me so much that He didn't want me to miss Him!)

The icing on the cake was receiving a check in the mail that afternoon with a note saying to use the money as I saw fit!

I will have to say that even after all these signs (and after emailing Vickie to say I was going) I asked God to reconfirm that I was to go to (name of country) I was like Gideon just wanting some reassurance. God sent His confirmation through a woman that had lived in Africa. When I told her I was going to (name of country) she asked if I was going to (capital city of the country)-which is exactly where we are going!! God you are so awesome!

God is up to something and I'm hanging on for the ride. I can’t wait to see what wonders He performs in East Africa.

Blessings,
Kathy Kolkhorst

Feeling the Joy...

2011-02-02T09:37:00.002-06:00

The Africa Team has formed! God is sooooooo good! The team is finalizing shots (OUCH!) and honing in on the final stretch before leaving the country. I am so excited and also realize that all the team will be living in “warp speed” until we meet in Dallas to board the flight out of the country. I personally will find great Joy in that meeting because it will be my first Starbucks in two months. All my friends know the importance of that moment! In the meantime, don’t slow down, don’t let up, and don’t ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit of God to get on board with us financially for this trip. We have 15 missionaries paid for as of this writing and 35 more ladies need sponsorship so pool your dollars; get your friends on board. Five here, ten there, 20 here, it all comes together and adds up. God’s word says the least will be the most. Don’t think your donation doesn’t count because it does! It impacts these ladies lives which in turn impact the kingdom!
A fun God moment regarding preparation for the trip happened Saturday morning. Patty and I went to Conway, AR to get our shots. While we were standing in the Kroger store waiting on the Pharmacist to show up Patty found a rack of (well, I can’t say what because some of the women might be reading this blog and it is a surprise). Anyway, she said to me “wouldn’t it be great if the store would donate one of these per women attending in Africa?”. “Yes,” I said, “why don’t you go talk to the store manger?” She opted out because that isn’t her deal. (We can let her off the hook here because she is very good and honorable in taking care of the money donated to Pure Joy). Truthfully, in the past neither did I do well with that, but God has just given me this boldness going into this New Year to not be ashamed to seek donations for the things of God and kingdom work. As I have been saying for a month now, dab nab-it, we throw tons of money into things that have no eternal value! I’m just not ashamed anymore to ask for funds to further kingdom work whether it is with Pure Joy or with any of the other thousands of ministries that are doing what God has called them to do. So give where He leads you to give! It’s all from Him anyway and He will take care of all He has orchestrated. Back to the story - I went to find the manager to ask about their willingness to donate the items to the women. In the meantime the girl I found wasn’t the manger but she asked where I was from. I said, “Morrilton”. She said I thought so, I recognized Patty. Seems that they all knew each other from growing up years and were in school together. Bottom line she went to the manager and he said yes. I mean no background check, no need to show ID’s, etc. Hee-Hee…just kidding. The point is God just orchestrated that moment. Isn’t’ it fun to be on board with Him and to get to be a part of HIS ORCHESTRA!

Hope you enjoyed the last blog as Penny shared how God worked in her life to confirm her going on this trip. I am going to ask some of the other ladies to share their stories along the way as well.

Please continue to pray for:

• The ladies in Africa that will be attending

• Their families that will be left behind

• The team members and their families that will be left behind

• Our flights and the weather

• The messages that will be spoken over the ladies

• The music we will lift up together in worship of Him

• The times of relaxation and fun fellowship

• The needs we are not even aware of will be met

• And that God will get every ounce of GLORY

Again I so encourage you to prayerfully consider allowing Pure Joy to become a ministry of your heart for prayer, giving, and going! Be open to His leading in all of these areas and know that I will more than gladly come to your area to share about Pure Joy and how you can get on board.

Loving Jesus, You, and the World that needs to KNOW HIM!

His,
vickie

Greetings His Precious Ones in Christ...

2011-01-25T18:21:00.000-06:00

Wow! We serve an awesome God, don’t we! I am sitting in the home of Jeff and Leslie Sjurseth who serve on our board at Pure Joy International. Last night I had the great privilege to share at a women’s conference put together by St. Timothy Lutheran Church in Houston, TX. The title of the conference was “Taste and See that the LORD is Good!” It was wonderful. The women in attendance represented several churches and mission organizations and had the most gracious and sweet fragrance of the LORD coming forth from them. I was able to also share about Pure Joy and our needs for the Africa trip, plus many other opportunities for the ladies in this area to get on board with missions at a local level. If I wasn’t flying out tomorrow I would be right in the middle of helping with Little Footprints tomorrow night. It is a ministry to babies of the street kids ages 17-25. Please go on line and read about it when you can. www.littlefootprints.com The ministry to the parents 17-25 is called Montrose Street Reach. http://www.montrosestreetreach.org/.

We received donations that will sponsor 5 more ladies to attend the Africa trip! We have 11 paid for as of today (Monday). Patty would say almost 11. But I like to round up! (ha,ha,ha) Don’t miss out on this opportunity to encourage these women!

We have 50 women signed up for the Retreat with 20 on the waiting list as of today. I want to encourage you give, give, give. As we can see the need is major for these ladies to have a break!! Partner with a couple of your girlfriends and determine to sponsor one of these ladies for this Retreat. Again, cost per missionary woman to attend for 4 days-3 nights is $500. There are a lot of places we could put these ladies up at ½ the price. But I believe this ministry is a vehicle God uses to remind the ladies that He wants to lavish His Love on them because they spend their lives lavishing His Love and Word on others that might never have heard the truth of the Gospel.

I also want you to see how God works in the lives of women on this side of the continent when preparing their hearts to go. Following is a testimony from one of the ladies that will be part of our Africa Team from the states.

I Love you all so much…(The Body of Christ),

His,
vickie

Vickie asked me to blog and share my testimony with you about the upcoming Retreat in Africa. My first Retreat with Pure Joy was in 2007 to Quito, Ecuador. Early one morning, while there, God put a “whole” rainbow in the sky – I could see where it began and where it ended! I had seen rainbows but never a “whole” one. My roommate and I were so excited! We were in awe, jumping up and down, squealing, calling and waking up other team members to tell them, but I had no idea how God would use this in my life. There is not enough space to tell you about every incident, but since that trip, every time I have gone on Retreat with Pure Joy, God has given me a “whole” rainbow! I know it is His confirmation for me! If you know Vickie, you know before you can go with Pure Joy your husband has to be in agreement. Recently, I told my husband that I was feeling led to pray about going on the upcoming Retreat in Africa. Immediately he replied, “No, you’re not going!” He did not feel comfortable with me traveling there. Later, I told him, “You know if God gives me a rainbow on this, I have to go!” This began to soften his heart and it wasn’t long before he said, “You have to go where God leads you.” I knew I had overcome my first hurdle! The other love of my life is only 2 years old. He has blonde hair, big blue eyes, dimples and is my only grandbaby, Marshall Isaac. If you have grandchildren, you know how hard it is to be away from them for any length of time! Especially, to travel so far away to a place that is so different from our way of life and is even a little scary! Below is a picture of the Sunday School project that Marshall made and gave to me this past week! Yes, God gave me a “whole” rainbow! I am excited to say that I will be part of the Team traveling to Africa in March! From God’s canvas in the sky to a work of art made by tiny little hands – HE is so Faithful! Always Seek Him. Always Listen for Him. Always Look for Him. HE Is ALWAYS There!

Praying you Revel in your Rainbow!

Penny Morrow

WoooWhooooooo.....

2011-01-18T15:08:00.000-06:00

We opened up registration for the missionary women of East Africa yesterday morning (Monday). As of this afternoon (Tuesday) we have #27 missionary women already signed up. They represent many different missions’ organizations and ministries going on in East Africa. As of this morning we have 5 of those missionary women sponsored. Some of you have asked how much it costs to sponsor a missionary for this 4 day 3 night event. The cost per missionary women to attend is $500 dollars. This takes care of their room and board and meals for 4 days, 3 nights, and all their materials for the retreat.

I am so excited to see the 50 available spots filling up! I believe God will meet our every need for this trip and for every woman in attendance. Why? 1. Because I know we are supposed to take this conference to that area of the world. God has clearly impressed my heart on the matter. 2. When it is a God idea He provides above and beyond all that we could imagine. 3. It is so exciting to watch Him putting the team together!

Please continue to pray for this East Africa trip:

• For the team to be made complete

• For all the details that take place here in the U.S. as far as preparation

• For all the missionary women to be sponsored before we leave the country

• For the resort area we are providing for them to be sweet, sweet, time of resting and refreshing and renewal to go back into their marriages, families, ministries, and world with a new fragrance of Jesus on them!

Don’t forget if you are taking the Challenge from the Blog on January 4th this is our $20 towards a missionary week. Get in on the opportunity to further His kingdom work by giving those Frontline Missionaries some rest!!

Love you and can’t wait to see God at work through all of us as He answers the prayers for this Women’s Conference!

P.S. If you want to be stirred in your heart about giving of your time, talents, and resources go to http://www.anticochconway.com/ and listen to the message from 1-16-11. It is one of the top 5 messages I have ever heard on these areas since becoming a believer 21 years ago!

His,
vickie

AFRICA on the horizon...

2011-01-14T00:51:00.000-06:00

Well, I am excited to say that some of you are taking seriously my last blog about the $20 every other week! And it is so cool to watch it come in! I have asked Patty to put us a “wall of givers” on the Web site. Not amounts but just so you can see what we see. I love it when a small child’s name that has donated $1 to help sponsor a missionary woman is up there with the name of an adult or adult Sunday school class, etc. that has given $500 or more to sponsor a missionary. It is awesome!

Ok and yes, I am doing the Starbuck starve!!!!!! I actually have had to laugh at myself in this challenge! The other day I was headed to Little Rock, AR to visit a friend in the hospital. When I got to Conway, AR my car just out of habit took the exit to Starbucks. I am thinking about how good that coffee and muffin will taste driving in the traffic to Little Rock, AR. It wasn’t until I actually had pulled into the Starbucks’ parking lot that I came to my senses! I just started dying laughing and took out a five and put it in my Missionaries for Africa stash. Gotta love it!

I still continue to challenge you to get on board with the challenge from the blog dated Jan. 4th 2011. (Read it please!) The challenge is at the end of the blog-reading for that day. Also, I encourage you when you click into the blog on the web site to look to the right on that page and sign up underneath "Take the challenge" to be able to receive the blog each week directly to your email. You don’t have to go into the blog every week. It will come to you automatically which keeps you in the loop!

Please pray for the missionary women that will be attending the retreat in March. Pray for their families that will be without them for 4 days -3 nights. Pray for the ministries they leave behind in order to attend. Pray that the very 50 missionaries that God wants to be there will be the first to sign up on-line. Also pray for the team, the speakers and their messages, the worship leader and the songs, the women that will head up hospitality, activities, etc. Also, pray that God will move on the hearts of people to give to sponsor missionary women to be able to attend!

Tell others that have a heart for Evangelical Bible Believing missionaries all over this world to get on board with praying, giving and going. Let’s help keep those called to the field on the field!!!! And remember, tithe to your home church first, then give to this ministry and other ministries that further the Good News of the Gospel!

Loving you guys and Love that you are taking the Challenge!
His,
vickie

Don’t want your money this week! (Can’t believe I typed those words! I’m sure Patty will not be able to believe it either along with some of the Board Members! Ha,ha,ha) However, remember this is the off week! If you didn’t send your $20 last week get on it!

A Brand New Ending...

2011-01-04T08:43:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, Bro. Bobby, our Associate Pastor delivered an awesome New Year message. He didn’t title it but when he was done I thought of several things it could have been titled such as Decision Time, The Rest of the Story, Choices, etc., but I like the last four words of a quote he shared with us in the beginning of the message that ended with these words - “a brand new ending.”

Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending! - Carl Bard

The message was built around three women in scripture. Rahab, the Prostitute; Bathsheba, the eventual wife of King David; and Ruth, daughter-in-law of Naomi.

He then discussed how Rahab had made the choice to prostitute herself for whatever reasons (Joshua 2). Bathsheba was the victim of King David’s choice not to go off to war when he was supposed to (2 Samuel 11). Ruth was put in a position to make a choice due to something she had no control over - the death of her husband [simply put…a life circumstance] ( Ruth 1-4).

HOWEVER, it is significant to note, as Bro. Bobby pointed out, that in Matthew 1, five women are mentioned in the genealogy of Christ… Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba (wife of Uriah) and Mary (mother of Christ).

WOW! Somewhere Rahab, Bathsheba, and Ruth made a new ending to their story. I want to encourage you as Bro. Bobby encouraged us Sunday. Most things in life aren’t “do over’s”. Remember as a kid playing ball you might call out “do over”! Well, we may not be able to have a do over with that marriage that ended, or the lost of a job, or even those life circumstances that have knocked the wind out of us. But we can make a brand new ending from this day forward! God’s word tells us to “finish strong”. Never doubt that if God tells us to do something then He will grace us for the journey! You, my dear one, are being molded into the image of Christ. Get up! Dust the lies of the enemy off your britches, and “make a brand new ending!” Amen!

Please begin to pray as Pure Joy heads to Africa in March of 2011. Our Theme is “Faith” from …Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Pray that God will meet our financial needs for sponsoring the missionary women that will attend the retreat. Praise God for the opportunities we have to go into an area where the women can fellowship, relax, worship and be challenged and renewed by the Living Word of God without concern of persecution.

We have 4 ladies sponsored as of this writing. We have 46 more to go. So I’m going to do something we have never done because desperate times call for desperate measures. Starting this week I am going to ask everyone reading this blog to please send $20 dollars to the ministry this week. Then I’m going to skip a week and ask you to send $20 again, then another week and $20 again. Truth be known, most of us spend $20 a week and don’t have a clue where it went. This way you still get to spend your twenty but it is intentional and for God’s Glory! All funds that are coming in right now are being designated for the Africa Retreat unless you tell us to put it someplace else (all donations tax deductable). There is your challenge! I will keep you posted on how this challenge is going.

When Patty (Financial Person for the ministry) reads this blog before posting it she is probably going to think I’ve gone off the deep end! But, dab-nab-it, I think it is time for us to challenge each other when it comes to accomplishing the things of the Lord. I’m giving up Starbucks from today until we leave the country for Africa and donating my money that I would normally spend at Starbucks to the Africa trip! If you know me you know this is NO SMALL commitment! Would any of you make such a commitment regarding the giving up of something until March 2, 2011, and donate that money to a missionary towards her being able to attend this retreat FREE of charge. All they have to do is get to the location of the retreat. Meals, rooms, materials are all taken care of for them. Give it up folks! Remember my last blog before Christmas! Times are getting tougher and we believers are going to have to get tougher to be able to “Encourage one another daily as long as it is called today so our hearts will NOT BE HARDENED by sin’s deceitfulness.” Heb. 3:13

I love you all,

His,
vickie

Take the challenge!!!

The sweet fragrance as the Christmas Holidays linger...

2010-12-29T09:11:00.000-06:00

As I write this blog I am sitting at my nephew’s home in Victoria, Texas. He and his wife have just delivered their third child. This very moment my sister-in-law is chasing Admiral, the golden retriever, through the house. My nephew is running right behind them telling her “of course he is going to take off running when you open that doorway.” Admiral is back in his room now looking at me as if to say, “What did I do?”. My mom is sitting in the living room – oops, Admiral is trying to make a great escape again but my brother is using his firmest voice to let him know he better get back in that room! As I started to say, my mom is in the living room sitting on the couch holding newborn Landon. Now everyone has made it to the living room where the newborn Landon is crying the sound of a newborn! Braden, his almost 2 year old brother, is running his new Christmas cars across the living room coffee table that is just made for little boys to play on with their toys. My brother, his wife, and my other nephew (twin brother to the first nephew I mentioned) and his girlfriend from San Antonio are all playing video games and eating dessert. My nephew that lives in this house has moved to the kitchen table with me and is on his computer as well. However, secretly he is listening to the football game that is on tonight in the other room because he and his brother are in this major competition with fantasy football. Tonight’s game between the Eagles and Vikings will determine the winner between them. I love the flow of family! When times such as these are going on I fully believe that family is the most awesome unit God created! Husbands, wives, children, nieces, nephews, in-laws, out-laws, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc. Ok now 1st nephew is going through the house saying “I need a field goal!” Admiral just got in trouble again and I can truly saying he didn’t do anything! Ha,ha,ha People alert…everyone is shifting! Help!

Hope you all had some special time with your families this Christmas Season!

As I listen to Braden playing and see his little red head pop up over the coffee table every once in awhile and hear everyone cooing over little Landon as well, I am reminded of this Bible truth……”What a difference a child can make”.

My prayer is that if Jesus has not made a difference in your life as of this blog, that He will by this time next Christmas Season.

Love you all,

His,
vickie

Admiral is loose again!

Merry Christmas from Pure Joy!

2010-12-23T12:21:00.001-06:00

Enjoy this Christmas wish from the Board and Staff of Pure Joy International!

Just $40...

2010-12-14T16:45:00.000-06:00

This morning when I got to the office I stepped next door to check on my friend that has an alteration business. We usually check on each other first thing in the morning and when one of us closes for the evening. As I was standing in her business a gentleman stepped in the door with a rather hurried manner about him, carrying a spray bottle. He immediately asked Ola, my friend, if she was the business owner. When she nodded yes it was like the gates opening at the Kentucky Derby. He was off and running. He could not tell us enough about the miracle powers of the cleaner in his spray bottle. Truly we could not get a word in edge-wise because he was so busy showing us all that this cleaning liquid could do. Now don’t get me wrong. I was totally getting excited about this stuff. In fact, about the time he had me in his corner my client drove up. “Ok, I’d like to talk more with you about this but I have a client waiting. However, I will take your brochure and read it and call you later.” Oh, you can’t, he said. I am leaving for St. Louis when I leave here. “Ok, then come back by when you are back in town.” Not coming back. “Ok, then I’ll take a bottle.” ($1 - I’d be crazy not to!) He then tells me we only sell it by the gallon jug. (Really). “How much for a gallon jug?” Just $40 a jug. (Really!)

Immediately within a millimeter of a second the following thought flashes through my head. If this stuff was real it would be worth the investment to purchase it. But there is no way to check this guy out and he really appears to be in a hurry for a quick buck. For all I know his bottle of cleaner is the real deal for sure and the rest could just be glorified water. So, I quickly acknowledged to him that I didn’t have $40 and went to tend to my client.

As I thought about this later on this morning I thought about how easily people can sell us something that sounds good and even looks good but it is all a deception. Hmmmm, does that story sound familiar.

I can never encourage us enough to BE IN THE WORD OF GOD!!! The ONLY things that will prevent us from being deceived in these latter days are the Word of God and the Holy Spirit!

So beware this time of year for scams! But be even more aware all the time for the enemy to try and deceive daily! He is going to get more cunning in these latter days. KNOW THE TRUTH ….INSIDE AND OUT!

His,
vickie

Monkey see...

2010-11-29T15:45:00.002-06:00

Two weekends ago I was helping my sister with a garage sale and a young mom with a 2 ½ to 3 year old daughter walked up. The mom was inside an area looking at some things and the little girl was within her sight but outside looking through a tub of toys, stuffed animals, little dolls, cars, plastic horses, etc. As I watched the little girl I became significantly amused. She would reach into the tub, bring out an item, and turn it over in her hands as if to check all sides top and bottom and then pause a second as if pondering. Then she would either throw it back in the tub as if to say “Nah” or carry it over to my sister to hold for when they checked out. I sat and watched this child go through this process over and over, again totally amused and chuckling at times. But then I realized what a “REAL LIFE” example of what we try to teach new moms and dads this situation provided……. “Young children model after your behaviors, not your words”. When they get older they have enough education to recognize some of your behaviors do not line up with your words. In this case it causes mistrust in the growing child and positions them to not know what to do in certain situations: “what you’ve told them” or “what you do”.

I wonder as we are in the throws of the Christmas season what you are telling them and modeling for them regarding the birth of our Savior. Do they get excited at Christmas because of the birth of Christ or because of the presents and gifts?

Monkey see, Monkey do...

His,
Vickie

How...

2010-11-24T16:25:00.000-06:00

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe In Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? Romans 10:14

The Strong’s Greek Dictionary defines the word preacher from that verse as….
kay-roos'-so…Of uncertain affinity; to herald (as a public crier), especially divine truth (the gospel):—preach (-er), proclaim, publish.

This week as we are mindful of being Thankful, we at Pure Joy International Ministry want to salute the men and women all over the world that have taken that verse to heart and are proclaiming the gospel to the ends of the earth!

Thank you Missionaries all over the world for your willingness to go, share, and disciple the Nations!!! May God Bless you in a unique way this Thanksgiving Holiday.

Also, to all of you and yours that pray for this ministry, give on a regular basis, and go! Blessings to you as well!

Happy Thanksgiving from the Ministry Staff of Pure Joy!!!

Dear Moms...

2010-11-16T11:00:00.000-06:00

Many months ago a women put an announcement in the church bulletin at Antioch Baptist, my home church. It simply was a request for mothers, grandmothers, aunts, etc. to join her on Monday mornings in her home to pray for our families. This time was just prayer for our families, nothing else unless the LORD led us to it. I have missed very few of those mornings. I have also watched the LORD working in the families of those of us that meet.

I could cover this page with God’s faithfulness to answer prayers regarding each of our families that we have been praying about. But let me just say, PRAISE GOD who Is and Is to come!!!!

A dear friend of mine, as well as one of our ladies we like to take overseas as a speaker whenever she is available, began a ministry called Mom’s Day of Prayer. Below is an excerpt from that organization’s New Vision for 2011! Please take time to read it and check out her web site!

Also, we are gearing up for our next Retreat. It will be in Uganda, Africa. Please join us in praying as we work with potential sponsoring churches and all that God would have for the Missionary Women in that area of Africa.

His,
vickie

A New Vision for the Worldwide Mom’s Day of Prayer Ministry for 2011! 47 Saturdays – 47 MDOP Coordinators – 47 Churches. Yes, we are praying that 47 Saturdays in 2011 will have a MDOP on each weekend! The only Saturdays that we are leaving out are January 1st and all the Saturdays in December.

Please visit the MDOP website at http://www.momsdayofprayer.com to sign up or call the MDOP office at 479-452-6215.

As one MDOP attendee said, "I wonder how many of our precious children will be spared from suicide, rape, abortion, sexual misconduct, running away, loneliness, pain, depression, eternity in Hell, drug and alcohol addiction, etc. etc. etc., because of the Mom’s Day of Prayer."

Can you imagine 47 weekends filled with praying women? Sign up now!

Kathy J. Coleman
Mom's Day of Prayer Founder
http://www.momsdayofprayer.com
http://www.letsgetrealmarriages.com
http://www.kathyjcoleman.com

His Attributes...

2010-11-09T16:29:00.001-06:00

Do not let it be imagined that one must remain silent about one’s feelings of rebellion in order to enter into dialogue with God. Quite the opposite is the truth: it is precisely when one expresses them that a dialogue of truth begins.
PAUL TOURNIER (1898–1986)

We are a strange lot as human beings, aren’t we? I am talking to you and me, the body of Christ! I don’t know when I actually came to the place to “Believe” not just “know” that God knows all, sees all, is all powerful, is incomprehensible and is omnipresent, full of grace, mercy, etc. etc. But getting there was, and continues to be, life changing for me in my walk with God along with learning of all His other attributes.

Those are just a few of the Attributes of God that help me to walk in faith! Those particular attributes are the ones that have taught me to not waste my time trying to hide my sins and faults from Him and/or myself. In fact, those truths regarding His Attributes have provided me with the freedom to be honest with myself, God and others concerning my weaknesses and shortcomings

Why? Because . . . .

*when the God of All Creation can look at this lump of clay with all its faults and shortcomings and yet predestine me to be His child before the beginning of time,

*and through His Word continue to instruct me to run to Him for forgiveness of my sins, faults, and short comings as a child runs to a parent for love and security, worth and value,

*and as The Potter molds this clay daily for His Glory and use - whatever that might be,

. . . .then of course I want to dialogue with this Majestic God that is my only hope of eternal salvation in the future and righteousness in this lifetime.

Psalm 103:14 For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.

You’ve heard the saying, “Get the right perspective on God and you’ll get the
right perspective on man.” Remember…He Knows, He Sees, He is all-powerful, and present 24-7. Get honest with yourself so you can get honest with The One that already knows and still LOVES you with an Eternal Love! Run to HIM!

His,
vickie

House or Home...

2010-11-03T09:44:00.000-05:00

In a Treasury of Bible Illustrations complied by Ted Kyle and John Todd the following story is told….

House or Home

A cute little girl was sitting on top of a pile of luggage in a hotel lobby. Her parents were at the desk registering for their room. A sympathetic lady asked the little girl if they were visiting relatives in the city. “Oh, no,” the girl replied. “We’re going to live at this hotel until we find a house. My Daddy has a new job and we had to sell our house and move.” The lady said, “Oh, it’s too bad you don’t have a home.” To which the girl replied, “Oh we have a home—it’s just that we don’t have a house to put it in.”

Several weeks from now we will be celebrating the tradition of Thanksgiving.
I wonder how many people will be gathering in Houses and how many will be gathering in Homes?

Hmmmmmmm

His,
vickie

Invite someone to your Home for Thanksgiving! Plan now so they don’t feel like they were a last minute thought! The Holy Spirit of God will be glad to give you direction in this! He cares. Matthew 6:25-34

Roses Among Thorns....

2010-10-25T15:53:00.001-05:00

This past Wednesday I had the privilege of speaking to an organization called “Roses Among Thorns”. It is a group of women that are Cancer Survivors (or as I like to say, “Overcomers through Christ). They meet every 3rd Wednesday of the month for lunch, fellowship, a guest speaker, fun and discussion of opportunities to minister to others.

One of the most precious things I heard spoken among the group that day was when someone shared with me how they network. They are so mindful of each one’s journey.

Some are just recently diagnosed, some are in treatment, some are Survivors, some are barely hanging on to another month. But this group is so awesome! One of the ladies told me, “Recently she called Linda Dickey, Founder ( http://www.rosesamongthorns.org/ ) and said, “We have a Rose in trouble!” Maybe she just needs a phone call of encouragement, maybe she needs a visit, maybe a surprise, maybe a call, a card, etc. I love that…..We have a Rose in trouble! Can’t you just see everyone rallying to take care of the Rose - that beautiful flower that gives such a magnificent fragrance!

Could we, as believers, have that kind of passion for one another as brothers and sisters in Christ?! Could we realize that it is tough out there in the world as we travel through the day?! Could we recognize that our brothers and sisters are struggling with finances, jobs, marriages, children, etc.?! Yes, some of them are in trouble! Trouble of the soul - the mind, will and emotions. Can we acknowledge “hey” we have a brother or sister in Christ in trouble and then actually rally to make a call of encouragement, send a note, make a visit, buy their lunch, etc.? Maybe it would help if we could see with the eyes of Christ instead of the eyes of our flesh. What if we saw one another as the absolute work of art of the Almighty Creator of the Universe? What if we actually saw our brothers and sisters as genuine works of art, each work the original? God the Artist! Because that is true you know!!! Would we take better care of one another? Hmmmmm

Let’s try this week to become very aware of the original art that God has allowed to be a part of your life and mine. Be willing to call up a friend and say…..”We have a piece of art work in trouble, let’s rally.” Maybe that piece of art is you, your spouse, your children, your job, your parents, etc. Make the call!

His,
vickie

Tulsa Taste of Pure Joy Retreat 2010 Cancelled...

2010-10-19T13:07:00.000-05:00

As most of you know Pure Joy stepped out in an adventure these past several months after much prayer and the leading of the Holy Spirit. Our heart was to minister to women in roles of leadership within church staffs. Our deadline for sign-up was Oct. 15, 2010. That was last Friday night. Our threshold for attendance was no less than 50. (Ok, I had this grandiose idea of no more than 350.) I’m like this eternal optimist!

Our final number was 20 ladies registered by the deadline. Now most people would see that as some kind of “did we miss God syndrome?” May I encourage you with a genuine “No” we didn’t miss God. How do you know you might ask? Because we had peace throughout the process. Col. 3:15 says, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart”. The amplified Bible says, “Let the peace of Christ rule like an umpire”. It is either “in” or “out”! There is no I am sort of “in” His will or sort of “out” of His will. You are either in or out! We were “in” throughout the process. So the outcome wasn’t ours but HIS!

God used this to show us that while He is adding some different arms to the ministry it is in regard to overseas not here in the states. This journey was affirmation of the vision He gave in 1999 for Pure Joy International. So Praise God!!!!! However, do not forget that Pure Joy is an inside out ministry and we do work with churches in the U.S. to accomplish the vision.

I want to encourage you to take time to pray about your involvement in Pure Joy International Ministries. I would be honored to come to your church and communities to share about Pure Joy. I enjoy speaking in your Ladies Retreats at your home churches about whatever your theme or desire for a topic is. I love working with leadership and would love to spend time with your women’s leadership ministry. Any way we at Pure Joy can help connect you to Him and the vision He has laid on our heart to minister to our women overseas gives us great Joy!

Keeping Praying, Giving, and Going! And, as we all know, that will be harder and harder to do in these days and the future. But we have a forerunner….JESUS!

Love you all,

His,
vickie

Deadline Upon Us...

2010-10-12T15:37:00.000-05:00

Sign up deadline for the Taste of Pure Joy Retreat in Tulsa, OK November 5-6, 2010 is near. We will stop taking registrations at 11:59 P.M. this Friday Oct. 15th.

Go to http://www.purejoyinternational.org/ for all the information!

His,
vickie