A Missionary Shares Her Heart...

It is always such affirmation to our ministry when we hear these heart felt words from our missioary sisters following a retreat. I wanted everyone to be able to catch a glimspe of what God did in Costa Rica through reading this email from one of the missionaries that attended the Costa Rica Retreat. Thank you ladies for sharing your stories with His women around the world.

Dear Pure Joy Costa Rica retreat team,
Words can not express my gratitude to you and the Lord for your overwhelming love that was showed during the Pure Joy retreat. When I heard about the retreat I had no expectations. I am a "strong" woman and Ladies' retreats aren't my thing. After checking your web-site and seeing that you weren't a cult, just Baptists, I figured that theologically you would be OK and at least I would get a nice few days at a fancy hotel for free. I didn't have anything to lose so I signed up.

The Lord began working on my heart the minute that you all greeted me when I arrived. You each acted as if you were seeing a long lost friend and now I know why. When you told me that you had been praying for me, I couldn't believe it. How could you be praying for me..a stranger? My heart began to soften.

But you know what....I was still guarded and skeptical. After all, I am a "strong" missionary. Then Vickie gave her testimony and I was blown away. She wasn't a stereotypical Barbie doll Baptist who walked down the isle at an alter call in her church as a child. (Vickie, you may not be a Barbie doll but you are more beautiful than Barbie both inside and out.) I loved the fact that she had lived a real life with real problems and that God met her right where she was. Thank you for being so transparent. It ministered to me and I felt like from that moment on, I could trust you.

Then Marsha spoke. Surprise, surprise. She didn't fit my stereotype either. She had lived the missionary life (which I am sure Barbie could never do) and was also transparent. Well, I guess I wasn't too surprised when Kathy didn't turn out to be Barbie either. In fact, I think that my greatest weakness is just like her...I am too strong. (Kathy, I have never wanted to go on a prayer retreat either and I certainly would have taken a nap on the blanket.) Then Merry Beth spoke. Well, Merry Beth, you almost fooled me, but when you shared from your heart about what happened with your children right before you were going to lead those prayer rallies I knew that you weren't Barbie either becaue she would never have anything but perfect kids. (I think maybe you are a GI Jane disguised in a Barbie
figure!) Amazing, 4 very real women....not plastic Barbie dolls.

I can't tell you how each of you ministered to me with your transparency about your own lives. The deepness of your walk with the Lord was so evident and the Bible truths that you taught blew me away. You are all awesome teachers and public speakers. You qualify to be in a colosium teaching at a convention but instead you came to Costa Rica to minister to us. What a gift from the Lord.

Each of the rest of you had such a vital part in the behind the scenes working of this retreat. You were such a team, each with your specific role that you did so well. Everything was excellently organized and carried out and you pampered us so much. We needed to be loved and we received your outpouring of it. Thank you for all the preparation, prayer and long hours you put in, to minister to us.

For me, more than all the beutiful gifts, the presentation that they were given to us in filled me up. I am so glad that you Martha Stewerts came along. We don't have all those beautiful gift bags, ribbons, bright colors and fru fru here in Costa Rica. Just walking in the rooms and seeing the beautiful presentations on each table, took my breath away. Then there were all the wonderful things inside the bag. I was just longing for some nice lotion like they sell at Bath and Body works. Well, I now have enough lotion for not only myself but for all my friends too!

The last day, when I entered the lunch room and saw all the cards, I got a knot in my throat. I was overwhelmed that there were so many people praying for me, even without knowing me. It just reinforced for me, how much God cares about me. Do you know, that in my pile of cards, there was even a Valentines Day card. That just made me cry out because a few weeks ago I asked our Sunday School class to please send me Valentines Day cards. With e-mail, I rarely get mail anymore and I just so love looking at beautiful cards. I love pink and hearts so I was longing for some of those Valentines Day beauties. And here, the Lord knew and had someone send me one through you.

It was so nice to be on the receiving end for a change. Thank you for all that you did for me at Pure Joy in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica….God Does It Again!!

As I sit here at the Costa Rica Airport waiting for our Team to return to the states I am overwhelmed by God’s continual Faithfulness to Pure Joy International. This retreat, like each retreat, was exactly what God had in store for this group of women. What a beautiful group of missionary women coming together from so many missions organizations.

As with each retreat words cannot possible be enough to reveal the things God accomplished in the lives of the missionary women and this team during the past 7 days. He knows every little detail and the importance of it to our lives. I shared with our team last night during our team briefing that it is amazing to me how God works each specific retreat to His Glory!!! One of the ladies said to me last night, “Surely we are the best team you have ever had?” I laughed and said, “You are the best team for this retreat!” We all had a good laugh from it. Every retreat is different and each team is the best team for that retreat.

I want to thank everyone of you that gave to the Costa Rica Retreat. The one thing that the ladies really acknowledged was that it was very obviously to them that much prayer has gone into our time with them. They cannot believe that so many of you are praying for them. I want to encourage those of you that have been praying for the retreat to write comments on this blog about how praying for the missionary women has affected your life. I have also asked the missionary women to take time to write on the blog to you and share how God used the retreat in their lives, so be watching for that in the weeks to come.

Well, time to board, but just wanted to briefly say to all of you Friends of Pure Joy….THANK YOU FOR LOVING JESUS AND LETTING US IN ON IT!!!

Room For Three!

Good afternoon bloggers! We are hitting our deadline this Wednesday for any missionary women in the Costa Rica or surrounding area that would like to sign up for Pure Joy’s Costa Rica Retreat for Women Missionaries. Don’t missing this opportunity if you have not signed up yet. We will receive no more registrations after 5:00 on Wednesday afternoon. To register please go to www.purejoyinternational.org and click on registration.

The Costa Rica Retreat team is absolutely getting more and more excited about what God is up to for this retreat! It is going to be such a sweet time in the LORD, full of encouragement, worship, fellowship, and fun!!

This past weekend I had the opportunity to do a lock-in with our 3rd through 6th graders at my home church. The previous weekend I had the opportunity to minister to a group of women from Paragould, AR. at a ladies retreat on the lake in a wonderful lake house. Funny thing, the women stayed up most of the night just like those kids. So what is it with staying up all night when we get to go to these things? My body is confused about it all!! Ha,ha,ha,ha,ha

Both of those events were of great joy to me personally. In fact that group of women in Paragould took up an offering to sponsor one of our missionary women in Costa Rica and then some. At our kids lock-in I had the opportunity to lead a young 11 year old to the LORD! Sweetest thing in the world to watch JESUS capture the heart of a child!!!! While I’m on this subject…when is the last time you shared your testimony with someone? Believe it or not there are people that live and work around us every day that do not know how to enter into that eternal relationship! A testimony is just the thing to spring open the door of conversation. Overcome your own fears and step out in bold faith trusting the Spirit of God to give you the right words at the right time! Remember, God’s timing is perfect and He is the Savior not you and I! We are however responsible to share the Good News!

Just a quick note to finish…I just visited with a 10 year-old that attended the lock-in Friday as well. He informed me that he was saved on Christmas Eve! I wish you could have heard this young mans testimony. Wow! Out of the mouth of babes! Anyway, we talked about baptism today and this Sunday he will follow the LORD in this act of obedience! I share the two stories with you today to remind you, God is at working drawing men, women, and children to Him near and far! We are all missionaries for the kingdom!!!!

Closing in on Costa Rica

Okay friends, approximately five weeks and counting! Costa Rica is coming into focus as we spend these last five weeks in preparation. Funny about putting together a retreat like this. It reminds me of baking which will make some of you that know me laugh out loud! First you have to decide what kind of cake you want to make. Then you have to go about the business of finding the ingredients for that particular cake because that is what makes it that cake! Next you have to be sure to measure out the right amount of those ingredients as you begin to mix it together and then you spend time stirring it so it can really blend well. Last comes pouring it into a prepared pan and putting it in the oven to cook. Then when it comes out, it looks WONDERFUL (that is a faith statement…ha!) and you put on the final touch of icing and it is ready to be served, savored and enjoyed!!

Having said all of that, I suspect as of today we are in the measuring out the ingredients part of the recipe for our Coast Rica Cake. We meet as a team at Eastside Baptist in Ft. Smith this coming Sunday afternoon to really begin mixing and stirring the ingredients so please be praying for us! Can you imagine 16 women working on one cake! That is a miracle before we ever leave the country!!! Ha…ha!

His,
vickie

P.S. We could have baked a just add egg and water cake but Nahhhhh! Our missionary women deserve better than that!!!

Hear a Team Members Heart

Hey Guys, I thought you would enjoy hearing about a ministry that Kathy Coleman, one of our Costa Rica team members is involved in. I asked her to give me some information on it...so here it is.

A Ladies' Retreat is what changed my life! In 1995, I began a walk with God that took me into uncharted territories. As I began to pray with 3 other women after this retreat for God's will in my life, God took me to an article about moms in Brazil who came together to pray for their children. I then felt that God was calling me to start a yearly day of prayer for moms in our city. The first Mom's Day of Prayer was held in Ft. Smith, Arkansas in January 1998. Then in 2004, I felt the call of God to take the MDOP outside of Ft. Smith so it has become a worldwide event. The Mom's Day of Prayer is held the 3rd Saturday of each January across the world. It is with great JOY that I will have the opportunity to share with the ladies in Costa Rica about this movement of God. If you would like further information please visit the MDOP website at www.momsdayofprayer.com.

If you have a chance check out her web site! Keep checking the blog we will have more news about the Costa Rica preparations soon.

His,
Vickie

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!

Dear Ones,

As the hurry and scurry of Christmas is upon us I come along side many others that would simply remind you of the reason for the season. It is my prayer that as we remember the birth of Jesus Christ during this season that each one of us will take the time to reflect on the impact His birth has had on our lives personally.

I was 35 years old when the Holy Spirit of God drew me to the realization of Jesus Christ and His Saving Grace! To say my life has never been the same is an absolute understatement of His Power! It is with ‘great joy’ that I enter into this time of season knowing what His birth has brought to my life! My prayer for all of you is that you would take this time to ponder, just for a moment, the impact a child born in a manger has brought to your life. REALLY PONDER IT! Now, remember all of those in this world that have not experienced the impact of the Child born in the manger. Please lift them up in prayer this very moment and pray that this would be their Season and or Year to experience the joy of the LOVE OF CHRIST!

Also, the heart of this ministry goes out to all of you Missionaries near and far that have committed your lives to sharing the story of Jesus with a lost and dying world. Thank you for your commitment to the Hope of Christ!

Please remember this ministry as we springboard into a New Year! Thank you also, to those that have been a part of this ministry in 2007 by praying, giving, and going. We look forward to another year of serving our Lord together and making ‘new friends’ of Pure Joy International.

Blessings Over Each of Your Households,

Vickie

Costa Rica Team Coming Together

Here is another e-mail from one of the Costa Rica team members relating what God is doing in her life through the journey toward Costa Rica. The following is an excerpt from that e-mail.

Today, I was just overwhelmed with God's calling me to this mission trip. God has called me outside of my box since I gave my heart to him fully in 1995. This mission trip is very humbling to me. It amazes me that God really wants to use me - His call amazes me - EVERYTHING amazes me about God!!

Three weeks ago, a friend of mine asked me to join her on a mission trip to Africa - working with children. Then Mary calls after that about the mission trip to Costa Rica. I thought - "What's up, Lord - not me!" I knew in my heart that God would want me to go on a mission trip that reached out to women and if He affirmed it then I would be going to Costa Rica. It is so strange to me that God brought these two trips up at the same time. Going on a Mission trip outside of the U.S.A. was always for other women - was what I had thought. I was THRILLED with Julie and her trip - but it wasn't for me. I didn't think God would ever call me to do this. Again, God is always surprising me with new open doors that take me to unknown territory. This humbles me every time He does this. Today, as we prayed, I was brought to tears because of His power, His presence, His handywork, the prayers of the team, your vision, this ministry, the women's hearts......I feel so unworthy but like you said knowing at all times that HE is the one who gives us the POWER to do anything! I trust His calling though it is hard to me to walk in His open doors so many times.

Spiritual Warfare has already started with me....it started as soon as we started praying. I wanted to truly walk out the door and say to God, "I'm not your gal.....I don't want the warfare that I know will come from saying - "yes" - to this trip." Of course, He brought me to tears so I would give up my will and say - "Not my will but yours, Lord..."

Vickie, in the past 2 weeks God has worked in my heart to seek forgiveness from 6 people that I had bitterness in my heart against. Three weeks ago in the F.R.O.G.ette class, the lesson I was teaching on was on "Forgiveness and Contentment" and I knew that I had to get right with these people. My husband, Rod, researched the scriptures and led me in the way to do this. I did it because I knew God told me to do it and that I could not hold on to this any longer. As I shared with Jerre, who is on the team, I do not think God ever opened the door for a Mission Trip outside of this country because He was waiting on me to release this bitterness and seek forgiveness. HE CONVICTED ME and I followed and IT WAS ALL HIM! I could never have done this without His Power. Through this journey of seeking forgiveness, I have depended on 9 Accountability Partners in my life to pray and keep me focused to complete this journey. Vickie, it takes an army to keep me accountable! Ha!! These ladies and my husband prayed me through this journey and I have a peace like I have never had in my life. In my heart, I believe this Forgiveness in My Heart = Costa Rica. One led to the other - God is so awesome!


I share all of this with you because I truly believe this forgiveness in my life and this trip happening all at the same time are not coincidences......God's plans are not to harm us but to prosper us - to give us a hope and a future......Yeah God!!

It is such a joy to watch God move in the lives of those He calls to join each retreat team. You may have heard me say before that Pure Joy is an inside out ministry. Not only does it minister to the missionary women around the world, but it ministers to individual team member and causes spiritual growth in them during the preparation for each trip.

Keep watching as God builds the Costa Rica team.

His,
vickie