Time is ticking, better hurry…

 

Registration for Republic of Georgia is filling up. We have 25 spots left before we go to the waiting list. Please continue to get the word out to your friends that are talking about getting registered. Again, the dates of the Retreat are October 25-28, 2023. Go to www.purejoyinternational.org to register.

Well, speaking of time ticking away, the summer is almost over for many of our school children here in the states. I pray that you have had time to spend with your children and your children’s children this summer if that applies to you. I do want to remind all of us that our children and young adult children are up against a world different than what most of us faced growing up. Whether they are old enough to recognize it or are being challenged by it in their everyday life right now.

It would be an understatement to acknowledge the great need we have to stand in the gap for relationships with God, Spouses, Family, Friends, and others. Do not be deceived and do not think you are beyond the touch of spiritual warfare. The only way it is not touching you in the world today is if you stand for nothing. If you stand for God, His Word, His Truths, His Ways, trust me, you and your family are under attack. Hunker down brothers and sisters and get your boots on…We are at war!

The Whole Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18)

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints…

 

His,

Vickie

  

Register Now…

 Registration for our October 25-28, 2023 retreat is now open.  Go to our website homepage www.purejoyinternational.org and click on register here for retreat.  Please sign up as soon as possible and let your friends serving anywhere in Europe or nearby know about this opportunity.  First come first serve up to 50 participants, then we go to a waiting list.  Your responsibility is to get to and from the retreat.  Once there your hotel, meals, materials, are provided for you free of charge.  This is because of the generosity of those that want to be a support to you and your ministry overseas.  Participants are already registering, so do not hesitate to register as soon as possible.  Click on Retreats on our website homepage to see comments and pictures from our spring retreat in Lisbon, Portugal earlier this year.

Well, the team will be zooming our first team meeting tonight.  I’m so excited for everyone to get to see each other’s faces.  Locale churches and individuals that partner with us in prayer, giving, and gifting are already beginning to stand in the gap for all the ladies that will be attending this retreat.  Please begin to pray the word gets out to the missionary women about the conference that need this time of encouragement, rest, fellowship, worship, and being in the Word together.

A final note.  If you have not had the opportunity to see the movie “Sounds of Freedom” I personally highly recommend it.  It is a wake-up call to those that believe the lie that these things are not going on in our world today. 

In the 1960s through the late 1980s the was a public service announcement (PSA) for parents on the American television that usually proceeded the 10:00 p.m. and or 11:00 p.m. news cast.  The announcement was “Do you know where your children are?” I loved that because it was a simple reminder to shift the focus of a parent if only for a few moments to the whereabouts of their children.  What about you.  In this, crazy, fast-paced, world full of distractions, self-centered, all about me society, “Do you know where your children are?”  Because chances are someone else may.

His,

Vickie

Public of Georgia Registration on the Horizon…

 I know it is hard to believe but we have already started our preparations for the Pure Joy International Retreat Ministry, Inc. Public of Georgia Retreat for October 25-28, 2023.   (Tbilisi, Georgia)

If you know of a missionary serving cross-culturally in that part of the world that could benefit from such an opportunity, please ask them to go to our website www.purejoyinternational.org to register starting next week.  Please remember first come first serve.  We limit space to the first 50 registrants and then go to a waiting list. 

 If you did not get a chance to see some of the pictures from our Portugal Retreat in April 2023, please go to our website mentioned above and click on Retreats in the headings.

I hope that everyone is having a good summer as it gets on its way.  I know many of you will be working with church groups coming from the USA and other countries to help with projects you have going in your locations, others will be coming home to start a stateside stint, etc.  Praying for a great summer for all to His Glory!

Here at home in the USA many families are hitting the vacations spots for the summer.  Personally, I am getting ready to head to Louisville, Kentucky with one of my great nephews to the National Beta Club Conference.  Pray for me as will be surrounded by Intermediate kids, ages 9-12 years old.  (smile)

Please don’t forget to get the word out about the Public of Georgia Retreat.  The team is already solidified, plane tickets being purchased, and the hotel locked in.  Now all the details that include all of you that join us on these trips begin to take place, praying, giving, gifting, and going.  So, excited to share we have two more churches joining us in the journey of gifting this trip.  First Baptist Claremore, OK and First Baptist McGehee, AR.  We welcome your heart to join us as we minister to these ladies overseas.

His,

Vickie

 

 

Team Is Home Safe and Retreat Was Sooo Good…

 Thank you all for your prayers as we traveled to Portugal and home again.  Your time in prayer, gifting, giving, and going is what allows the ministry of Pure Joy International Retreat Ministry, Inc. to serve the ladies on the field cross-culturally. As I always say to you, “You are part of the ministry of Pure Joy International and a vital part of each team that goes.

There are no words for how good it feels to be back on the field again.  It was also great to hear from many of you that said, “I would not have been ready for this back in 2020”. I am not sure what each one of them meant by that, but I am counting it as good. LOL!

The LORD led each one of the speakers to address just what He knew the ladies and team needed for this season and time.  It was obvious each speaker, and testimony shared was shaped by HIM. The daily team devotionals coupled with our own time in the Word fueled us as a team to accomplish the ministry at hand. I can’t say enough good things about the team God put together for the trip. 

In case you wonder why I stopped blogging after a couple of days it is because most of us could get no Wi-Fi internet connection.  I think the number of people in the hotel, including us, was too big a drain on their system. LOL

I do want to share a few more pictures and will share with you some of the things the missionary women and the team members have to say about what the Retreat meant to them as they share.  Enjoy these pictures till then…

Thank you all for your prayers as we traveled to Portugal and home again.  Your time in prayer, gifting, giving, and going is what allows the ministry of Pure Joy International Retreat Ministry, Inc. to serve the ladies on the field cross-culturally. As I always say to you, “You are part of the ministry of Pure Joy International and a vital part of each team that goes.

There are no words for how good it feels to be back on the field again.  It was also great to hear from many of you that said, “I would not have been ready for this back in 2020”. I am not sure what each one of them meant by that, but I am counting it as good. LOL!

The LORD led each one of the speakers to address just what He knew the ladies and team needed for this season and time.  It was obvious each speaker, and testimony shared was shaped by HIM. The daily team devotionals coupled with our own time in the Word fueled us as a team to accomplish the ministry at hand. I can’t say enough good things about the team God put together for the trip. 

In case you wonder why I stopped blogging after a couple of days it is because most of us could get no Wi-Fi internet connection.  I think the number of people in the hotel, including us, was too big a drain on their system. LOL

I do want to share a few more pictures and will share with you some of the things the missionary women and the team members have to say about what the Retreat meant to them as they share.  Enjoy these pictures till then…

Thank you all for your prayers as we traveled to Portugal and home again.  Your time in prayer, gifting, giving, and going is what allows the ministry of Pure Joy International Retreat Ministry, Inc. to serve the ladies on the field cross-culturally. As I always say to you, “You are part of the ministry of Pure Joy International and a vital part of each team that goes.

There are no words for how good it feels to be back on the field again.  It was also great to hear from many of you that said, “I would not have been ready for this back in 2020”. I am not sure what each one of them meant by that, but I am counting it as good. LOL!

The LORD led each one of the speakers to address just what He knew the ladies and team needed for this season and time.  It was obvious each speaker, and testimony shared was shaped by HIM. The daily team devotionals coupled with our own time in the Word fueled us as a team to accomplish the ministry at hand. I can’t say enough good things about the team God put together for the trip. 

In case you wonder why I stopped blogging after a couple of days it is because most of us could get no Wi-Fi internet connection.  I think the number of people in the hotel, including us, was too big a drain on their system. LOL

I do want to share a few more pictures and will share with you some of the things the missionary women and the team members have to say about what the Retreat meant to them as they share.  Enjoy these pictures till then…

A Beautiful Day in Portugal… (Sunday afternoon)

 The team had a full but wonderful day here in Portugal. We began our morning with a wonderful devotion from Kim R. and a sweet time of prayer and team fellowship. Oh, and of course we ate breakfast first. (smile) You can just assume we are eating several meals a day. (LOL)

Then Valerie M. our contact missionary on the field came to the hotel and took us on the Metro to downtown Portugal for a city tour and to the Lisbon Story Centre. The Story Centre is a museum dedicated to the history of Lisbon. https://youtu.be/huRuUfRPYog   Here is another link if you want to see a little bit more about things we learned. https://onu.missaoportugal.mne.gov.pt/en/about-portugal/history

A couple of us ate dinner at the Time Out Market https://www.timeout.com/lisbon/time-out-market while others shopped and ate along the way at some of the outdoor food areas. 

We had good fellowship and lots of laughs along the way. It is exciting to see the team continue to grow together as they are learning more about each other. We had another sweet devotional time by Deb. P to finish our evening. We also discussed our preparation work time for tomorrow.

I wanted to include one pic that stood out to me yesterday at a random moment. There are more pics to come but I did not want to wake anyone up when I was working on this to get them.

Love the bike hanging on the balcony. (smile)

 His,

Vickie

 

 

The Team made it to Portugal safely...

We had a good flight over. Weather here is nice in the upper 60's to lower 70's. We were met at the airport by our Valerie our contact missionary. I would like to say thank you LORD for her presence at the airport. You might not believe this but none of the team can speak Portuguese, LOL.

Once settled in at the hotel we had lunch, then several of the team members headed to the local mall. Hmmmm, imagine that fifteen women and someone wanted to go to the local mall. But not just any mall, this one has history. It is called Campo Pequeno.

Built in 1892 in a Moorish style with small cupolas atop its four main towers, Campo Pequeno's bullring (Praça de Touros do Campo Pequeno) accommodates up to 9,000 spectators. It was loosely based on the Madrid bullring of Las Ventas, and bullfights take place here on Thursdays in season. During the rest of the year, it is occasionally used for concerts and other shows, such as a circus. After being closed for many years for extensive renovation, it reopened in 2006 with a new retractable ceiling and a shopping mall, restaurants, cinemas, and a supermarket. Parking space for 1200 cars is also available. 

The team members not at the mall spent the later part of the day trying to help Vickie (me) find my phone. I know that surprises those of you that know me. Ha, Ha, Ha    We did find it and let me just say, it is a God story in and of itself. He is already affirming He is present and at work here.

Enjoy some of the pics of the day. Keep praying for the team and the missionaries that will be attending the Retreat. 

His,

Vickie

4 Days and Counting…

Well, it is finally here.  We are 4 days away from boarding the plane to head to Lisbon, Portugal.  The team is getting so excited as we finish up the final preparations.  Trunks are packed along with working out the smallest of details that must happen in the next 4 days.

So hard to believe we have not been overseas since the fall of 2019, that was our last retreat.   Of course, the Portugal Retreat was scheduled for April of 2020 just over three years ago when Covid showed up in full force working against travel in country and out of country.  

We are so glad to be traveling once again to minister to the missionary women.  Also, it has been fun to be reminded of how many hands touch this ministry in preparation for a trip to minister to the women.  Whether you are going with us or have helped along the way in preparations for this trip you are part of the team serving Pure Joy International Portugal 2023! To all of you that have given financially to support a missionary and or team member, thank you.  To all of you that are praying for the missionary women and the team now and while we are on the field, thank you.  To all of you that have helped with the gifting, thank you. To the team members representing churches in 5 states, thank you.  What a blessing to be able to serve alongside all of you with your different hearts for serving. 

On a final note, please pray for the spouses, children, family members, friends, etc., that are pulling extra weight both for the team members and the missionaries so we can all attend the Retreat.   

Keep us close in your prayers as we fly out Friday and return on the 30^th.  Watch the blog for pictures that will be posted along the way starting Friday through the next week. 

Forever Thankful,

His,

Vickie