Well, we are off and running again. Naples,
Italy, is on our schedule for our next retreat for missionary women, April
22-25, 2015. We are presently in the process of negotiating with a hotel and
the team is already tentatively full with a waiting list. We haven’t opened up
registration yet and this is the first time I am sharing about the retreat publicly. If in reading this you
believe you are supposed to be on this team, please contact me and get on the
team member waiting list. Having said all of that, would you please be
prayerful concerning potential team members who are making a decision regarding
this trip? Pray their hearts are pure before Him in seeking direction about
going. Italy sounds so romantic to a woman. And, yes, we can be deceived in our
hearts about motives for a trip. As always, we just want God’s team for this
group of women, at this time, and in this location of the world.
If you have a missionary friend who is located
in that part of the world, please get the word out that registration will be
opening on-line at www.purejoyinternational.org very soon. Keep a watch
on our web page for the registration link and announcement.
We are two weeks into our new year. I have to
share something with you that is sooooo funny to me. My little great nephew is
2 ½ years old at present. Last year his picture on Santa’s lap looked like he
was auditioning for a role in a children’s version of Scrooge. Let’s just say
we weren’t running out making copies of that picture. This year ran a close
second on the picture taking. He just couldn’t quite handle the guy in the big
red suit and white beard thing. He did get that it is Jesus’ birthday but then
again he likes to sing "Happy Birthday" on a daily basis to whatever name rolls
up on his little brain. While we were looking forward to him at least enjoying
his gifts a little more this year, that too fell short as he was sick during
the holidays for a substantial amount of time. HOWEVER, the one thing that has
stuck with him this Christmas is the movie Polar Express or as he calls it, “The Color Express.” We don’t know how he got
that name but he is locked into it. It took us forever to figure out what he
was asking for the second day after he had seen the movie. He has (really, we have) watched it many times
since then and literally this past weekend he got all excited about Christmas.
He wants to know if he is getting presents (so much for what we all got him for
Christmas, ha,ha,ha), loves the reindeers, the train (All aboard!), dancing
with the serving of chocolate to the passengers, and any other time there is an
opportunity to get us to dance with him. Yes, I think he might be able to come
up with a smile if he was having his picture with Santa now.
Why did I share this? I want to encourage
you...We all have people in our lives who we want to understand the excitement
and joy of knowing and living for Jesus. Sometimes just when we think they are
there, it turns out to be not such a good picture. Don’t give up! You never
know when that moment is going to click in them and they are going to finally
get excited about Jesus. There may be a few bad pictures along the way, but
don’t lose hope!
Proverbs 13:12 (ESV)
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a
desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
Love you all,
His,
Vickie
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