Katmandu, Nepal Ahead

As many of you know we have been praying about Katmandu, Nepal and Southeast Asia since last year with our eyes on the fall. Before leaving for Italy this year I had made contact with someone in each location to begin the process of praying, looking at dates, and finding facilities in the area to hold the retreat. Shortly before leaving for Italy, God placed the theme on my heart for our next retreat, “His Eye Is on the Sparrow So I Know He Watches Me.” While we were serving in Italy we received the news of the earthquakes that struck Katmandu. We were grieved for the people affected by the tragedy and lifted them in prayer. However, not once did it enter my mind that we weren’t going to Katmandu. We finished our awesome time with the missionary women who attended the Italy retreat and returned home. Immediately, I sent an email to our contact person, in Katmandu. No response. So I contacted the friend who had initially connected me with her. My friend let me know that the contact person was good but certainly shaken over the events. She and I were finally able to make contact. I shared with her that the events had not changed our minds about coming. I also shared with her that I would be meeting with the staff all-day and we would be praying about God’s continued will for us in this situation. I asked her to consider some possible dates and several other issues around the devastation there. End result…

We have tentatively set the retreat dates for November 18-21, 2015. Our contact shared with us the missionaries are still in Nepal fulfilling the calling on their lives to follow God’s will. In fact, her thoughts are that they will really need this retreat by November because they are pouring out and will need to be filled up to continue pouring out. The staff was in full agreement that we are in God’s will by continuing this direction.

So. if you have ever prayed for us, written an encouragement card, provided or made gifts, traveled with us, supported a missionary, or given to this ministry monthly, yearly, or one time, please gear up for our new  journey together and pray! Here are immediate prayer requests:

• If you believe God is speaking to your heart about going on this trip, I need to hear from you now. So email at vickie@purejoyinternational.org
• Please pray for our contact person, as she is about the business of locating a structurally sound hotel for us to minister in come November. So far 5 are on the list. Please pray God gives us wisdom to know where He would have us.
• Pray for the missionary women there, that the word will get out to them about the November retreat and that communication issues would not keep those who need to know from finding out. God knows exactly the women who need to be at this retreat.
• Pray for many details that need to be solidified that will allow us to open the door for giving for this trip, and that when the door is open, the resources will pour in like running water for a much needed drought.

Now back to that theme for Katmandu.  I became interested in where the song “His Eye is on the Sparrow” originated and found the following information.

The theme of the song is inspired by the words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew: "Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" (Matthew 6:26) and "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows" (Matthew 10:29–31).

Civilla Martin, who wrote the lyrics, said this about her inspiration to write the song based in the scriptures outlined above:

Early in the spring of 1905, my husband and I were sojourning in Elmira, New York. We contracted a deep friendship for a couple by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle—true saints of God. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for nigh twenty years. Her husband was an incurable cripple who had to propel himself to and from his business in a wheel chair. Despite their afflictions, they lived happy Christian lives, bringing inspiration and comfort to all who knew them. One day while we were visiting with the Doolittles, my husband commented on their bright hopefulness and asked them for the secret of it. Mrs. Doolittle's reply was simple: "His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me." The beauty of this simple expression of boundless faith gripped the hearts and fired the imagination of Dr. Martin and me. The hymn "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" was the outcome of that experience.

Love you all and look forward to our new journey together.

His,

Vickie