Sunday, February 26, 2017

Day 8 Athens Greece...

We are on the last leg of our flight from Atlanta to Arkansas as I write this blog (Sunday Night). The other team members are headed to Oklahoma, Texas, North Carolina, and Tennessee respectively. 

For those of you reading this, that attended the conference, what a sweet time we had with our LORD.

I have asked Mary to post some more pictures of our last day with the women. Enjoy!

His,
Vickie



Saturday, February 25, 2017

Day 7 Athens Greece.....

We finished up our last day with the ladies. It has been an incredible week! It is always hard to leave the ladies at the end of the week wherever we are! Only God can knit hearts together so quickly and sincerely. 

We are all packed up and waiting for the bus to the airport to pick is up at 2:30 a.m.

Everyone is excited to get home to families! Please pray for safe travels for all!

Below are some picks if our final time with the ladies.

His,
Vickie





Friday, February 24, 2017

Day 6 Athens Greece ...

Hello Pure Joy International Friends,

Mary B. here. Vickie asked me to write the blog tonight and send more pictures.

I am always amazed how God meets us all right where we are and He is doing that mightily at this conference! We have heard powerful messages from Sharon, Vickie and Nikki today. The worship and prayer has moved us closer to our Lord and the fellowship and gifts have been encouraging to each of us.

Thanks again to all our partners back home. Please keep praying that we finish strong tomorrow morning and carry all He has blessed us with home to bless others.

Counting it all Pure Joy!
Mary B.





Thursday, February 23, 2017

Day 5 Athens Greece ....

Wow!!! God is so showing up in our time together with the ladies. The spirit is incredible!!

Today, Sharon, Jerry Anne, Debbie M., and Aleksey shared with the ladies! They all did such an incredible job!! 

And friends so much has been said about the gifts you have made and given. Robin and Rona are doing a great job keeping them wondering what will go on the table next.

Worship continues to grow stronger towards Him!!!

Thank you for your prayers for the three ladies trying to catch a flight from another country! They arrived late this morning so excited!!!

Pray for us as we head into Friday. It is our tough day because we are all getting a little physically tired.

His,
Vickie

Enjoy your pics for the day.






Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Day 4 Athens Greece....

Most of our ladies are here. One group of 3 missed their flight out of their country and are praying for another flight out tomorrow. May not be able to afford it so please pray for them.

The team did a great job greeting and registering the ladies. Worship was sweet, fellowship and dinner went well. Amy W. gave a powerful testimony and God allowed me to share a couple of times with them from His Word.
 
Pray for rest for all tonight!

Love you all and covet your prayers.

His,
Vickie



Beautiful and yummy snacks for the ladies,














Registration table













P. S.  We are including a couple of good pictures from yesterday that made it in late last night!

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Day 3 Athens Greece Sightseeing...

Today we had an incredible day of sightseeing and a great meal at an authentic Greek restaurant. Two of our missionaries arrived early and joined us for dinner. Hope they still want to attend the conference. Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha,
Please pray as the women begin to arrive tomorrow and the conference starts.
Enjoy the pictures it’s time for bed! Long day here!!
His,
Vickie
 
 
 

Monday, February 20, 2017

Rule # 1 in a foreign county...."you must be flexible!" (Smile)

Today after devotionals and prayer time we headed up the hill to the Acropolis to start our sight seeing. Read Acts 17:16-31.

Also, we were to see Mars Hill where Paul spoke to the people of their unknown gods. Then to see the market place area discussed in the reading. Well, for whatever reason the Greeks working at the Acropolis decided to "strike" today. So today we ended up doing a little shopping and spent the rest of the time on preparations for the retreat.

Basically, we flipped our Monday and Tuesday schedules. All is  well and we will see Acropolis tomorrow I am believing!

Continue to pray for us and the women. Some of us still have a little jet-lag going on! ☺

The team is doing well and continuing to gel. (Yea!)

Here are some pics of our day!!

His,
Vickie









 

 
 

Sunday, February 19, 2017

Athens Greece Day 2 Team Outing...

Today the team stayed low key. Our Missionary contacts invited us to their home to enjoy a meal and fellowship.

We started the day with worship and a devotional. 

We then met Brad, the husband of Jamie, who helped us navigate the bus transit to their home.

We were able to see and hear some things regarding the culture of Greece as we made our way to their abode.

Once in their home we had an incredible meal with such a sweet spirit of hospitality from Jamie and their daughters.

After lunch we spent time sharing with each other some of the warfare we experienced in preparation for this trip. We took a break in the middle of sharing to have desert, coffee and tea.

We finished that time together with prayer for each other and the ladies who will be attending this week.



By this time it was 7 in the evening and we headed back for a bite to eat and rest.

Praise the LORD for a good day of fellowship with our contact family and each other. 

Tomorrow will be our sight-seeing day. Pray for the team members to know when to participate and when not to if needed! There will be a tremendous amount of walking and I don't want anyone exhausted before Wednesday. We are still dealing with some jet lag from time change.

Thank you for your faithfulness to love and pray for all of us!!

His,
Vickie

P.S. For the group of ladies from Evergreen
that sent the homemade salsa and mission chips
 to our contact people.
You are now Brad's favorite people! (ha ha ha).
Jamie also liked the gift but Brad really loved it!!!!

Saturday, February 18, 2017

Day 1 Athens...

We have arrived in Athens Greece. Over-all the flights have been good. We have been delayed at each transfer. The fog was so bad coming in and out of Amsterdam we couldn't even see the others planes on the tarmac at times. One of the team members told the pilot that landed the plane in Amsterdam what a great job he did to land in that kind of fog. He replied, "I didn't land it, auto pilot did.”

The people in Amsterdam said they hadn't ever seen such a fog. It had cleared up some coming into Athens.

Which obviously doesn't matter because the pilot isn't flying the plane anyway!
   
The team is in the hotel and just finished chicken gyro sandwiches that were to die for!!!!

We are headed to bed , pray for us a good night's rest!!

His,
Vickie