Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Spain….

Our next Pure Joy International trip is in preparation for a conference in Valencia, Spain in October of 2018. Registration will be opening in early July for missionary women serving cross-culturally. Please begin to let your friends know. Our web site has been under construction for the past couple of months. By the end of next week, it will be back up and running. So, thank you for your patience with us. The team is close to being full, and I will let you know if there are any more openings for the team by the end of next week.

Our theme is “Set Your Mind on the Things Above” from Colossians 3:2 (ESV). We are excited to understand why God has given us this particular theme for this season of time, this location, and the group of women that will be attending the conference. One thing we know… He is faithful and He knows.

So, here are some ways you can begin to pray for this conference:
  • That we will have exactly the team God intends to be on this trip, at this time, and this season.
  • That God will make a way for the women that are supposed to be at this conference at this time and season with the intended theme.
  • Pray for sponsorship of the missionary women. As of today, we have 3 women sponsored with 47 to go. Thank you in advance for seeking God on whether you are to give towards this trip.
  • Also, please begin to pray for those churches that come alongside us to make and donate gifts to the missionary women. If you or someone you know is creative and crafty (crafty in the good sense, ha,ha,ha) and would like to make a gift  to donate please contact me so I can give you some instruction/boundaries about gifts. vickie@purejoyinternational.org
  • Pray for the messages, testimonies, and devotionals that will be shared.
  • Pray for the hotel. We are in the process of solidifying our hotel location.
If you will pray for those things going forward I will keep you updated about the trip.

Thank all of you that support this ministry and trust God’s hand is on it. May we that serve Him be humble servants as unto the LORD in all things.

Love you all and am thankful,

His,
Vickie

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

The Monkeys Are Home (5 little monkeys jumping on the bed)…..

It is summer time and many moms and dads are aware of it! Ha,ha,ha

When we are overseas ministering to our missionary women, one of the things they share with us is the difficulty of being in a foreign land where you don’t know the language yet, you have no grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins, etc., to help. Translated… you have your children 24/7 with no relief! And no matter how much you love your little darlings, all parents need relief! For yourself, your marriage, and your peace of mind! Ha,ha,ha And to be frankly honest, the kids need a break from the parents as well. Ha,ha,ha Especially if you are a home-schooling parent, everyone needs the break from each other.

Studies show that child abuse increases during the summer months due to added stressors in the family system, especially financial. Stress can lead to frustration, anger, and explosive behavior, which results in verbal abuse and physical abuse towards those we love. Let’s all pull together this summer by being aware of those families around us that need a break. It might be your own family. If you need a break, don’t be so proud as not to ask for help. Be aware of other families that need help by folding their children into a trip with your family to the park, a play morning or afternoon, a movie, etc.
  
We usually pick up my great nephew for taekwondo during the week on two afternoons. This past week, as I picked him up, it dawned on me to ask my niece if she would like us to take his baby sister, too. She is 18 months old. I told her I knew it was only for an hour and a half, but it would give her some time to herself to be still, get something done she wanted to get done, etc.
 
I share that to say you may not have time to help for an afternoon, but even an hour can make a difference. Also, remember to invite other kids to Vacation Bible School with your children and/or ask someone about Vacation Bible School at their church. And for all of you that are thinking people use Vacation Bible School, and summer camps as short-term baby sitters, you are right! Many do! Praise God! Many a child and young person have come to know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior through Vacation Bible School and camps. It literally has saved their life eternally. And honestly, that break for them and their parents may have saved some of their lives physically and emotionally.

So, keep on the watch these next 60 days and make a difference in a child’s and/or family’s life!

Have a great week!  Love you all!

His,
Vickie

P.S. Valencia, Spain is on the horizon! We begin this week looking seriously into hotel/resort locations. Online registration will open hopefully within the next 3-4 weeks if not sooner. I will alert you when you may register. Remember this conference is for missionary women serving cross-culturally.

Friday, June 1, 2018

They Have Finished The Race……


Two men, who have made a difference in my life, finished their race this past week. Neither of them ran flawlessly because they were human… but both ran. Both were surrounded by their respective families as they crossed the finish line into eternity.
 
“When before the throne we stand in Him complete, all the riddles that puzzle us here will fall into place and we shall know in fulfillment what we now believe in faith—that all things work together for good in His eternal purpose. No longer will we cry “My God, why?” Instead, “Alas” will become “Alleluia,” all question marks will be straightened into exclamation points, sorrow will change to singing, and pain will be lost in praise.” Vance Hayner

To My Uncle Charles and Bro. Bill Brown, you did it, you finished the race!!!! Praise and Glory to Him that brought you on through to the other side!

His,
Vickie