Hello, Pure Joy International Retreat Ministry, Inc. Family

 

Effective today February 27, 2025, you will no longer be able to subscribe to our blog. All information regarding our ministry will be shared on Facebook at Pure Joy International Retreat Ministry, Inc. Please refer to our Facebook page to know what God is up to as He continues to minister to missionary/missionary families severing overseas through this ministry.

We are seven weeks out from leaving the country for Nairobi, Kenya. Please continue to pray for the team, ladies that will be attending the retreat, the messages, worship, the fellowship that will take place, the counseling that will be provided, and the sponsorships for the missionary women. We have 50 missionary women signed up and 18 sponsored as of today.  Please ask God to reveal to you if you are to give to help support a missionary.  

Counting it all Joy…

His,

Vickie

Africa on the Horizon…

We are just at 3 months away from our Pure Joy International Trip to Nairobi, Kenya. Lots of prayer time going on, team meetings, and preparation taking place.

If you want to follow us closely as we journey forward to leaving the country, hear prayer request, get information then follow us on this blog and Facebook at Pure Joy International Retreat Ministry.

Erica Jude, our Associate Director, will be facilitating this trip and will keep you informed going forward through the aforementioned media platforms.

As always remember, the most important thing you can do is pray for the ladies that will be attending, the team that is going, and all those that are giving, gifting and investing their time to make the trip all God would have it be for His Glory.

His,

Vickie

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Welcome Erica Jude to Pure Joy International and an update on Nairobi, Kenya Retreat April 2025.

 

If you read our November post on 11-27-2025 we shared with you some exciting news regarding the future of Pure Joy International Retreat Ministry , Inc.  Effect today January 1, 2025, we’ve added to our staff Erica Jude as Associate Director of Pure Joy International Retreat Ministry. 

Erica and her husband, Nate, served as missionaries in the Dominican Republic as church planters for 12 years. Erica is the founder of Lily House DR, serving survivors of trafficking and sexual exploitation. Lily House ministers through a wholistic approach that provides a Christ-centered safehouse, counseling and vocational training in the ministry’s restaurant.

After serving 21 years with her mission agency, it is with great excitement that she has followed the Lord’s clear leading into the role of Associate Director of Pure Joy International Retreat Ministry, Inc. She will truly be a “missionary to missionaries.”

Erica and Nate now reside in West Virginia with their two teenage daughters, Mali Shae, and Brinkley Kate. (Watch out world for these two! Lol) Nate pastors their home church which has been a unique blessing returning home to serve the ones who raised them in the faith. Erica is a graduate of Marshall University. She received her counseling training through Gospel Fellowship International and has received additional hours in trauma-informed practices through her years in anti-trafficking. She loves coffee with good company and a great view - sand or mountains- both revive her soul! In more than 20 years of ministry in local church, non-profit settings or under her own roof, she has discovered she loves God’s women! It is “Pure Joy” watching women strengthened in their calling and truly enjoying Jesus!

Please welcome Erica to our staff by praying for her and her family as she transitions to this new role.  Erica will be facilitating our Spring Retreat in Nairobi, Kenya.

Our Nairobi, Kenya Retreat is full and has gone to a waiting list.  If you are interested in registering anyway, go to our web site www.purejoyinternational.org to register.  It is not uncommon for people to get a chance to move up the waiting list. 

We are looking forward to an exciting New Year with all of our Friends, Family, Prayer Warriors, Supporters, Gift Makers and Givers and  those that Go!

His,

Vickie

Joy To The World…

To all of our Friends of Pure Joy International, Sponsoring Churches, Prayer Warriors, Financial Givers, Gift Givers, Gift Makers, and Those that Go …

From the Pure Joy International Ministry Staff, Board, and Advisors…

        

Thanksgiving and Excitement ahead…

Thanksgiving is always a wonderful time to give thanks for all our supporters, churches, individuals, family and friends of Pure Joy International Retreat Ministry Inc. There is not one part of the ministry God has given us that functions without all of you!!!!   Thank you so much for your faithfulness to support the ministry to our missionary /families serving overseas to share the Goodness of the Gospel.

And…..Because you are family to us at Pure Joy International Retreat Ministry Inc. I want to share some exciting news with you as we look forward to the future.  In January, of this new year 2025 we will be bringing on board Erica Jude as Associate Director of Pure Joy International. I will be introducing you to her sometime within the next 4 weeks. So, keep your eyes on this blog page or PJI Facebook http://facebook.com/PureJoyInternational . Can’t wait for you to hear more about her and meet her.  To be cont’d………. (smile)

Blessing to All….

His,

Vickie

Mongolia Registration Is Closed As Time Draws Near…

 

Registration for the Mongolia Retreat closed Friday September 13, 2024. The final details of preparations are happening these last 3 weeks as the Mongolian Team is busy with each task to be finished out.

It is with great joy that we have been preparing our hearts for this journey. We are so excited about the women that will be attending the retreat. Some of them have joined us before many, many, years ago.  But mostly, we have new faces to meet as well.  Thanks to all of you that have been meeting to pray weekly, praying daily, taking time to do or make something special for the ladies, women from local churches that have come together to provide gifts of all sorts, etc. Also, thank you for those that your gift is giving. There is still time to give towards supporting missionary women  that are attending the retreat. Go to www.purejoyinternational.org  and scroll down to donations for more information.

Please keep the team and ladies attending in your prayers. We fly out on Oct. 4, 2024. Mark that on your calendars, pray our flights go well, and we get there with all the things we left here with. (smile)

Appreciate each and every one of you…

His,

Vickie

A thought to ponder by A.W. Tozer:

We take a convert and immediately make a worker out of him. God never meant it to be so. God meant that a convert should learn to be a worshipper and after that he can learn to be a worker. The work done by a worshipper will have eternity in it.

 

Mongolia Prepares For The Olympics While Pure Joy International Prepares For Mongolia…

 

Mongolia's opening and closing ceremony outfits for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Michel Amazonka

The internet has chosen its new favorite national uniform at the forthcoming Paris 2024 Olympics: Mongolia’s.

Featuring intricately embroidered vests, pleated robes and accessories inspired by traditional attire, the country’s opening and closing ceremony outfits have taken social media by storm since being unveiled last week.

The designs are the work of Michel&Amazonka, an Ulaanbaatar-based label producing couture and ready-to-wear garments that “express the essence of Mongolian tradition and culture” in what the brand calls a “contemporary light.” (by Oscar Holland, CNN )

How exciting for our Mongolia Team to see a glimpse of Mongolian culture before we ever step foot into their country. This is a country full of cultural traditions that bring out the beauty of country, colors, and people.

The Mongolia Team continues to work on preparations for our trip in Oct. Thank you already to those that have been praying, giving, going, and gifting as you come alongside us on this journey.

We still have room for more missionary sign-ups for this trip. So, continue to get the word out to your international missionary friends in that part of the world that serve cross-culturally outside their country of origin. Just go to our web site to register www.purejoyinternational.org.

Please pray specifically for the team as they prepare worship, messages, testimonies, hospitality, and other things God puts on our hearts for this particular trip, for this time, and season.

Praying for you our Pure Joy Family and Friends for God to bless you as you have been and are a blessing to us.

His,

Vickie

Mongolia Registration Open…

 

Well, it is official. We have opened up online registration for Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. www.purejoyinternational.org The dates for the Pure Joy International Retreat are Oct. 9-12, 2024. Please remember we top out at 50 and go to a waiting list. So, first come first serve.

If you have any questions, please contact me at vickie@purejoyinternational.org  

 If you know any missionary women serving cross-culturally in that part of the world, please help get the word out. Might want to go to your world map to see where Mongolia is located. (smile)

The Mongolia Team is already starting to take care of business on this end. If you partner with us in prayer, gifting, and giving please be praying about how God would have you participate. Let me know if you are interested in being a part of what God is doing in Mongolia.

As I close out this blog post I am mindful of the families that lost a young missionary couple in Haiti to the gangs this past week, pray for those families. Also, so many families have experienced loss of homes, loved ones, whole communities with all the Tornados across the mid-section of the U.S. And do not forget the land slide in Papua New Guinea that took the lives of over 2,000 this past week.

In our recent trip to York, England our theme from there keeps rising up in my soul. This World is Not Our Home. May we be ever mindful of this truth and stay the course to keep walking out HIS plans for our lives.

His,

Vickie

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

So, we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Home again but praying for Mongolia ahead…

First, I want to say thank you to all of you that supported Pure Joy International Retreat Ministry in any way for our trip to York, England.

Then I want to thank Kim Roberson, our Public Relations person, for keeping you all in the loop for the time we were gone. God was as always faithful to accomplish His good will and purpose for the trip. In fact, I suspect several of you have already received some feedback from some of the missionary women. But if not, here are just a few comments sent in…

“The conference was such a time of refreshing for me. I have just been through the toughest year of ministry in my life, but God used all of you to help lift my spirits. I am so thankful and grateful that you are allowing God to use you to encourage missionaries on the field.

As I think of you all, I am reminded of Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi. He considered these people his partners in serving Christ. He says, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;” Philippians 1:3-6.”

“The Lord used this retreat to break me in the best of ways and I pray that I go forward walking closer to Him than ever before. I came back “home” to the field more encouraged and focused than I had when I arrived. Your prayers were felt and I’m so grateful for each and every one of them. Thank you for being a part of this retreat and thank you for investing in the life of missionaries on the field. I know that you have, without a doubt, made an everlasting impact on myself and in turn my family and our ministry.”

Those comments will continue to come to us and you throughout the weeks ahead as everyone settles back into their routines. Keep an eye out.

Also, don’t let up on prayers for Pure Joy International Retreat Ministry. Several of the team came back from the trip with a touch of a virus and are just now stepping back into real life. Please pray for all to get well!

Especially pray for our Staff as we gear up for Mongolia in the fall. We are presently trying to lock in a location for the Retreat. Pray as we make decisions in the next week. Encouragement is greatly needed for our M’s serving in this part of the world. Pray we can lock in a location asap.

Remember, someone you cross paths with today needs encouragement whether you know it or not. Give away a smile, a hug, a card, a text, phone call etc. You never know but He does. Be sensitive to His leadership.

His,

Vickie

FYI

 Follow us on FaceBook at Pure Joy International  this week for more updates on our trip!

York, England – Day 2

We are in York with ALL of our luggage and trunks, God is s good! The team is exhausted after a long day and night of travel but so very happy to be here!

Sharon gave our team devotion at lunch. She told us about John Bunyan who grew up 3 hours from York. Bunyan authored Pilgrams Progress. If you don’t know his story, look it up or better yet read it to your children and grandchildren.

We spent a few hours doing some conference prep this afternoon. Tomorrow after church we will do some sightseeing and learn more about the rich history here.

Pray for the team to sleep well tonight. Continue to pray for the ladies preparing to attend the conference this next week.

In Christ,
Kim Roberson
Public Relations Pure Joy International Retreat Ministry

      

Headed to the Airport…

York, England team is leaving the country tomorrow April 19, 2024.  We will arrive in York, England Saturday 6 hours ahead of CST.   The team will do some sightseeing and get to know each other a little more before the women arrive for the retreat.

While we are on the field Kim Roberson our Public Relations staff person will make sure you get some daily updates on the blog along with some pictures.

Remember, if you have been praying for us, giving, gifting , helped with anything along the way for this trip you are as much a part of the team as those of us that will step onto the field in UK.

Pray for safe flights, on time flights, and sweet times of fellowship along the way tomorrow. Also, pray for us to get the sleep we need to get on plane to prevent jet lag.

Keep your eyes on the blog this week! 

We love you all…
His,

Vickie

HE WAS…

I heard a pastor share this about Isaiah: 53:5

He was wounded (bled outwardly) for our transgressions (sins that are obvious to the eye).  He was bruised (bled inwardly beneath the skin) for our iniquities (sins of our thought life, secret sin, etc.).  

His blood covered ALL our sins! Once and for all!  The work of the Cross is incomprehensible!

HE IS…  

Type or copy and paste this into your browser for song…https://youtu.be/C7Btc3g0UaU

From the Board, Staff, and Advisors of Pure Joy International Retreat Ministry… Joyful Easter!  

      

York, England 5 Weeks out….

 

Hello fellow sojourners.  As we continue our preparations for our trip to York, England we are so excited to see what God is up to.  He is already at work among the team as we continue to seek Him for worship music, messages, testimonies, fellowship, etc.

The team members continue to meet weekly to lift all the details of this trip up before the LORD.  It is so exciting when you know that He is directing your path and prepariing the way for Himself to be Glorified.  Thank you Father for allowing each one of us to be a part of this journey. 

Today, I just want to lift up a prayer for all of the friends of Pure Joy International, Retreat Ministry, meaning any and all that have contributed to this ministry in any way.

Father, as you look down on this world and all the chaos you must see, thank you that you also see your children in all their circumstances, joy, excitement, wonder, awe, thankfulness, praise, pain, sadness, loneliness, hurt, anger, unforgiveness, etc.  Thank you that you KNOW ALL, that you SEE ALL, that our PRAISES reach your ears, that our CRIES reach your ears, that you know how to COMFORT us, and when to bring someone along side us and when to let us walk alone until we recognize we are NEVER ALONE.  You are God and there is none like You. So, we bow our hearts to your truth and ways.  In the precious name of Jesus, Amen.

Here is a verse to encourage you.  It is one of my very favorites to remind me to rest in Him.  I love the line “But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother”. That line says peace, pure peace to me.

Psalm 131

O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things to great and too marvelous for me. 

But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forevermore.

Have a great week and keep praying for all things York, England!

His, Vickie

We have gone to waiting list for York, England

Micklegate Bar is, by tradition, one of the most important, ceremonial entrances to York, through which Kings and Queens enter the city.

In York, "bars" are gates through the city walls and "gates" are streets. It's a bit confusing but you quickly get used to it. The terminology dates from the days when the entrances to York were barred by toll collectors.

Since 1389, in a tradition established by King Richard II, monarchs visiting York have entered through Micklegate, touching the state sword as they cross.

Just wanted to share a little history with you about the area we will be staying in for our York, England Retreat for the missionary women.   We are always excited the women are able to be exposed not only to the refreshing the retreat brings to their body, soul, and spirit but also the opportunity during their free time to visit some of the sights of the retreat location.

We have gone to a waiting list.  But do not let that discourage you from registering.  We have already moved one person up the waiting list to the retreat and it is not uncommon to have several people move up the list before we stop registration completely.  

For all of you that are praying, gifting, giving and going, many prayers are being lifted up for you weekly from team members, prayer groups, individuals, and Pure Joy International ministry staff, Board and Advisors.  Can’t wait to see all that God is up to for our lives.

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.   Hebrews 3:13

His, Vickie

Almost Full…

 

Well, we opened registration last Friday and we have only 10 places left open before we go to a waiting list. So, if you or someone you know is planning  on attending the Retreat in York, England April 24-27, 2024, go to our web site asap to register. www.purejoyinternational.org

We will go to a waiting list once we hit 50 registrants. We encourage you to sign up even if there is a waiting list because the chance that someone might have to drop out before April is always possible.

Our theme for this Retreat is “This World is Not Your Home!”  If, we ever needed to be reminded of that truth from the Word of God it is now. So, make plans to join us as we journey together.

Also, now is the time to start praying for all things to do with our trip to York, England. So, our friends of Pure Joy that journey with us each trip from stateside through Prayer, Giving, and Gifting please ask the LORD how he would have you be a part of this trip.

On a different note, I want to share something with you. During one of my quiet times this past week Exodus 6:9 stood out to me, “So Moses told the people of Israel what the LORD had said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery.”  If you are in a circumstance right now that has you discouraged and faint hearted, please remember God had not forgotten the people of Israel He was working on their behalf for their good and His Glory even though they could not see it or understand it. He is a good God, He is faithful, and He cares for you! Don’t give up, LOOK UP!

His,

Vickie

York England On the Horizon… Registration Open Now!

 

Please get the word out to all your missionary friends serving in this part of the world. We suspect this conference will fill up fast as we have many serving in surrounding countries in this part of the world. So, go to our web site purejoyinternational.org and register as soon as possible. Remember we go to a waiting list after the first 50 sign up. So first come, first serve.

The dates of the Retreat are April 24-27, 2024. You must be serving cross-culturally with a sending church or missions organization. You must also be able to speak fluent English. No interpreters are allowed due to the distraction.

“M’s” must be able travel to and from the conference themselves. Room and board, and materials are provided at no cost to the “M.”

Please know your team has already begun to pray for you, the retreat, your travels, your family, and ministries as you prepare to join us in April.

If you have questions contact me asap at vickie@purejoyinternational.org

 

Looking forward to our time together…

His, Vickie

 

A Child is Born…

 

(note please click on web site version at bottom of this page.)

Luke 2:11-14  

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Savior let us take boundless joy in knowing God’s Word told us of the coming birth of Jesus in advance through scripture.

Regarding Jesus’ birth—Isaiah 7:14: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” 

 Isaiah 9:6: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Micah 5:2: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

Please know that God throughout scripture always tells us in advance what He is going to do. The birth of Christ is just one of the many promises God fulfills throughout His Word. Because He is faithful to tell us in advance and then we see it fulfilled in scripture you can take Great Hope in knowing He has overcome this crazy world. The victory is ours in and through Christ!

If you really want to see this truth over and over firsthand purchase a Chronological Bible to read throughout the year in 2024. It is one of the greatest gifts to give others and yourself. The One Year (NLT) Chronological Study Bible by Tyndale publishers September 6, 2022, is a good one.

From Pure Joy International Board, Staff and Advisors

Giving Thanks…

 As so many of us gather with family and friends in our homes and around tables to give "Thanks to God"  and His many blessings, we at Pure Joy International count all of you that support our ministry through prayer, gifting, going, and giving as true blessings from God in the life of this ministry. Thank you for your faithfulness and blessings over you and your families today and always.

From our family here at Pure Joy International to yours...

We’re Back…

 

Thank you each and everyone for your prayers while we were gone and for our trip back across the waters.  We all made it home safely Sunday evening.   What a wonderful time we had in the country of Tbilisi, Georgia.  The country is beautiful and the ladies that attended the Retreat were absolutely a “Joy” to the team and the other women attending.  Many new friendships were established, connections made for future time together, the word of God was shared, worship was marvelous, and fellowship so sweet. 

I am attaching pictures to this post as many as possible.   They are random but will give you some idea of some of the things we as a team had an opportunity to see.  One thing I would point out to you that was so much fun to see for me personally was what I thought were candles hanging in store fronts along the way was actually a candy called “Churchkhela” and is a candy treat. You will catch that in the pictures somewhere.  So, enjoy and if you have questions about any of the pictures are comments let us know. 

His,

Vickie

 

Note: Pictures are of sights and team members only.  Because of the sensitivity of where some of our ladies serve, we did not take any pictures of the ladies attending.  We had some ladies that did not make it to the conference because they could not get visas to get in and or were concerned about not getting one to get one back into their country.   But you can know as we do here at Pure Joy International, God had exactly the ladies that were supposed to be there for this conference at this time and season. Again, thank you all for your gifting, going, giving and continual prayer support.  

And thank you to all that serve cross-culturally to make a difference for His Name Sake.