Greeting to all…

Just returned from Dominican Republic where I had the great privilege to serve with SCORE International ministries. I am including links to several aspects of SCORE ministry that are at work in the Dominican Republic area concerning women and children. Please watch videos at bottom of page when there is one. It was a great honor to minister to the missionary women, the nationals, and women from several churches from the U.S. there in Dominican Republic this past week. It was also refreshing to observe the hearts of the women from the U.S. churches pouring into the lives of the Dominican people.

http://www.scoreintl.org/ministry/lily-house/

http://www.scoreintl.org/ministry/emanuel-house/

http://www.scoreintl.org/ministry/pasitos-de-jesus/

We are on the 100 yard dash to the finish line before leaving for Tanzania. We began our run as a team in July, with our contact person overseas back in January of this year and our original contact in the May of 2013 at a mission’s conference to begin praying about if God wanted us to go. He did, we are, and it's here!! So we have been on the track for an endurance run! 

As many of you know that have traveled with us the 100-yard dash is final details, which includes securing all the things we are taking with us as well as finishing up the sponsorship of the last couple of missionaries that need to be sponsored. As of today we have 46 missionary women sponsored with only 4 more to go. Thank you all sooooooo much for just listening to the LORD’s leading on sponsoring these ladies. I am ever more mindful after the Dominican trip last week of just how much our missionary women NEED the ministry God has placed on our hearts at Pure Joy International to bring to them. Thank you all for being a part of this ministry!!!

I want to close today’s blog by asking you to very specifically pray the following things for us in the 100 dash….

·       The last 4 missionary women to be sponsored.

·       The team to be spending quality time with family as they prepare to leave the country.

·       Protection for health with all the Ebola scare going on.

·       That we as a team finish strong in our preparations for the retreat.

·       That the missionary women’s hearts are being prepared by the LORD to receive all that God has placed on our hearts to share.

·       To remember that we are Ambassador’s for Christ 24–7.

And then I have one last thing to share and make a godly plea about. If you are not partnering with a ministry in your community, state, nation and/or overseas that is making a difference for the kingdom of God through obedience to Him, please prayerfully consider doing so. There are so many opportunities for you to find the heartbeat God is giving you to line up with a particular ministry and give! Give through prayers, going, gifts, partnerships, etc. Be involved because HE tells us to!

I love this quote from David Livingstone, “Send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. Sever any tie, but the ties that bind me to your service and to your heart.”

Love you Sisters and Brothers in Christ!

His,

Vickie

Tanzania Team Member Shares….

If you remember several months ago I had a team member share about her coming on board for the Tanzania trip. Well, here is another one of our team members sharing her story of coming on board! And by the way…. as of this blog we only lack the sponsorship of 9 more missionary women. Thank you all so much for coming to the plate to knock it out of the park on their behalf!!!!

I love you guys!

His,

Vickie

“Yes!” There was not a moment of hesitation when asked about joining Pure Joy for a trip to Africa this Fall. I did, appropriately, agree to pray about it before giving my final answer. But the Lord knew my heart and He was gracious to honor my desires. He approved!

I had just turned in my resignation to my boss after eight years of working at my kids’ school, in a great work environment, with people I love and a schedule guaranteed to match that of my kids’. I had no logical reason to leave; I just knew it was time, and it was a step of faith. The offer to participate in a Pure Joy trip spoke volumes to me, as the Lord confirmed that He has a plan for me and He will use me apart from my job.

The offer also came in the midst of a rough few months. I had just stood with my precious daddy as the Lord ushered him into heaven; we sold our house, sorted through and packed up what seemed a lifetime of memories, and moved into a condominium with the youngest two of our five children; our second child graduated from college and moved away for good; and I was leaving my job. The Lord knew….

As far back as I can remember, I have admired the work of missionaries. Not too long ago, my husband and I intentionally pursued the possibility of serving in an Asian nation, but it was not the Lord’s will. Yet each time I would hear about a Pure Joy trip through our church I was drawn more and more to it, until it was not just a hope, but a craving in my heart. I wanted to go! The Lord did not approve of my first opportunity, a trip to Mongolia last year, but this year--THIS YEAR-- I get to join the trip to Tanzania!

What an honor! What a privilege!! The truth is, I am not gifted to be a missionary. I have no training, no skill sets, no experience to prepare me for living in a foreign land to teach and share the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Gifts and talents are not something I possess in abundance. But-- I can encourage people.  I can smile, hug, and talk with people. And here the Lord is, giving me the chance to give of myself to women who spend every day giving and serving and loving and teaching… in a foreign culture for the sake of Christ. I get to spend this retreat giving back to them, loving on them, serving them, worshipping with them! I get to glean from their wisdom, pray for their needs, and help them find a few days of retreat from their missionary lives of daily serving others. ME. I get to do that! In Tanzania. Next month. YES!!!!

Ministry Work Day…

Last week I shared with you that the Tanzania team was going to have a work day on Saturday and we did. It is always so much fun to watch the ladies as they get to know each other in person for the first time. Four of our team members were not able to join us so we will have that fun again when we all come together at the Atlanta airport before leaving the country together.

Lots of little details were talked about and worked out for the trip.  We are right on course of where we need to be as a team before leaving the country. I’m totally excited about that. Also, I loved getting to watch the ladies get to know each other. I am going to have my hands full as a team leader! However, as I told them, their sweet submissive attitudes make me look like I know what I’m doing. Ha,ha,ha,ha! I am including some pictures of our time together.   

Also, I am happy to share with you that we have had more missionary women sponsored since last week and we now only have 14 missionary women left to be sponsored. Thank you soooooo much for just listening to the LORD and for being a part of Pure Joy International. We really do believe God makes a difference in and through us and you for these ladies and their families overseas. Please remember to pray for me this week as I finish working on the messages I believe God would have me share in Dominican Republic next week. If He isn’t giving me the words to speak to them I have nothing of value to offer them. So pray hard!

There is a lot going on around us with the Ebola situation. Many people are asking us questions about leaving the country and heading to Africa even though it is in a different location than West Africa. We don’t take things lightly that are happening. But, that is also one reason we require our team members to know that they know as much as humanly possible that God has made it clear for them to be on the trip and that their husbands give full agreement to their going. We truly believe we are safer out of the country in God’s will than in the country out of Gods will. And we don’t pretend to understand all His ways and purpose. So, just continue to pray that we are sensitive to His leading all the time.

Hope everyone has a spirit-filled week. Next week I have asked one of our team members to share her experience with us about being a part of Pure Joy and the Tanzania trip. I’ll catch up with you when I get back from Dominican Republic.

Love you all.

His,

Vickie

Tanzania is only 5 weeks away….

This Saturday the Tanzania team will be meeting together for the first time before leaving the country. We have been meeting weekly for prayer time in our separate locations but this weekend we will all put the pedal to the metal and drive a distance to spend some time together before leaving the country. We have a couple of women on the team that will not be able to join us, of course, because they live in Chicago, Missouri, and Mississippi respectfully. Actually, one of those three is out of the country. But all of the others, minus 1 mom, will be able to join together. We will spend our day getting to know each other a little bit more in person. The team has had bio’s and pictures of each other up till now. The worship team will spend time together, the hospitality people will look at all the things that have been made and given by people such as yourself for the missionary women. Media team members will solidify their plan for pictures on the retreat for PR purposes on our return. The speakers and devotional leaders will visit with one another as the Pure Joy Ministry Staff will all be there to encourage and to oversee their area of ministry. As you can see a full day!!!! We are working hard to solidify details before I leave for Dominican Republic a week from Saturday. I have the privilege and honor to speak at the yearly Mission’s Conference for Women sponsored by SCORE International. You can check them out at www.scoreintl.org .

As of this week we have 32 missionary women sponsored for Tanzania. So, only 18 more ladies to be sponsored before we leave the country in November. I want to thank those that have responded on line by sponsoring a missionary woman and or just giving towards sponsorship of a woman. Please know that you are part of God’s plan for this trip. I always KNOW when it is God sending us that He will take care of the provision. Therefore, when you are led to give by the Holy Spirit of God you are a vital part of His plan for this trip. Don’t ever take that lightly! That goes for those of you that give to this ministry’s general funds and operational cost. It’s God’s ministry and we are all a part of it in the role He has called us to. So if anyone ever ask you if you are a part of a ministry the answer is, “Yes, Pure Joy International”.  (smile)

Pray for me as I continue to prepare for Dominican Republic and Tanzania. I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you I feel the crunch.

Love you all,

His,

Vickie

Just some more insight into why we go…. 

God is a Gentleman…..

I recently read the following story about being a gentleman….

Being a Gentleman In a Selfish World

More and more today we are faced with ever increasing selfishness and egotism. Everything from tee shirts to bumper stickers tout "it’s all about me, deal with it." Many have said chivalry is dead, but I disagree. So what does it mean to be a gentleman in spite of all this? Chivalry, or the act of being a gentleman, is a personal choice. It means consciously going out of your way to make others feel appreciated. Opening doors and occasionally buying flowers is but a small part of it. Being a gentleman means acting sacrificially. A gentleman gives up his seat on the bus or train for an elderly person. He knows when to simply walk away from an argument rather than having the last word. It means not having your way sometimes. Is it worth it? Consider the state of our world. If more men led by example, and practiced this behavior, where might we be? I am proud to call myself a gentleman.  (Author unknown)

Those that know me well have on many occasions heard me make the following statement, “God is a Gentleman”. He opens the door of life continually for those that will choose to walk through it. He is always working in the best interest of those that love Him and who have been called according to His purpose (meaning all born again believers). But here is the biggest reason I continually reference God as a Gentleman…… It has to do with sin. Today more and more people in the body of Christ are being exposed for their sinful behaviors. I want to use that word again, “exposed”. I believe God is a Gentleman and He gives us every opportunity as believers to confess our sins and repent before it has to be exposed to the world around us. He gave Adam and Eve the opportunity……

Genesis 3:8-10 (ESV) 

8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.”

He gave Cain the opportunity….

Genesis 4:8-9 (ESV) 

8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?”

The children of Israel were given opportunity after opportunity to confess their sin before they ended up in Babylon and the consequences of their sin exposed to the world. 

I am sharing this today because I see a pattern developing in the body of Christ over the years which is steadily on the increase. We are not acknowledging our sin when God gives us warning of it through conviction by His Holy Spirit. The reasons for this vary. For some, we are so broken in our intimacy with Him that we don’t hear that small still voice of conviction. For others, our love of self is greater than our love for God as a believer. Or it may be that we believe the lie from the enemy that God will not forgive us again for our sin. The list is endless. 

When God has to expose us the consequences are devastating not just to ourselves but to the many people in our lives. Please hear my heart in sharing this - it is not to be critical but to exhort you. I personally, as a believer, praise God that He gives me ears to hear when He has convicted and is convicting me of sin in my life. And I might add here that sometimes it isn’t about being convicted, it is about flat out knowing you are sinning but you do it anyway because you are choosing your flesh over Him. 

My point is simple, I believe our God is a ‘Gentleman’. He will open the door for you and me and is giving us every opportunity to confess our sins, to repent from things that are against His will and ways, and return to Him. But, if we won’t, He loves us so much that He will expose us! Can I share with you that the collateral damage done when we refuse to confess and repent of our sins before God brings us to the place of exposure, causing so much more damage than if we confess and return to Him of our own free will. So is God opening a door for you today as you read this blog? My dear friends, He is truly a ‘Gentleman’. Please take His hand and walk through the door.

2 Chronicles 30:8-9 (ESV) 

8 Do not now be stiff-necked as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the LORD and come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever, and serve the LORD your God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you. 9 For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and your children will find compassion with their captors and return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.”

Proverbs 28:13 (ESV) 

13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes 

them will obtain mercy. 

Galatians 6:1 (ESV) 

1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in 

a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 

Thankful to know God as a Gentleman,

His, 

Vickie

Note: Tanzania is closing in on us and it is really exciting! We have 30 missionary women 

sponsored to date with only 20 more to go. We are excited and praising God for His always 

faithfulness to Pure Joy International. We serve an AWESOME GOD!! Keep giving as God so leads you!