Day 3

Greeting to you. We are on day 3 here in Eastern Europe. Day 1 and part of Day 2 were spent in the air. :)

This morning the team started our morning with breakfast and a team devotional. We then hit the side walks and underground metro to attend church at ICF, International Christian Fellowship. We had a sweet time of worship and time in the Word.

We had lunch that was delicious with dishes traditional to the country. Then most of the team laid down for a few hours to get over some jet lag! It is 5:30 p.m. Sunday for us as I type this. And 9:30 a.m. for you in Central U.S.
 
Please continue to pray. I was serious when I told you yesterday your prayers are being felt. Such a peace over this team as we are getting to know each other more and preparing our hearts for the arrival of the ladies on Wednesday.

His,
Vickie

Arrived Safely...

The team has arrived safely to our destination in Eastern Europe.

All luggage and trunks arrived with us as well. We have just finished dinner and are calling it an evening. Jet-lag is setting in. Ha ha

Please know that your prayers are being felt. We discussed tonight at dinner the peace that has settled on the team. We know that is because you are lifting us up.

Tomorrow morning we will be attending service with cross-cultural workers, and natives to this country. So excited!

Write again tomorrow...

His,
Vickie

Bags Are Packed… Eastern Europe Here We Come…..

Well, it is time! We have team members leaving out from Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas.

We will all meet in Chicago and headed out of the country tomorrow afternoon. 

Please pray for our luggage to get through to our destination, our flight times to be on time and us as well, for our layover times to be great team building times, for safe arrival to our destination, and finally to our hotel.

I will be sending some blogs daily. So, you can tell your family and friends to check the blog. I recognize it has been quiet on the blog front these past several weeks. Just hang with us and we will talk more when we get back.  

Counting on your prayers and Counting it Pure Joy...

His,
Vickie

Shout Out Time………

 We at Pure Joy International want to give a “shout out” to Slayden Baptist Church in Lamar, Mississippi. Also, to the group of women  from Antioch Baptist in Conway, Arkansas. These groups joined hearts to make gifts for the ladies in Eastern Europe for the first time. They have joined forces with all our other partnering churches and individuals that pray, go, gift and give regularly towards the ministry of Pure Joy International. Thank you all for your excitement to get on board and minister to those serving cross-culturally. The ladies in Eastern Europe are in for some sweet surprises from all of you that serve with us in this ministry, yet never leave the country. You are responsible for helping set the table as we prepare to serve.

We close registration for the Eastern Europe Retreat March 28, 2018. Please let anyone that is considering this retreat know about the deadline. Go to www.purejoyinternational.org
 
Well, the team is for sure in total preparations for this trip. We are just at 4 weeks from leaving the country. Can’t believe it! Also, lift up the ladies that will be attending the retreat. I suspect we are all in for some really awesome time together.

This week may we all remember…….

“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Luke 19:38 (ESV)
 









His,
Vickie

Is it I (?)…..

I remember the very first time I saw this truth pop up from my daily scripture reading. A truth that required me to ponder the question, “How do I perceive Him?” You remember the scene, it is found in Matthew 26:17-25…

Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, “The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.”  And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover. When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”

Did you see it? Eleven of the disciples called Him, LORD. But, the one that would betray Him called him, Rabbi (teacher). Friends, there have been, are, and will be a lot of great teachers in this world before it sees its last days. But there is only one LORD. I have sat under, and grown in my walk with Him, because of great teaching and teachers. But I don’t worship them, nor do I desire to follow them or submit my life to them. Because only the LORD deserves my worship, my following and heart of submission.

What do you call Him?

His,
Vickie

Note: We still have spots available for the Eastern Europe Retreat. Get the word out to your friends that serve in that part of the world and email me at vickie@purejoyinternational.org for more details or go to www.purejoyinternational.org to register online.

Online Registration has begun for Eastern Europe ….

Ladies are signing up for the trip. We have 30 spots left. Please remember, first come first served, then we go to a waiting list. To register go to www.purejoyinternational.org

Team members are meeting weekly in their different states and locations to lift up the details and needs for the retreat.
 
Please continue to pray about giving to this trip. We only lack 6 spots for all M’s to be sponsored for this trip.
 
On a different note… I apologize for the time lag between the blogs these past many weeks. To be honest I have been in a little bit of a fog. You know what that’s like. You are driving along and all of a sudden you drive into to this fog that seems to have come out of nowhere. At first, it catches you off guard. You brake immediately, because you can’t see 2 car lengths in front of you. You become a little bit tense as your grip tightens on the wheel without you even realizing it. You keep moving forward, because to stop puts you and someone else in danger. To pull off the side of the road puts you and someone else in danger because you can’t be sure where the roadside begins and ends. You keep moving, but you have no feel for anything that is outside of the fog. Just the road immediately in front of you. Then all of a sudden you drive out of it…. as quickly as you drove into to it.
 
So, I am prayerful that I am out of the fog. Not sure what it was all about yet. But, this I have learned….He will reveal it in His time.

I love this quote:

 Keep Going. Each step may get harder, but
 don’t stop.  The view at the top is beautiful.

His,
Vickie

Just so you know and Eastern Europe Registration Opens Next Week….

Just wanted to make those of you that journey over to our website occasionally aware, we are working on some things there. So, you will only have a Home Page for awhile. Registration for Eastern Europe Retreat, Blog, and Donation icons will work. Everything else not so much. (smile)

However, if you have questions contact me at vickie@purejoyinternational.org and I will answer any questions you have.

Eastern Europe Team is starting to meet weekly throughout our different locations and is preparing for the Retreat in April. Now is the time for those of you that travel with the team through prayer, going, gifting, and giving to step on board. I am excited to say that we see His Hand at work in a mighty way. We still need to settle on a hotel. So, please put that at the top of your list to ask Him about. The overall cost of this trip to put our guests in a relatively nice hotel is higher than our normal cost. So, if He lays it on your heart to give a little extra this time, please honor the prompting.

Registration for Eastern Europe will open on Monday the 12th at some point. Please make sure to let your “M” friends in that part of the world know we are coming. The dates of the Retreat are April 25 -28, 2018. Our theme is, “He Holds It All.” We will accept the first 50 who register before going to a waiting list. So, please tell your “M” friends to sign up as soon as possible. First come, first served.

For more information contact me at vickie@purejoyinternational.org 

His,
Vickie

"O, let the place of secret prayer become to me the most beloved spot on earth."
                                                                                                                  - Andrew Murray