Republic of Georgia Registration Closes…

Registration for the Republic of Georgia Retreat closes this Saturday September 30, 2023.  Please make sure if you have any friends that are considering signing up to let them know.

We have 8 slots left open. However, if they are not filled by the deadline the registration will still be closed on the aforementioned date. 

We are so excited and cannot believe we are just under 3 weeks away from our time in the Republic of Georgia.  Please continue to pray for the ladies that will be attending and the team that will be leaving.  All the details are coming together well.  Of course, there are several things that cannot get done until registration closes but we are used to a little bit of stress. (ha,ha,ha)   Keep the prayers lifted up!

As you finish your week consider this reminder which you have probably processed before but need a review;  Am I so busy working for Christ that I am neglecting Him.

His,

Vickie

 

Encourage one another…

Today as I have been working on things for our Pure Joy International trip to Republic of Georgia, I have been reminded of the very first bible verse God gave me for encouraging the missionary women.

Hebrews 3:13

But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called
“today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.  (ESV)

I love that verse and what God spoke to my heart about it in those early years still holds true today.  “Encourage each other, lift each other up in the things of the LORD, while you can.  It prevents spiritual heart attacks in the body of CHRIST. "

We go to other countries to encourage our sisters in Christ because God gave us the vision to go in the format of retreats/conferences.  To encourage them, to remind them of His Love for them, to speak the Word over them, to worship Him with them, to laugh, cry, and fellowship as His girls.  We don’t just go to go; we go because we can’t not go!

Please continue to pray for the team as we are in the major stages of preparation now.  We have 11 slots left.  Registration will close at the end of the next 3 weeks so please continue to get the word out.

Thank you so much to you that are giving towards sponsorships of the missionary women that will be attending.  It means so much to them to be able to come at no cost to them except getting to and back home from the venue.  Their room and meals, materials for the retreat are all sponsored through your giving.  You all are always the best!  If you want to donate, go to our web site www.purejoyinternational.org and scroll down to Support for instructions on how to give.

Have a blessed and safe long weekend as we celebrate Labor Day weekend here in the U.S.

 

His,

Vickie

Christmas in August…

Vickie invited me to write the blog this week…

Our stores here in the States are already rolling out ALL the Christmas merchandise. Walking through the isles at Hobby Lobby, looking at all the stockings, tinsel and decorations caused me to think back on some very sweet memories of Christmas in August.

When I was a child, my siblings and I were the recipients of a Christmas in August giving by our home church in St. Louis just because we were furloughing MK’s. I will never forget receiving that sparkly gold Banana seat bike with high-rise-handlebars. It was a dream, and it truly was like Christmas!

So yesterday on a warm summer day, I decorated Christmas cookies for a group of ladies who were coming over to learn about the ministry of Pure Joy International Retreat Ministry, Inc.

God stirred my heart the very first time I heard Vickie speak about Pure Joy. It made me think of how my mom served our family, served in ministry, loved on the nationals and other missionaries. It made me think of how encouraging a Pure Joy Retreat would have been for mom as she served alongside my dad for 35 years in Colombia.

Pure Joy International has been called to minister to missionary women around the world, with the purpose of helping our missionary/mission families stay on the field of service God has called them to.

In other words, like that sparkly gold banana seat bike of a beautifully decorated Christmas cookie in August, Pure Joy Retreats refresh the heart and soul of missionary women across the globe.

Would you ...

·       Pray for our missionary women/families, team members and the details of each trip. 

·       Pray for the next retreat to the Republic of Georgia in October.

·       Write a card, fill a favorite bag, or make a gift.

·       Give to sponsor a missionary or become a monthly supporter.

·       Invite us to come share the mission of Pure Joy International with your women’s 

      ministry. Contact myself Kim Roberson, kim@purejoyinternational.org or Vickie

      Arruda,  vickie@purejoyinternationnal.org

If you have any questions or would like to be involved, reach out. 

Merry Christmas (in August).

Kim Roberson

Public Relations 

Pure Joy International Retreat Ministry, Inc.

Time is ticking, better hurry…

 

Registration for Republic of Georgia is filling up. We have 25 spots left before we go to the waiting list. Please continue to get the word out to your friends that are talking about getting registered. Again, the dates of the Retreat are October 25-28, 2023. Go to www.purejoyinternational.org to register.

Well, speaking of time ticking away, the summer is almost over for many of our school children here in the states. I pray that you have had time to spend with your children and your children’s children this summer if that applies to you. I do want to remind all of us that our children and young adult children are up against a world different than what most of us faced growing up. Whether they are old enough to recognize it or are being challenged by it in their everyday life right now.

It would be an understatement to acknowledge the great need we have to stand in the gap for relationships with God, Spouses, Family, Friends, and others. Do not be deceived and do not think you are beyond the touch of spiritual warfare. The only way it is not touching you in the world today is if you stand for nothing. If you stand for God, His Word, His Truths, His Ways, trust me, you and your family are under attack. Hunker down brothers and sisters and get your boots on…We are at war!

The Whole Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18)

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints…

 

His,

Vickie

  

Register Now…

 Registration for our October 25-28, 2023 retreat is now open.  Go to our website homepage www.purejoyinternational.org and click on register here for retreat.  Please sign up as soon as possible and let your friends serving anywhere in Europe or nearby know about this opportunity.  First come first serve up to 50 participants, then we go to a waiting list.  Your responsibility is to get to and from the retreat.  Once there your hotel, meals, materials, are provided for you free of charge.  This is because of the generosity of those that want to be a support to you and your ministry overseas.  Participants are already registering, so do not hesitate to register as soon as possible.  Click on Retreats on our website homepage to see comments and pictures from our spring retreat in Lisbon, Portugal earlier this year.

Well, the team will be zooming our first team meeting tonight.  I’m so excited for everyone to get to see each other’s faces.  Locale churches and individuals that partner with us in prayer, giving, and gifting are already beginning to stand in the gap for all the ladies that will be attending this retreat.  Please begin to pray the word gets out to the missionary women about the conference that need this time of encouragement, rest, fellowship, worship, and being in the Word together.

A final note.  If you have not had the opportunity to see the movie “Sounds of Freedom” I personally highly recommend it.  It is a wake-up call to those that believe the lie that these things are not going on in our world today. 

In the 1960s through the late 1980s the was a public service announcement (PSA) for parents on the American television that usually proceeded the 10:00 p.m. and or 11:00 p.m. news cast.  The announcement was “Do you know where your children are?” I loved that because it was a simple reminder to shift the focus of a parent if only for a few moments to the whereabouts of their children.  What about you.  In this, crazy, fast-paced, world full of distractions, self-centered, all about me society, “Do you know where your children are?”  Because chances are someone else may.

His,

Vickie

Public of Georgia Registration on the Horizon…

 I know it is hard to believe but we have already started our preparations for the Pure Joy International Retreat Ministry, Inc. Public of Georgia Retreat for October 25-28, 2023.   (Tbilisi, Georgia)

If you know of a missionary serving cross-culturally in that part of the world that could benefit from such an opportunity, please ask them to go to our website www.purejoyinternational.org to register starting next week.  Please remember first come first serve.  We limit space to the first 50 registrants and then go to a waiting list. 

 If you did not get a chance to see some of the pictures from our Portugal Retreat in April 2023, please go to our website mentioned above and click on Retreats in the headings.

I hope that everyone is having a good summer as it gets on its way.  I know many of you will be working with church groups coming from the USA and other countries to help with projects you have going in your locations, others will be coming home to start a stateside stint, etc.  Praying for a great summer for all to His Glory!

Here at home in the USA many families are hitting the vacations spots for the summer.  Personally, I am getting ready to head to Louisville, Kentucky with one of my great nephews to the National Beta Club Conference.  Pray for me as will be surrounded by Intermediate kids, ages 9-12 years old.  (smile)

Please don’t forget to get the word out about the Public of Georgia Retreat.  The team is already solidified, plane tickets being purchased, and the hotel locked in.  Now all the details that include all of you that join us on these trips begin to take place, praying, giving, gifting, and going.  So, excited to share we have two more churches joining us in the journey of gifting this trip.  First Baptist Claremore, OK and First Baptist McGehee, AR.  We welcome your heart to join us as we minister to these ladies overseas.

His,

Vickie

 

 

Team Is Home Safe and Retreat Was Sooo Good…

 Thank you all for your prayers as we traveled to Portugal and home again.  Your time in prayer, gifting, giving, and going is what allows the ministry of Pure Joy International Retreat Ministry, Inc. to serve the ladies on the field cross-culturally. As I always say to you, “You are part of the ministry of Pure Joy International and a vital part of each team that goes.

There are no words for how good it feels to be back on the field again.  It was also great to hear from many of you that said, “I would not have been ready for this back in 2020”. I am not sure what each one of them meant by that, but I am counting it as good. LOL!

The LORD led each one of the speakers to address just what He knew the ladies and team needed for this season and time.  It was obvious each speaker, and testimony shared was shaped by HIM. The daily team devotionals coupled with our own time in the Word fueled us as a team to accomplish the ministry at hand. I can’t say enough good things about the team God put together for the trip. 

In case you wonder why I stopped blogging after a couple of days it is because most of us could get no Wi-Fi internet connection.  I think the number of people in the hotel, including us, was too big a drain on their system. LOL

I do want to share a few more pictures and will share with you some of the things the missionary women and the team members have to say about what the Retreat meant to them as they share.  Enjoy these pictures till then…

Thank you all for your prayers as we traveled to Portugal and home again.  Your time in prayer, gifting, giving, and going is what allows the ministry of Pure Joy International Retreat Ministry, Inc. to serve the ladies on the field cross-culturally. As I always say to you, “You are part of the ministry of Pure Joy International and a vital part of each team that goes.

There are no words for how good it feels to be back on the field again.  It was also great to hear from many of you that said, “I would not have been ready for this back in 2020”. I am not sure what each one of them meant by that, but I am counting it as good. LOL!

The LORD led each one of the speakers to address just what He knew the ladies and team needed for this season and time.  It was obvious each speaker, and testimony shared was shaped by HIM. The daily team devotionals coupled with our own time in the Word fueled us as a team to accomplish the ministry at hand. I can’t say enough good things about the team God put together for the trip. 

In case you wonder why I stopped blogging after a couple of days it is because most of us could get no Wi-Fi internet connection.  I think the number of people in the hotel, including us, was too big a drain on their system. LOL

I do want to share a few more pictures and will share with you some of the things the missionary women and the team members have to say about what the Retreat meant to them as they share.  Enjoy these pictures till then…

Thank you all for your prayers as we traveled to Portugal and home again.  Your time in prayer, gifting, giving, and going is what allows the ministry of Pure Joy International Retreat Ministry, Inc. to serve the ladies on the field cross-culturally. As I always say to you, “You are part of the ministry of Pure Joy International and a vital part of each team that goes.

There are no words for how good it feels to be back on the field again.  It was also great to hear from many of you that said, “I would not have been ready for this back in 2020”. I am not sure what each one of them meant by that, but I am counting it as good. LOL!

The LORD led each one of the speakers to address just what He knew the ladies and team needed for this season and time.  It was obvious each speaker, and testimony shared was shaped by HIM. The daily team devotionals coupled with our own time in the Word fueled us as a team to accomplish the ministry at hand. I can’t say enough good things about the team God put together for the trip. 

In case you wonder why I stopped blogging after a couple of days it is because most of us could get no Wi-Fi internet connection.  I think the number of people in the hotel, including us, was too big a drain on their system. LOL

I do want to share a few more pictures and will share with you some of the things the missionary women and the team members have to say about what the Retreat meant to them as they share.  Enjoy these pictures till then…