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