Probably to no one's ultimate surprise, I am leaving the World Race a tad prematurely. Decisions were handed down through leadership and I have submitted and am out. (I didn't do anything illegal or anything like that). My heart yearns for home... and so I am okay. It will be, undoubtedly, a challenging month of processing, etc. I pray to God that Dr. Ken comes soon...

The first thing I will do is: sit on the couch with my mom (yes, a couch) and rub my feet on the carpet (yes, I said carpet, as in a floor covering other than concrete), and drink some fresh, Starbucks coffee (my next comment is predictably yes, Starbucks, the real Starbucks). I want to talk and cry and dream and be exhilerated at the prospect of what lies ahead.

What lies behind is a mixed bag of bittersweet memories... but the ultimate testimony I can offer of this year is that God is a redemptive God. He is not wilfully uninvolved in any aspect of my life. I think of the verse in Proverbs that says, "the king's heart is like a watercourse in the hand of God, he directs it where he pleases." And though so often this year I feel like it has simply been bad  circumstances, that does not negate God's redemptive power.

I leave with no ill will... only hope and anticipation. God is a good God... capable and faithful and ultimately my Redeemer.

I will miss many of you very much.

Good luck and best wishes to you all. Finish well!

Hey from Africa... home again home again diggity dog.

I've written about a million blogs. I've even back-blogged (say that 10x fast) so check it out...

www.joymariem.blogspot.com

If that's too much effort, feel free to stick around here and check out Brienna and Annie's sites.

Life is fairly good. I miss my peeps.

Gracias para todos to everyone who was so loving and servant-hearted towards us rambunctious and often grouchy World Racers! I loved hanging out in Lomo de Corvina... with my knitting friends, having translators to enjoy and shamelessly use to avoid furthering my knowledge of Espanol, and have a demonstrative and loving host family in Juan and Estella.

For thorough and fabulous travelogue about my time in Peru, I direct you to two lovely women´s sites-

www.briennacaldwell.theworldrace.org (amazing-fun-true-to-life video)

and www.anniebower.theworldrace.org (this girl has got the travelogue thing down to an art)

And, for less verbose but personal entries, you can always see my site at www.joymariem.blogspot.com

I feel the prayers of people in my life. Your faithfulness will not lack reward! The least of which is my eternal gratefulness.

Well, as I previously posted, all the money needed for my AIM account is in! I am so overwhelmed and blessed by your generosity!

If anyone else feels led to donate, I will now be receiving gifts at my Florida address

2583 Hobblebrush Dr

North Port, FL 34289

This money will be for various expenses I have recognized... some food and transportation is not covered by AIM, as well as any gifts or offerings to local churches. Even $20 to this end would be helpful!

(the money given here is not tax deductible and would simply be a personal gift. Know that I will put it to good use!)

2nd topic... packages to Peru!

Joy McCarty  c/o Robert Cooley

Calle San Carlos Del Pinar 228 Dpto 401

UR Villa Jardin San Luis Lima

Packages must be a shoe box size or smaller . If it is larger list the contents. There is no guarantee that we will get the packages and they probably will be open when we get them. If the value is greater than $33 we will be taxed. Letters and small envelopes should arrive unopened.

Now, I´m not expecting anyone to send me anything, let me just say I wouldn´t be overcome with disappointment if I received some letters... or Skittles... and lip gloss... and the first Harry Potter book... and Orbitz gum...  and a cute new shirt... and People magazine (that´s for Faith)... just, yaknow, so you know.

Let´s not forget that my BIRTHDAY when I´ll be turning TWENTY TWO is APRIL 12. Not that any of you would forget. But some of you might not know. So now you know. =)

I am so grateful for all of you and your love and support.

(for some fun stories of what I´m doing, see Annie Bower´s blog!)

Love and miss you all,

Joy

I have raised all of my needed support. I am completely overwhelmed! To every one of you who gave so extravagantly... thank you from the bottom of my heart. The lives I am touching, the people I am meeting and sharing my days and faith with, you are similarly touching. Your vicarious effect is immeasurable. I am in an internet cafe in Guatemala right now, completely stunned by the generosity of my friends and family. I as a person am undeserving of such a display. Only Christ in me has made me adequate to the privileged task of carrying the gospel to the ends of the earth.

Everyday my heart is so sure that this is my calling, this is my passion, missions will be my life. I am so completely fulfilled and am eternally grateful for your support!

Keep us in your prayers... my team is relocating tomorrow back to Antigua, Guatemala. We´ve been ministering in Porto Barrios and Livingston. Livingston was a great time as we stayed with a pastor´s family in a rural area. Though they spoke little Spanish and another rural language, our connection with them was amazing. They laughed and we connected in our spirits in a precious way. I think the mutual encouragement was tangible. We were able to do visitation and travel around, praying for the sick and needy in that area. We also shared music at their church services. These people walk amazing distances, up and down rocks, in the dark to get to church. Their committment to the local body of believers is inspiring.

I´m sure my teammates have pictures of Livingston up. It was a special time for all of us. We are experiencing the blessing of God´s hand at every turn and it is glorious!

Thank you so much for the irreplaceable role you play in my ministry and life. I love you all so much.

Here is something that some people back home have been working on.  It is an online magazine that brings some of the radical stories from the World Race and other places, capturing the essence of a surrendered life to Christ, to challenge and awaken America.  Please share this with your friends, family, and church members:

www.wreckedfortheordinary.com

Hey everyone.

(Joy, Bri and Annie on top of the hill)

So my week has been fabulous! I am so energized to be on the field again, doing mi

ssions, living with people, learning a language... I wrote Leah and was explaining how I am so so happy and so so content. I wonder if this feeling is ¨the will of God¨ for me? Whatever the case may be, thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers! I am delighted to be so extravagantly supported by such spiritual giants. I love and respect you all and appreciate your thoughts.

We are doing ministry over the next couple of weeks in Aguilar. It is a little town up in the mountains with rivers and gorgeous rolling hills. The kids have already won my heart... I found myself tearing up as we left for our two days of debrief in Palenque. We will be heading back late tomorrow and I cannot wait to see the ninos again!! We spend our days swimming with them in a river and then do evening services. We have no translator and none of us speak Spanish so it is an endless frustration to be virtually incommunicato... that is a definite prayer request if you think of it!

Alright, well if you want more interesting narratives and pics check out any of my team members blogs (Ryan, Annie, Clinton or Brienna) or the other team we are paired with in Aguilar (Jon, Talia, Eric, BriEllyn, Ginger or Kari).

Do not forget you can always visit my personal blog at www.joymariem.blogspot.com

Peace.