I'm Pregnant...

...PAPER pregnant!!!!!! For those who don't have any idea what that means...we have been officially APPROVED to adopt a precious new little Worthington from Uganda!

We are in a state of shock...and JOY unspeakable! It has almost been a year since we began this journey of adoption with doors shut time after time. But, on Monday our new Worthington journey began. A journey that will lead us to our precious Africa...and to our little one.

We don't have any more information at this time. We just know that for once we have been OFFICIALLY APPROVED! We will be adopting from Amani Baby Cottage in Jinja, Uganda. Oh, what a precious group of amazing Christian people work there...and here in the States to bring orphans to their forever families.

Our hearts overflow. Our lives are taking a new turn. Our God is so good. Our joy is in His timing.

But, you just gotta see a glimpse of where our little ones lives and thrives! Grab a tissue and smile as you see God's love for the orphans....it's the call for ALL of us in some way. You can pray, you can give, or you can bring one home forever. But, you can't ignore and do nothing...how could you after seeing this?

Appalachian Region Vision Trip!

This week I will be traveling with the leadership of WMU of the Georgia Baptist Convention on a vision trip through the Appalachian region. I am thrilled to minister and serve along with this amazing group of women!

I will be posting my prayer requests on my personal blog each day...so you can visit that sight to pray for our team as we travel, serve, minister, learn and experience all God's work in the Appalachian area.

My personal blog is: www.theworthingtonjourney.blogspot.com.

Thank you for traveling alongside me on this trip! I covet your faithful prayers!

Thrive!
Frances

Busy Summer!

It has been a busy summer and now that school is starting back soon, I am trying to get back in some kind of writing schedule. I have enjoyed taking time off and enjoying my family time with the girls and Jay along with lots of playdates with good friends. It's always great when summer comes, but I find that many times I struggle with keeping diligence when my schedule does not exist!

So, now that summer is closing and the thoughts turn to a new and exciting homeschool schedule, I will try to get back into the routine of posting a small devotion time as I still travel through the book of Luke...if you are counting...I have been in the book of Luke since January 3rd! The crazy thing is that I am only in chapter 12!!

It's just too good to rush through. What else have a I got to do, anyway? It's like a story you just don't want to rush to the end. So, I am savoring my time with Jesus. I spent 7 years in the Old Testament catching pictures, prophesies, glimpses, and symbols of Him...I just couldn't wait to finally walk with Him every single day as I am now! The Old Testament lights a fire of hope that only Jesus can fulfil!

So, I pray that you have been consistently thriving through your summer chaos! I have loved longer times alone with Him, reading some amazing books at night, and truly enjoying the crazy pace of summer. But, I do love fall and the turning of minds towards Thanksgiving and Advent (my favorite!). I look forward to walking with you in the Word this fall...

Thrive!
Frances

Headed back to Clarkston!

Please pray for me today as I head back to the refugee camp in Clarkston, GA to meet with some women whose heart is to care for the women there. These women are many times widowed due to war, genocide, etc. Others have come here with their family with nothing but a small bag of their belongings. They do not speak our language, they do not have any friends or family, and they have fled their country due to oppression from war and persecution.

We will be prayer walking and talking of ways we can encourage the women there...and mobilize other women in GA (or beyond) to go and minister to the "alien" in our midst as God commands.

If you are interested in becoming involved in encouraging women who have fled here to find hope...and you desire to share with them the TRUE HOPE of Jesus Christ...let me know. I would love to share what I have gleaned from the time I have spent there. I don't know much, but I do know who to send you to talk to:)

Please pray for discernment and wisdom as we seek God's ways in loving the orphans, the widows, and the alien among us. The time is short...life is such a vapor...invest in what lasts!

Has it really been a MONTH??

I can't believe it has really been a month since I last posted! Since the girls got out of school, we have been busy with days at the pool, enjoying the free summer movies for kids at the local movie theatres, days on field trips with our local homeschool excursion team, 4th of July with family in Alabama...and so much more!

But, now that we are heading into August, things are slowing down since all our friends are getting back into school. We don't begin school until the middle of September with our online academy...but when everyone else is in school that really slows us down a bit!

In the month of August, I will be turning my focus onto another study that will work verse by verse through the Isaiah 58. That chapter has really challenged and changed my outlook in so many ways. I have so many notes about it that I want to compile it into a study...if God desires that to take place.

Tomorrow I will be meeting with some women in Clarkston, GA. We will be walking around the "village" and praying over our involvement there. Please pray that God will give us all wisdom and discernment!

I will be posting more often now that summer is coming to a close. I so enjoyed taking time off to really enjoy this time with my girls during the day. We've had so much fun!

If you want to know what we have been up to this summer...feel free to check out my family blog at:

www.theworthingtonjourney.blogspot.com

Thanks for journeying with me!

Clarkston

Today my family was blessed to visit the city of Clarkston, GA. I was able to attend a women's group and had a chance to share my personal testimony with them. We began the time with singing together. I was in heaven when they brought their African drums out and we began clapping! It was in Kirundi...but I loved every moment of it!

God was so kind to me in allowing me to not only meet some amazing Burundian and Rwandan women...but the ladies who lead this group each week. My girls enjoyed playing with their children and they even came in to enjoy the music for a while...then it was off to play again!

Alicia offered her home for the meeting and I LOVED meeting her...as she said...we are "kindred spirits" (Anne of Green Gables quote!). It was so encouraging to meet these awesome women who were all about sharing the love of Christ with refugees who literally have left everything...and are starting over with NOTHING.

Jay had an amazing meeting with World Relief too. He got to literally meet EVERYONE there and hear all that they are doing. We will prayerfully be praying to see how God will lead us and our church to be involved with the ministries in Clarkston.

I will be going to Clarkston again to actually be In the homes of families in "the village." I can't WAIT...I would MOVE to Clarkston if we could take Noonday church with us:) There were lots of ways to be involved and I just can't wait to see where

Please Pray!

Well, I have been back...and then gone again...and now back! We have been on our Families On Mission trip with the North American Mission Board. We had an amazing time! If you are interested in reading about the trip, you can check out my family blog at:

theworthingtonjourney.blogspot.com

You will need to scroll down to see the posts about the trip. Jay and I have been on many mission trip around the USA and the world, but this trip with our family is always the biggest blessing! I enjoy traveling and sharing with DFM, but we are entering a season where our girls are old enough to begin traveling and ministering together with us! What a blessing!

This will be the case tomorrow as our family heads to Clarkston, GA. This is a city where thousands of refugees are relocated each year. This summer alone over 1500 refugees will be relocated to Clarkston.

We will be heading there tomorrow and spending the day the staff of World Vision and sharing life with refugee families. I will be sharing my story with Burundian (African) ladies, our girls will be with me in those homes playing with their children, while Jay meets and visions with one of the leaders of World Relief.

Please pray as we walk, talk, and pray about how God may choose to partner our family and our church with the work He is doing in Clarkston!

Thrive!
Frances