Appalachian Vision Trip...Recap

I wanted to take a moment to share about the wonderful time we had together on the Appalachian Vision trip with the Georgia Baptist Convention! This precious group of ladies were some of the most amazing women I had ever gotten to know! They love the Lord...and they LOVE their neighbors (no matter where they live, what they look like, or what they have done) as themselves!

We traveled many hours on the road each day. We traveled through West Virginia, Virginia, and Tennessee. The scenery was beautiful and we learned so much about the needs of this region. There is so much poverty and yet so many wonderful ministries truly reaching the needs of their communities.

I do not have all the photos from the week, as we mainly had one photographer in some of the areas where we visited. I know that shocks those who know me well...I'm always wanting to take my OWN photos. But, it was such a full week...I enjoyed just living it!

This was my roomie for the week...Stephanie! She was so cute and we loved talking each night until all hours about church life, being a minister's wife, and our passion for the lost. I miss you Stephanie!

The women on this trip were just awesome! We had a group of 11 women...and not for ONE moment was there ever a sense of disunity!!! I can honestly say I have NEVER been a trip with that many women...for that long...where there wasn't at least one crazy moment of hormones, lack of sleep, or fleshy stuff. Not ONCE I tell you! That is such a tribute to the way these women dive into the Word and allow the Spirit to lead them all. I LOVED it!

We also saw some amazing scenery. We spent so many hours in the van, that we had times where I could put on my ipod and enjoy looking out the windows and praising God! This was just a breath-taking view of this bridge that we actually got out and enjoyed seeing.

I will post more photos when I get them! I thank each of you who prayed over our trip and God truly answered those prayers. It was such an honor and a blessing to have met these women, those who are ministering in the cities we visited, and getting the opportunity to see God's work in Appalachia!

A New Journey!

Our family will be embarking on a new journey to adoption from Uganda! Please feel free to follow the adventure at our family blog:

www.theworthingtonjourney.blogspot.com

Thanks for lifting us up! We can't wait to see all God has in store...

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!