How It Feels To Be “Home”
As most of you know by now, I was not able to raise enough support money to avoid being sent home early from the race. I received the news on October 1st and was on a plane back “home” from Uganda on October 4th. After 2 days of travel and 1 day of recuperating from Jet Lag I am now sitting here in West Palm Beach, FL, a place I once used to call home, trying to process everything and realizing that I simply don’t belong here anymore. The word “home” has taken on a whole new meaning. Home is no longer the place where I grew up and that I know well. It’s not a house that I am comfortable in and familiar with or being surrounded by those that share my DNA. Home for me now is the place where I am closest to the heart of God. I find home in the eyes of children, the needy, the broken, the hopeless. Home is being surrounded by brothers and sisters in Christ who are far from perfect but are eager to do His will and desire to bring kingdom wherever they go. It’s being in a safe place where you can deal with my crap and grow as a person. My home at this moment is found in the World Race.
Now more than ever I know without a doubt that the race is God’s will for my life, and that I am meant to continue. I now see just how much God has done in me and how much I’ve grown as a person throughout the last four months. I’m so much closer to being able to answer the question “who am I?” Still I have a long way to go. I know that God has me here for a reason and for a season, yet there is a great urgency within me to do what I have to do here so that I can get back to where I belong and finish what He started. The way I see it my month five of ministry just happens to be here in West Palm Beach. I will bring kingdom during the time that I’m here, knowing that I have a Squad who is supporting me with their prayers.
Through everything that has happened I still choose to see this all in a positive light. The peace and joy of the Lord are with me as I work my butt off and wait with eager expectation for His hand to move and His provision to be released. .This is simply another opportunity for my God, the God of the impossible, to glorify himself in this situation and give me an amazing testimony about His unfailing love and faithfulness. I am not giving up and I refuse to get discouraged. I want to assure all of you that made a donation on my behalf this past week that it wasn’t in vein and that it will not be wasted. I am still fundraising and thanks to you I am one step closer to meeting my goal.
With that said, I would like to make a plea to everyone out there. Please consider making a donation into my support account so that I can continue the work of the Lord around the world and get the support and help I need from my Teammates and Squad mates so that I can become the women I know God wants me to be. I can’t promise you any personal gain, but I can promise you that I will give my all at everything I do. I will serve and stand up for others, including your children, with great love and passion. The honest truth is that I need this. I need to be exposed to the suffering and the needs of the world so that I can learn more about the heart of God. I need my Squad mates in my life right now and they need me too. Please help me get back home!
To make a donation simply click on the following link:
https://www.adventures.org/give/donate.asp?giveto=worldrace&desc=For%20AnmariRivera&tuid=3004975
It’s as simple as 80 people partnering with me at $100 each to get me back on the field! Thank you for your time and consideration.
With a grateful and hopeful heart,
Anmari Rivera
June 2010 World Racer
