Our Thing

I have returned from a global serving trip to South Africa. So much happened in the two weeks span and I regret not bringing my Ipad to update on my blog. There is so much to say so I'd love to just share my first journal entry in South Africa with you.

Father,
I am amazed by you. How you love me, despite my flaws and inadequacies; you love me. Being here reminds me of your love for me and how your heart longs to draw close to mine. Here I am reminded of who you are and who I am. This place, this act of love, this is our thing! You whisper to me through the smiles of the children. You sing to me through the rain and the mountains. I see you in their faces, in their struggles, and in their brokenness. I see you in their joy, in our differences, and in our likeness. Here I am one with you. I can feel your heart beating. I am alive. I am one with them-through the love you bore for us.

I cannot wait for what you have in store for us and for them!

With my heart open,
Jovy

Wendy singing to God (she has a beautiful voice)

Boys from the Murchison community at the Reading Room

Some of the Angel's Choir girls at the Reading Room

My sweet little kids and their gogo

They have forever changed my life. 

All of their stories, I will carry them with me and tell the world.

Be the Eucharist

Along with my last post I'd like to share an opportunity to be the Eucharist and to also sow a seed into my life.

Three ways you can be The Eucharist to Durban, South Africa:

1. Pray For:

· Wisdom for our team leader Pastor Bernard

· Clear vision of God’s purpose and plan for this trip

· Insight and understanding for the people and culture of Durban, South Africa

· Safe travels and smooth planning of all details

· God to prepare the hearts of the people we will meet

· Team unity

· For me to have an open heart for and trust that God is doing His will for my life.

2 Support financially:

The total cost for the trip is $3600 per person ((inclusive of airfare, lodging, supplies) and 100% is due on January 13th. I will be giving large portions of my own income to pay for this trip and would be blessed to have your financial support! No amount is too small! You can give in two easy ways:

By Mail:

In this letter is enclosed a Donation Tracking Slip. Fill the tracking slip out along with a check made payable to Discovery Church and “South Africa” in the memo. Mail check and slip to:

Discovery Church/GlobalWorks

4400 S. Orange Ave

Orlando, FL 32806

Online:

To pay with a credit/debit card go to

Mission Connex

Find my name “Jovanna Rivera” under the Who are you supporting drop down box. Follow instructions.

*Funds are only tax deductable and accepted by giving through mail or online.

3. Get Connected:

Follow us on FACEBOOK for updates on projects and more ways to connect at:

South Africa 2012

More Information on the two organizations we will be serving:

Christian Life Centre

Genesis Trust

Again, I am thankful for your consideration, prayers and support.

With love,

Jovy

The Good Gift

Dear Friends & Family

I hope this letter finds you well. Many of you have received a letter like this from me several years ago. I am so excited to tell you about this new season of my life and where His heart is taking me to next. I am now exactly one year, six months, and 10 days post grad and I am now a nurse at MD Anderson Cancer Center and it has been a blessing to be there for my patients in their time of need. If you know me well, you know that my heart has always been to allow God to use my passion and nursing skills in other parts of the world. This year I was chosen to go on a Global Serving Trip with Discovery Church. No it’s not to China again! On February 11-25 2012 we will be going to Durban, South Africa. I am excited to have the opportunity to continue following His heart to a new country and in a new way!

Why South Africa, you may be asking. Two prominent issues in South Africa are HIV/AIDS and poverty. South Africa has a population of 50 million people with around 5.3 million people are living with HIV/AIDS and 370,000 die of AIDS each year leaving many children orphaned and with HIV/AIDS. There is also 50% of the population that live below the poverty line and many live without the basic needs of food, shelter, and medical care. We will be partnering with two established organizations Genesis Trust and Christian Life Centre. Both of these organizations operate to provide shelter, food, medical care, and most importantly the love of a family to homeless orphans, most of whom are

HIV positive. We will be assisting orphans, with emotional support, medical care, education and helping their leaders with business counseling so that they can continue caring for these special need orphans.

I’d love to share something I have learned in “the process.” In college as I was getting to know the heart of God, he gave me a passion and burden for the fatherless. He showed me how love can truly make a difference in the lives of orphans and that I was created to be his gift to these children. I learned the English word for “the good gift” is the “Eucharist.” Jesus is the good gift and we are also the good gift to this world. Rob Bell in his book “Jesus Wants to Save Christians” talks about the Eucharist and asks:

“What does it look like for us to be a Eucharist for the people here and now? In other words what is the church supposed to look like? "What does it look like for us to break ourselves open and poor ourselves out for the healing of these people (the lost, the hungry, the angry, the rich, the poor) in this time and place?"The Eucharist is people. The Eucharist is the church. We are the good gift.”

"Our destiny, our future, and our joy are in the Eucharist, using whatever blessing we've received, whatever resources, talents, skills, and passions God has given us, to make the world a better place. Disconnection from the suffering of the world, isolation from the cry of the oppressed, indifference to the poverty around us will always lead to despair."

I don't ever want to be disconnected from my destiny. From the cry of those who are broken, fatherless, and hopeless. And this is why I am sharing this opportunity with you. We are the good gift. Each of us connected to one another, each of us with gifts, talents, and resources, yearning to be a part of something bigger than us. I hope that you see this as an opportunity to be the good gift to the people of Durban, South Africa. That you see this as a connection to those in need in a place outside of your home and city. Because we were made for so much more!!!

With love,

Jovanna Rivera

I will try to fix you

When you try your best but you don't succeed
When you get what you want but not what you need
When you feel so tired but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse

And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
When you love someone but it goes to waste
COULD IT BE WORSE?

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

And high up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Tears stream down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face
And I

Tears stream down your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face
And I

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you.

-Lyrics from Coldplay's "Fix You"

My Happy Place

Sometimes when the sky is overcast, the air is wet, birds are chirping, and dogs are barking, I close my eyes and remember. I remember a place where I first experienced God in a way very few get to. I remember gently kissing the tiny face of an orphaned baby named Noah. I remember singing songs to God under the dark sky with Christians willing to risk their lives to serve Christ. There are no words to describe that night. I remember the long walks to the foster home along the river. The peace, the joy, the love. It was a place overflowing with all of God's goodness. It was my happy place.

China really is where the heart is.

Sweet Girl From Montana

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear."

1 John 4:18

Sunday was the day I had been praying for since May. The day I had been faithfully waiting for. The day my and parents and friends have been encouraging me to never give up on. (yes you did see the words "my love," details later). Sunday was my first day as a nurse on a hospital unit.

I love keeping journals and writing blogs like these. Not just for others to read (although my hope is that through my words and experiences a life is changed and seeds are sown), but I do this more for me. To read and look back and see all of the good and bad. To see how far God has taken me. To laugh and cry and realize that life with God truly is an adventure. I wouldn't have it any other way. He is truly the way the truth and the life!

I looked back today. Remembering all of the tears, lonely nights, doubts, and fears I had about life back home, life after college. I looked back at the process, the mistakes I made, and the victories I had and I realized:

-that everything under the sun has its seasons,

-Everything truly does work out for those who love and seek God,

-His grace is sufficient,

-and that a man can plan his life, but God is the one who orders their steps.

I love when the word of God becomes life to a person. They aren't just words on pages anymore. I love moments like these.

So back to Sunday. It was exciting and nerve-wrecking all at the same time. So many things to remember, and so many things you forget. You feel awkward and confident in some areas, happy, and scared all at the same time. And I can already see how easy it is to join the masses of burnt-out, gossipy, average nurses. This is going to be hard. But I know that He is good. That all He does is good. So I put my life in His hands, Taking one day at a time. Because I am His alone and because His perfect love casts out all fear. I will set my eyes on Him. I know who I am in Him. No matter what happens, the mistakes I have made and will make, I am His and His alone. I am His nurse, His daughter, His friend, His beloved.

Oh and on Sunday, one of my patients called me "the sweet girl from Montana who they made a movie about." Yes I know, it sucks being as hot as Hannah Montana!!!!!!!

Love,

Jovy

The Eucharist

I am currently reading "Jesus Wants to Save Christians" and I am loving it. It gets better and better every chapter. Rob Bell uses the bible so much in his stories that it makes me hungry for more! In the chapters that I have been reading he talks about The Eucharist. He tells us that the Greek word for "Thankful" is from the verb eucharizomai-the Greek word eu, which means "well" or "good" and the word charizomai, which means "to grant or give." Which is where we get the English word Eucharist, the "good gift." He goes on describing the profound meaning of the Eucharist and how Jesus is the good gift and how we are also the good gift to the world.

He asks the question:
What does it look like for us to be a Eucharist for the people here and now? In other words what is the church supposed to look like? "What does it look like for us to break ourselves open and poor ourselves out for the healing of these people (the lost, the hungry, the angry, the rich, the poor) in this time and place?"
The Eucharist is people. The Eucharist is the church. We are the good gift.

I love this:
"Our destiny, our future, and our joy are in the Eucharist, using whatever blessing we've received, whatever resources, talents, skills, and passions God has given us, to make the world a better place. Disconnection from the suffering of the world, isolation from the cry of the oppressed, indifference to the poverty around us will always lead to despair." I don't ever want to be disconnected from my destiny. From the cry of those who are broken, fatherless, and hopeless. Because my life will mean nothing. It will lead to despair.

Because I know the truth that sets us free, I have gifts and talents that God has given me, and because I have the love of God in my heart, it is my destiny to be a Eucharist in my city, here, and now!

Because we were made for so much more!!!

Love you,
Jovy