On 25th July Libby Pollard travels to Mexico to help lead a group of 14 young people from the North East building houses and working with local Mexican children as part of the YWAM Homes for Hope project.  Libby writes:

"Last year Stephen Riley (my boss whilst in Dependance - read my story about that) went out to Ensenada, Mexico which is the tiny west strip below California, to work on a YWAM (Youth With a Mission) project, called Homes of Hope with people from all over the world.

 

Homes of Hope is a project which consists of a huge team building a house for a family who are in such poverty and help them start and new life. Stephen was so touched and inspired by what he had done he wanted to take a group of young people out there to do similar projects and have a life changing/enhancing experience. When I found out what his plans were i asked if I could go and he then asked me to go as a leader and help organise the trip.

We advertised the trip which is called M10 (Mexico, 10 days, 10 young people) around the north east for 16-18 year olds. We interviewed all applicants as we had more than 10 but ended up asking 14 to join us! We have a great team and having done prep days and outings together,  the group has really jelled and it's all really exciting.

Whilst we are out there we are taking part in a number of different projects. We will be part of the Homes of Hope project for two days (as thats how long it takes to build one house), we are organising sport on the beach for the local kids, helping with a huge skate competition which gets loads of kids involved and professionals from Mexico and California come and support us. It's a chance to do something that the local kids are really interested in and give them the opportunity to hear the gospel, we are visiting an orphange and doing workshops, sports, games etc for the children over three days. There are other things planned for us but as I am learning, Mexicans are very chilled back and final details will be planned there and then. Basically we are going out there, meet kids who are living in serious poverty in different forms and sharing God's love.

I am really excited about the trip and really praying that everyone whos going has a genuine life experience that will affect their future. Im hoping just to learn new things, meet new people, be inspired and to be honest I'm really looking forward just spending time with God and doing God's work. I love travelling and experencing new cultures, places, meeting new people and making connections. I so excited just to be somewhere different.

It's costing me £1300 to go on this trip and I have been really fortunate in receiving some generous donations that have helped me nearly reach my target (thank you!).  I've been working in a shop since Easter and I should just manage the rest, though any last-minute donations would be most welcome, especially as I need to save up for YWAM's Discipleship Training School starting in January 2010.

On the 25th/26th July I am flying out to California and then crossing the border into Mexico untill the 6th Aug.  I am slightly nervous about all the responsibility as a leader I have been given, mainly because I'm only a little older than those in the group so please pray for confidence! I am worried about swine flu and what could happen so please pray for protection for the whole group. Please pray for a safe journey there and back. Pray for protection for every single person on the trip. Please pray for the parents as this is a big deal for a lot of parents, so just for comfort and peace. Pray for everyone going just to have the most amazing life changing time and for God to be known to them even more than they know now.

Here is a photo from Stephen and Jon's trip last year, and one from one of our prep days!