Libby is in Mexico
2 May 2010:
One really cool story from Mexico city. We went to this park and it was very spiritually dark. There were witches practicing witchcraft, transexuals everywhere, huffers (which are people who sniff paint thinner from cloth all the time) and just not a very nice place. Anyway we started to just sing worship songs and praise Jesus, and read the bible in the park. The witches saw this and started casting curses on us, and the transexuals starting hurling abuse at us. We chatted to them for a long time and some were really respondant some weren't. Anyways we started talking to his lady who was very calm and she was asking about us and what we do. Someone asked if they could pray after about an hour of talking to her. Within about 15 seconds of praying she hit the floor and started screaming. we were like whhhaaatt. Then we realised she was possessed. Her voice changed, her eyes rolled back and she was hissing. We were like ok, lets cast it out. We were aking what its name was and it was saying diablo, which is devil in spanish. Anyway a long while later, she calmed down and then fell asleep. Some of her friends came over and told us to leave her.
So then 2 weeks later we were randomly doing a production in a little park near where we were staying nowhere near the other park. We realised she was sat watching us. So after the production we went to speak to her. She was very calm, unlike last time and she said she was sober for the first time in months and randomly wanted to come to this park. She never normally comes to this area. We chatted to her and prayed for her again. This time no devil attack. Then we invited her to church. Church came but she didn't. We were like ok well there's nothing we can do. Half way through worhsip she turns up - we got excited. A girl from our dts was preaching and she spoke on the power of prayer. At the end she asked if anyone wanted to have this relationship with Jesus. Straight away she lifter her hand fell to her knees and burst into tears. It was so incredible and emotional! we all prayed for her and she's going to continue to go to the church! AMAZING!!!!
29 March 2010:
So every Wednesday we go to Zona Norte, Tijuanas red light ditsrict. We always split into two teams and go on a prayer walk around the main area and the other go to a near by park and give soup out to the homeless. 2 weeks ago there was this guy who you noticed straight away as his left leg was in the shape of an "N". He had been in a car accident and broken his leg in several places. Obviously because he can't afford health care his leg has been left to heal on its own without any cast or support. His leg is truly a mess. So one of the guys who was with me said would let's go pray for him. So we got talking asked him his name, Pedro and asked how he hurt his leg. He barely spoke and he always looked at the floor and his posture was very hunched over. We talked more and then asked if we could pray for his leg. He wasn't too bothered either way. So we prayed for healing, and then i felt i had to pray for his heart and his life. He started to cry and he removed his hat and started to lift up his body and his head. We carried on praying until we felt it was time to stop. He was overwhelmed. He said he felt this peace and his heart was beating faster. You could tell he wanted to leave so we said that we would keep praying for him and we would be back here again. So this week we went again and I saw him stood at the steps, but he wasn't unable to walk up the steps because of his foot and now he only had one crutch. I ran over to him shouting Pedro...he said to me in spanish...you remembered my name! I said of course, and he just smiled. I got him some soup and then chatted for a while. I asked him why he only had one crutch and he said the police took it from me. 3 or 4 times a day the police always turn up whereever we are and take things from us and burn them like clothes we arent wearing or food and burn it becasue they think we stole it, and for sme reason they took one of my crutches. I was sickened. What sort of person does that. But that week a girl in my DTS injured her foot and was on crutches. So i ran over to her and told her the situation and asked if she would like to give a crutch to him. She didn't hesitate so i ran back over to pedro with it and he was shocked and was like woooow gracias gracias. But compared to two weeks ago he has changed so much. He said he has been reading the Bible every day, he has been praying for us and what we do, he said he hasn't been in trouble or stole or done drugs, his totally posture was different. He said that because of his leg he is less rebellious because he physically can't do the things he used to and that he wants to change his life into something good. He seemed so much happier and it was amazing to see the difference! His leg still isn't healed but his heart and his life are amazingly different!
So yesterday we were meant to leave for India, but right not were not going to India anymore. The US embassy would only give the Americans a visa to get into India. So we had to make the decision of whether to split the team or keep us all together. Then going via Thailand was an option. They would give us all visas. But the cost rose and some didn't have enough money as it was so again we had to make the decision to stay or split. We had a break and time to pray and seek God. We voted and the outcome was split. This actually meant that some people would have had to go home due to finances. We had lunch, prayed and met again. More discussion. And we felt that we were to stay together. I originally wrote split because I feel that God did want us to be there and had so much to show us an so much for us there. But I felt splitting the team was wrong and others did too. But through this whole process i have learnt so so much and seeked God more than ever. Through this whole DTS i have changed so much so whatever happens i'm thankful for that!
So now we are doing our outreach around mexico. So going to major cities like mexico city maybe monterry and then tribal areas and remote places! So it's still going to be absolutely amazing!
I was suprisingly upset about india because before i would never have chosen to go. i has a lot of stereotypical view points but those have been changed and i have developed sucha heart for it, and one day I will go. So yeah thats my news! everything here is still really awesome! just love it! A massive thank you to all who have been praying for me and financially supporting me and supporting my family! It's definitely needed and and noticed so thank you!
Prayer requests:
Some people in our group still need a bit of money so just prayer that that will come through.
That we have a safe outreach
Peace and guidance for my leaders
Just more and more of God and awesome times!
Thank you!
Much love Libby xxx
1 March 2010:
So the past 2 months have been incredible! I am absolutely loving what I am doing and learning and experiencing! I am doing well, all healthy, not home sick and just loving it!
I am now in Tijuana which is right next to the border of California so it;s quite a lot more dangerous than Ensenada. Simply because it's at the border but it means we have even more amazing ministries! We have had so many amazing speakers. I feel very priviledged to have had such awesome speakers, such as Tim Pratt on Team Building, Brenda Lewis on Destiny, Dean Sherman on Spiritual Warfare and Todd Rutkowski on How to Grow. I have learnt way more than I expected and I can see how much I have grown. It's really exciting!
We are busy all the time and I have so many stories to share but I will just share two. -The carnaval and Zona Norte.
The carnaval was 5 days long and took up most of the city. Its a big event. But quite different to ours. It's basically a massive promotion for alcohol, drugs and sex. They were advertised everywhere. So we decided to have a free cafe running, where we built a stage put on music and danced and performed dramas. It was really cool and a lot of people were prayed for! We then went to the middle of the carnaval and the dance group performed on one of the main stages and it drew a huge crowd. It was a really cool experience. We then took a big speaker and just started dancing on the street and again it drew a big crowd and we had dance battles with people watching and fire displays and it stood out because we were girls dancing but we were dressed! ha! but really all the other girl dancers were wearing practically nothing and doing very degrading things. So we definitely stood out and people heard more about God and what YWAM does! So it was really really cool.
The other really impacting thing was Zona Norte which is the red light district in Tijuana! We worked in red light district in Ensenada but that was nothing to what we were about to experience. We went in a big group and basically just prayer walked around the main area where the prostitutes wait. I was not prepared to see what I saw when I turned that corner. About 40 girls aged 12 up lined up against the wall of the whole street. All wearing nothing, with huge "stripper" heals. It kinda took my breath away. And they were so young. It broke my heart. We walked around asking the girls if they wanted any soup we had made. Some took it some didn't. We spoke to some and they were so lovely and so pretty but so broken. As we were walking around I could feel this heaviness on me and it felt so dark. I asked others if they could feel it and they all could. It was intense. The more we walked the more girls there were and we saw girls leave with men and come back after a job. It really wasn't nice. But I was also pleased God was showing me other peoples' realities. It was hard to see it but also very good. In the middle of the main streets are two clubs that I would call the devils pits. They basically take children off the streets, kill them and sell their organs. I actually couldn't believe what I was hearing when I was told. But that's why we find it so important to go to these places and simply pray. When we finished the prayer walk I just burst into tears. I was totally broken for all those girls and the children and their families. It was all so spiritually dark. But at that time God spoke to me in so many ways. Serioulsy all night he was revealing things to me and I found it awesome how I was breaking for these people and yet God was still speaking to me and my life. We go to Zona Norte every wednesday so prayer for that would be awesome!
In 4 weeks time we are going to India. Im so excited for it I think it's going to be amazing! Hard but amazing! We are going to Pune, Goa and Calcutta. We are working in schools, HIV orphanages, the Mother Teresa foundation and much more. We are there for 8 weeks and as a group need $48000 (dls) to go!
So yeah I am having incredible life changing experiences and I'm so thankful for all your prayers and financial help to get me here! THANK YOU!
Prayer requests:
Money. I still need to raise about £1500 to go to India! We are doing group fundraisers too but any gifts would be massively appreciated. If anyone would like to give a donation please contact me on facebook or at itslibby@hotmail.co.uk
After DTS: Prayer that God will reveal what he wants me to do after my DTS as right now I have no idea.
My family: I know they miss me but pray that they have peace and also financially for them too as my parents would love to come out for my graduation but it will cost a lot.
Just prayer that God will work even more in my life. In ways I can't imagine.
Thankyou! Much love!
Libby
1 Feb 2010:
It has been a month already. That is ridiculous! Time is going so fast and feel like I only arrived yesterday! But I LOVE IT HERE!!!! I am so happy I decided to come back and God is working SO much in my life and I am excited for everything to come!
So each week we have a different speaker, with a different topic and we basically get discipled. The speakers are from all over, with different stories and different backgrounds and have so much to share. Our speakers so far have been Rob McAlpine, Linda Walker and Randy Bixby (who heads up IHOP). I have gained way more than i thought I would have already and many people in the group feel the same. God is really working in peoples lives and changing them forever. Me too and its awesome! I am learning so much and learning new things too and it make me excited for the future!
We then have the arts aspect. Each week there is a different focus and then we choose the art we want to focus on more. We have had photography, drama, dance and worship. I am going to choose dance as my focus. The arts have been awesome so far. We have been really priviledged and had really talented professionals teach us and the dance for me was the best. Our teacher, Edgar is an awesome dancer and in two weeks time I am dancing with him in the Ensenada festival!!!!
During the week we also have local outreach, which varies from working with the homeless, the prostitutes, painting churches etc. Last week we had really bad weather and heavy rain and wind which caused a lot of damage to our base, but that was nothing compared to the damage to peoples homes, we we went out into a really poor area and handed out food and dry warm clothes and shoes etc. That was a pretty cool day, as we got to pray for loads of families and made connections with them and told them about our homes of hope ministry and they were really receptive. We played football with all the kids and we also managed to get 3 out of 7 vehicles stuck in the mud. One truck took an hour to get out which made the locals highly amused!
So its all going amazingly well and I am really enjoying it! I love living in a community (it suits me), sometimes annoying and stressful but a learning curve!
Another really exciting thing is that the out reach phase, (which is two months long) is happening in India! I am really excited about this, a little nervous too but its going to be an awesome opportunity and also very testing! I am excited to see what God is going to do when we are out there!
Thank you to everyone who has been praying for me and supporting me, it means SO SO much! So THANKYOU!
Prayer requests! :-
+ not to feel home sick as this is the longest I have been away from home and I want to enjoy it all!
+ protection and good health
+ finances, as I have tuition fees to pay and I need to get more money for India! Any help would be much appreciated.
+ For my parents and family, that they dont miss me too much or worry and to just be at peace with me being here.
+ and just for God to work even more in my life and for me to get everything i can out of it!
If you would like to contact me email me at itslibby (at) hotmail.co.uk or facebook or you can ask my parents for my mailing address! I would love to get letters!!! really i would! :)
An update from Libby:
Libby is now safely in Mexico, here are some initial photos
 
Ywam base mexico Libby in the dorm at the YWAM base
On the 2nd of January 2010 I am flying out to California, then driving down to Ensenada Mexico where I will be living for the next 3 months doing my DTS (Discipleship Training School) with YWAM (Youth with a Mission). I went in the summer to work on 'Homes of Hope' and totally fell in love with the people and the place and decided to go back for a while!
I will be in the lecture phase for 3 months, learning about Jesus, the Bible, and building on my relationship with God. There will be a team of us who will be using our talents in the creative arts, creating dramas and dances and photography! We then use these tools in outreach. I don't know the full details as it's a little bit of "one of those go and find out things" so I will keep you updated when I'm there!
I will be away from home for 5 months, the longest I have ever gone and the longest my parents won't have seen me! I'm really excited but naturally as it gets closer I am more nervous and will miss home I think! | 
