New LA Down Low:

Hi to all of my supporters and continual thanks for making this adventure possible for me. Its been a very busy last couple of weeks so i'ma give ya all the down low on whats been up lately:)

We started meeting in our outreach teams and hammering out some hard-core learning about our country...mine being Mexico. We will be spending our first month in Mexico City and the second month in Veracruz. Just a lil info on Mexico, lol...you'll be surprised to know that i was 1 of 2 people to get all the states right on our GEOGRAPHY quiz lol!!!! haaaaaayyy! haha. get it. there are 31 states within Mexico and most of them are rather crime-ridden. There is a ton of trafficking weapons IN to Mexico from the US and then in exchange...US gets Mexico's drugs. I know...lovely huh? There is hope though, and one of the reasons for hope is that multiple YWAM bases (including ours and our own students) have gotten prophecies and visions concerning Mexico and an upcoming revival within the churches there and within the hearts of the people living there. So that is very encouraging and exciting! However, it still remains a very dark and spiritually oppressive country. We learned about the religious history of Mexico and it explains alot about the present violence and oppression that still exists. The country was founded by differing Indian tribes (Myans and...i forget, wupps) but they worshipped many different gods that they offered human sacrifices to in order to spill their blood out for the gods. Have you ever seen Apocalypse? It paints a very gruesome picture for you. and now Mexicans worship the goddesse of the dead. It is a very largely practiced cult, both in Mexico City and Veracruz. The country has a very corrupt justice system which is infested with dirty cops and politicians. Kidnapping for ransom is a very big problem there, and the cops are often involved.
Yeah, so...there is a lil bit of what we will be facing and walking into...but i share this with you so that you can be praying and entering with me into battle within the spiritual realm.

We have been learning in class about Spiritual Warfare, countered with God's Truths and Power; as well as Cultural Ministry, and this week's speaker is focusing on Servanthood. Good stuff! I loved the week on Spiritual Warfare b/c the speaker didn't focus JUST on satan...she would counter it with Godly truth. the main thing that stuck with me was the concept (truth) that we, as God's children, automatically are blessed with God's power to claim authority over satan and his agenda. God has given ALL of us the authority to trample on satan's head. We just have to CHOOSE to believe this and choose to live it out. And...if we choose to rather believe satan's lies that he plants in our heads, we are giving him his power. He has no power over us but that which we allow him to have. very eye-opening stuff! loved it.

We have also started to go to our "Ethnic churches"...ours being a Mexican church. its pretty tight, being able to listen to a sermon all in Spanish! I'm learning alot of new Spanish! Its so cool to be able to worship God in another language and culture. And then there is the bonus of always getting Mexican food afterwards:) I got the hook up on this one!

So...thats the recent down low of LA life. and my big sista is comin out to see me this weekend so i'm extremely stoked about that. she just decided tonight lol. I love random adventures! Please keep praying for me...the LA base...and Mexico with me! I covet all of your prayers and encouragement. Love to all...