Libby Warfield
About Mission Year
Mission Year is a year long urban ministry program focused on Christian service and discipleship. We take teams of young people, place them in an area of need, and help them to serve people and create community. We are committed to the command of Jesus to “love God and love people,” by placing the needs of our neighbors first and developing committed disciples of Christ with a heart for the poor. Learn more about our first year program…
Libby Warfield's Blog
Standing up for Justice / Jul 18, 02:26 PM
I am still processing the events which I saw early today but I feel that I need to blog about it…
I have always know that my service site is a very special place but today just proved that to me. The Open Door community willingly serves the homeless of Atlanta, and also fights for justice, I have never seen such an example of this fight as the one that Pete did today..
We were doing sack lunch distribution in the front yard like we always do when two police officers pulled their car into the drive way and started to approach one of our friends who is mentally ill.. They began to question him and he just willingly got up and followed them. Pete, who is a resident of the house saw this and walked up and just began to say, “what is the charge?”, “What has this man done?” over and over. The police said that Pete needed to stop or he would be arrested for obstruction of Justice. But Pete didn’t and therefore was arrested and taken to Jail..
Hearing Pete cry out and bring it to the attention of others that this man was unfairly begging arrested I just couldn’t help but be amazed. I was amazed at the way in which he felt that it was his duty to stand up for someone else, to bring it to the attention of others that this is and was not fair.
I just found myself praying that I would someday be able to do the same to stand up for an injustice that I see.
A Simple Girl / Jun 27, 03:41 PM
The other day we were sitting around as a team and some how started coming up with names for each other.. It was interesting what we each became, I am simple girl…
For me I just took that as a huge complement. I have always struggled with what it means to live simply what does that require, how does one carry out being simple in our country where who ever has the biggest and best things seems to win…
Through reading Richard Foster’s Book Freedom of Simplicity I just could identify so much, in the book he just breaks down first what it means to live a life of simplicity then how we can be challenged to live one on a personal, communal, and global level. It is his hope that people will realize what an impact their lifestyles have on those around them and how if we change it than we can leave the world a better place. “By culturing lives of simplicity, we multiply our opportunities to make an impact for good on the world around us.” (page 196)
As I read that quote I thought about the garden that our church planted in the neighborhood… It is a vegetable/ flower garden, the planting of it was done by those of the church and also of the community… It is amazing to walk past it everyday and see how much has changed and how all the plants are growing… I really have felt blessed to be a part of this project and help out…
It is my hope that I would be able to live a life of simplicity to help those who are around me live also in that way.. I wonder hope and pray that through the experiences that I’ve had this year, I would be better able to do that.. That I would be able to learn that simplicity means: sitting with people on their front porch, it means giving the last of your energy to the kids down the street who may need just a little attention, it means to put yourself aside and look at what you can do to help the community…
Some people just take longer... / Jun 17, 09:26 AM
I have been reminded that with some people it does take them longer to open up. Throughout this year we have been encouraged to pick people and develop relationships with them, some are easy and quick, some take more time and work. But in the end it is all worth it.
The other day I had one of those secrete “Yes” moments. As I was leaving my service site I saw that Winston was out side, now he can be kinda grumpy sometimes and is often found in the kitchen doing the dishes, well because that is what he likes to do. As I walked out I said “Bye Winston, see you Monday” like normal… I didn’t really expect a response more than his normal “Bye.” But instead he said “So where do you live again?” and for the next 5 or 10 min I had a wonderful conversation with him…
As I walked away I just felt my self saying “WOW” that was a really big thing which just happened… For once he was not grumpy, but instead a kind and loving sole who just wanted to talk..
Summer Program / Jun 5, 09:28 AM
Well after two weeks of planning and cleaning we have started the first ever Summer Program at our church.. The first two days have honestly been going well.. I am working with the 4th and 5th graders, which is different for me but it is fun.. Our goal for the program is to read as many of the Narnia books as possible…
The kids have been really enjoying the Magician’s Nephew which we started and I hope that we will slowly be able to turn our room into something of our very own Narnia…
Thank you for your prayers and support as we finish off our year here in Atl..
