take away my unbelief!!

This school year, I feel like I have gone through so many undulations - times rejoicing in the summits, and times being sad in the valleys.  But even in the times of the valleys, I should be rejoicing... because of a simple but beautiful truth---> we are His children.  Children of the most High, children of a Heavenly Father who is perfect.

We should be rejoicing... ALWAYS!

So my cry today is for God to take away my unbelief, so that I may stand in awe of Him - despite the visible circumstances.

For the whole year, my thesis has been slowly devouring my sanity, and at times, my faith.... I kept on worrying about it, and because of excessive worry, I was paralized from actually doing anything.  I started in September thinking that I could empower the teenagers of downtown Hamilton into taking on their own projects.  I wanted to explore youth-serving-youth models.  I wanted to work together with a few of the teenagers so that in doing so, they could realize for themselves that they have so much potential.  I have seen their potential, and praise God for it because even though they are marginalized, God has abundantly blessed them.  Some are so talented in welding, drawing anime, fixing and creating new bicycles, organizing big events, dancing...

But research of this kind (community-based research) is so sensitive... as I have to take into account that they are vulnerable, and that THEIR desires and needs have to be met, first and foremost BEFORE my desires and needs as a researcher can be met.  After about 7 months of wrestling with this thesis, I just knew that I couldn't take this route anymore.

With 1 month left, I have to do 9 units worth of work to complete my thesis.  Sounds impossible? Nahhh, God has answered my prayer!  I have been telling myself that I have a passion for advocacy, and God has given me an opportunity - through my thesis - to see if this is true.  I will be conducting interviews with the teenagers from the program and educate them on the fact that THEY as CHILDREN or YOUTH, have the power to change.  The UN has constructed the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which expounds the rights that children have in this society.  Children are one of the most socially silenced group of people.  Their voices, their opinions are not taken into account when changing policy, when creating programs ---> get this ---> when these policies and programs are FOR the children/youth.  Does that not sound absurd?  Anyways, after telling the children/youth of their rights, I want to ask if the St. Dave's program has respected their views and taken their opinions into account.  Has there been change to this 20 year old program?  OR, ss the UN's CRC too lofty, and not applicable to programs?

After conducting these interviews, I want to sit with the leadership of St. Dave's to make aware some of the changes that the youth may want to see happen.  Change is a scary thing, especially since we are creatures of habit, but change for the better is one that should be embraced.  I could.... essentially advocate for the youth that I am serving in this way, so that change can be seen in the program that they attend on a weekly basis.

....wow.. I am seriously so blown away.  These ideas are not from me, but have originated from my Father :)

If you get a chance to read this, please pray for the youth.  They're so amazing, and they are God's precious children.  They've gone through really harsh circumstances, and yet they come in every Monday with smiles on their faces.