Junior Youth Empowerment Program

One of the main activities the Baha'i community is focusing now on are programs aimed and designed to empower the junior youth and start them off on a lifetime of service. “Junior Youth” are classified as those who are between the ages of 12 and 15. It's those 3 crucial years of life that one is between being a child and being a youth. It's a time of physical, emotional, social and environmental changes, where the intellect of these young people are being challenged to comprehend the world around them.

The “objective is the empowerment of the participants through development of [their] spiritual perception, enhancement of the power of expression and the building of a sound moral structure...it moulds the capacities of junior youth for service to humanity.”

What does it mean to develop their “spiritual perception”, “enhance their power of expression” and “build a sound moral structure”?

My understanding of developing a spiritual perception is that these teens will be able to start seeing the world through spiritual eyes, through the eyes of virtues and that of our spiritual nature, and not through the eyes of materialism or the status quo. As for enhancing their power of expression, in most people's eyes, tweens, aren't the most eloquent of people, but they are in truth very intelligent and have all the tools to lead a community, they just need to leran to hone that sill; having a structure where the power of comprehension and communication is focused on, the teens will hopefully learn how to eloquently and effectively put their ideas on the table, how to express their feelings, and how to effectively make a change in their environment. Building a sound moral structure is that of helping them construct an environment around based on a moral standard that is conducive to their development. Morality is on a low in this world, so to have youth that have a moral basis in their life has the potential to change what we perceive as “normal” and accepted.

A class generally consists of arts and crafts, games, sports, as well as prayer and lessons based in moral values. This type of structure allows the pre-youth to have somewhere they can focus all their artistic and physical energy on.

“After a time he enters the period of youth in which his former conditions and needs are superseded by new requirements applicable to the advance in his degree. His faculties of observation are broadened and deepened, his intelligent capacities are trained and awakened, the limitations and environment of childhood no longer restrict his energies and accomplishments.” (Abdu'l-Baha)

I am currently helping out with a friend's junior youth group which consists of 6 non-Baha'i girls, full of energy and willingness to learn and participate. At times it's really hard to keep them focused, but then I have to remind myself that I am there as a friend, a mentor, not a teacher- that while they need structure, they also need companionship and friendship which is at times even more important.

I have found it hard to connect to the junior youth, so I made it a point to gain some sort of experience while here in Australia. I feel really lucky to have the opportunity to help with this class I'm in- the girl that started it is full of energy herself and knows exactly what she's doing through experience- hopefully with this experience, I'll be able to get involved and assist with a JY when I get back home.

The purpose of this program isn't to “convert” the youth, just like how getting enrollments in the Faith isn't the main purpose of teaching. The curriculum is based in Baha'i writings, but the main thing it aims to do is to set these young people, with so much vigor and fire, on a path of service to humanity for the rest of their lives.

They are they future, they are the ones that are going to shape our world- we're constantly handing the progress of our society to the next generation...don't you want that generation to be full of vitality, eloquence, passion, faith and understanding of the influence each and every person has on the world? I know I do.

Time is Dwindling Down

...and I'm getting depressed....sort of...

At first, the idea of going home was just heart wrenching;literally like someone was squeezing my insides. But as I've gotten more and more use to the idea of leaving this sacred land, the idea of going home is less traumatic.

I feel like being here has been so conducive to my growth, spiritual and otherwise, and what I've come to realize is it's because it's an environment that is loving, uniting, and it's infused with a sense of purpose. Yes it's been hard and yes there have been times I've wanted to strangle people out of frustration, but overall, this environment fosters unity, it emanates love and friendship, and it gives a focus to life. It's hard to explain, but as my time starts to run out, I'm trying to soak it in as much as possible (even writing this is making me sad and want to cry)...

The last couple weeks/months I was contemplating moving to Australia permanently to start work and maybe live here for a bit; but through talking to my adopted families and life-guiders here, I came to the conclusion that, even though I love Australia more than I ever thought I would, now is probably the time for me to go back to school. I've always wanted to go back when I was passionate about something, but at the rate I'm going, that may never happen...and in order to start a career and travel to my little hearts desire, I'll need to get some sort of credentials. Studying abroad is always an option too....too late to still hope Oprah will adopt me? Maybe....

Guiding at the Temple last Friday, I was able to talk to this really, really spiritual guy, who is obviously on a path of self-discovery and search. We had a full 2 hour conversation, talking about everything from industrialization to the purpose of family life to the unifying nature that is religion. He may not know it, but he's on a path and as much as he thinks he has found his place, he's not there yet, because he was drawn to the Temple and that is something. What I realized while talking to him, though I've realized this before, is how unique it is to have this opportunity- to have people COME to where I'm working specifically to learn about the Faith, and to be here to share and teach as much as possible is a true blessing and a wondrous learning experience. Whether people know it or not, they've come to the House of Worship, not by chance, but by something greater than they know. Hopefully I've been able to help plant a seed of interest to purely just learn. What other times will I have people coming somewhere specifically to learn and to explore? You bet I'm soaking it in like a sponge.

The period of the Fast has just concluded and it was a lovely experience to do it with close friends. It's one of those things that you don't necessarily know what the spiritual effects on yourself are, but you know that through detachment comes joy, and that cant be a bad thing. This coming weekend we have a friend that's going to take us to see an AFL (Australian Football League) game- I'm excited! Not too into football (remember, this is Australian football), but if it makes me more Australian, I'm down!

I've started a list of things I want to do before I go home, so the next month and a half will be quite packed. Hopefully when I get home I can have like an “info” night so people can come see pictures and hear stories and all try Vegemite.

Let the countdown begin....=/

Time for Spiritual Cleansing

Baha'is around the world are now observing the 19 Day Fast, where we abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset....

"It's...essentially a period of meditation and prayer, of spiritual recuperation, during which the believer must strive to make the necessary readjustments in his inner life, and to refresh and reinvigorate the spiritual forces latent in his soul. Its significance and purpose are, therefore, fundamentally spiritual in character. Fasting is symbolic, and a reminder of abstinence from selfish and carnal desires.."

First day was today- woke up at 6am and had breakfast with the housemates, then we all meditated and prayed together. It was so calming and centering- a great way to start off the day :) I felt rather good throughout the day- didn't feel particularly hungry or thirsty, was a bit tired though. I think it's going to take service to new heights.

"Fasting is of two kinds, material and spiritual. The material fasting is abstaining from food or drink, that is, from the appetites of the body. But spiritual, ideal fasting is this, that man abstain from selfish passions, from negligence and from satanic animal traits."

I can't believe I have only 3 more months left here.....

2n-4th Day in Samoa

Samoa is so lush- it rained everyday, without a doubt, while we were there, which inevitably makes a country gorgeous. I felt so at home, not just cuz of the climate and the greenery, and honestly I don't know why I felt at home, but I didn't feel like I stood out at all against the dark Samoans.

Second day we went to the flee market and shopped for lava lavas (the wraps that the Samoans wear- both men and women, really cool!) and jewelry made out of coconut. Needless to say, we ate a lot of coconuts. The flesh is the best- so tender and chewy :) Our first visit to the House of Worship was on the second day, but it wasn't until the third visit later on in the trip that I really felt I connected with the Temple, and really got to pray and meditate and listen to the birds melodic songs... the Temple is very simplistic, more so than the Sydney one, but it fits in so well with the surroundings and the nature that envelopes it. All the Houses of Worship are similar in design but very unique at the same time in that they are all very specific to the country and those cultures. We were able to meet the surrounding youth and families- so many children and junior youth, and a lot of singing, it made the environment so lively! The fathering that we went to, a 19 Day Feast, was conducted in both Samoan and English, and the translation was done by the youth- in their school they teach Samoan until about grade 3, so unless you speak it at home, you'll loose it, so it's a way to get the young to be in touch with their culture.

After Sunday service, Wendy took us to a beach (when we were going to a beach we would have to pay an entrance fee because we were entering into someones village and the chief would take that money (usually 10-20 Tala, so 5-10 AUS) and distribute it to the whole town), and had prepared traditional Samoan food- taro, bananas and coconuts are staple foods in Samoa. So we had fire roasted taro and bananas with a taro leaf with coconut cream spread, along with a chicken and coconut cream spread. Sooooo delicious. After that beach we went to a resort, called Virgin's Cove, and stayed in a fala (a hut made of coconut tree I think) on the beach. It was absolutely gorgeous. Mind you, it rained and was cloudy pretty much the whole time we were there, so although it was lovely, we couldn't really see the sky! It was actually the last day, when we were driving to the airport, that clear skies happened, so all my pictures of the Temple are a little hard to see because the background and the dome are the same color. Anyway, the beach was still enjoyable even though it was a bit overcast. Fish were literally swimming at our feet, and we didn't even need to go in deep to have them swim around! And the water was so incredibly clear- we could be 7feet in and still be able to see our entire body. You just have to see it to believe it.

The funniest thing happened when we were driving home, in the pouring rain, in a taxi. We were talking to the taxi driver, younger guy, about why we were in Samoa...etc, and he's like “Yeah, I think I saw you guys at the waterfall the other day” Hahahahaha! I was like “woahhhhh...smaaaaall country!”- if we were in any other country it would've been creepy, but since it's such a small island everyone knows everyone, it was so cool! And the day later, we bump into 3 more people we knew! =)

The day we were flying out of Samoa we got up early to say prayers in the Temple. 6am. It was so lovely because we saw the sky go from grey/blue to light blue. We didn't exactly see the light shine through the panels, but it was so awesome to see the Temple slowly light up from the inside. It was also so nice to just gaze out the doors and see a sea of vibrant green. So incredibly serene.

I went through island withdrawal the first week I was back in Sydney. I really do miss it. I can't believe it's been already a month since I was in Samoa.....how time flies by.