Dear young people of Melbourne,
Hope is a gift.  God gives the gift of hope to us in Jesus Christ through the power of his Spirit.  This gift has the power to transform you into vibrant, dynamic catalysts for hope in our society.  God calls you to be a gift of hope to your friends and peers as you walk with them on the journey.

Teema Thomas

"Once I've witnessed Christ I want to bring this joy and happiness to others, to be a witness to Him in my daily life."

"Why was all this happening?"

Twenty-three year old Teema was diagnosed with cancer last year.  A little while back, Teema had made the decision to resign from her job and undertake a year of missionary work with Jesus Youth, an International Catholic movement. 

It was when Teema returned home to the US, prepared for a big year of missionary work abroad, that she received the diagnosis of thyroid cancer.  Why would the Lord send her this trial now?

As she prayed to understand the Lord's will she remembers sensing Him telling her "even gold has to be tested in fire."

Though it was a shock, she belives the Lord has prepared her for that moment through the Jesus Youth training which had strengthened her faith.  The trial brought her still closer to the Lord.  She considers it now as "a beautiful time of prayer and preparation." She underwent radioactive treatment and surgery at the end of September last year.  She is now completely free of cancer.  "It was only becasue of me knowing the Lord that I was able to get through that time."

Teema says hers was a "small trial" compared to the trials of others and she felt connected to those who were suffering.  She learnt to cling to the Lord: "everything we have is a gift from Him.  All that we have should be given back to Him.  We are nothing without the Lord."