Archive for November, 2009

 

 

 

 

Tonight at our Eve of Thanksgiving Ruhi 1 Study Circle Kim registered as a Baha’i. She began Ruhi Book 1 in Minnesota, before moving to Tacoma.

 

It became clear, as she was answering this question from Section 8 on Prayer — “Why do we obey the laws of Baha’u'llah? — that she already believed in Baha’u'lah.

 

Last Sunday she participated in the children’s class on the Hilltop.

 

She has been attending devotionals in the community.

 

Bonita gave Kim prayer beads she purchased in Haifa during our Pilgrimage in April. -gw

 

 

Five commenters from India answer the question, "What does 'Unity in Diversity' mean"? Here is one answer. -gw

 

From World Citizen Sam, this item off his Facebook:

 

 

 

If Iran wants to increase awareness of the Baha'i Faith in the world, all they have to do is ban, even just for a day, a newspaper for publishing a picture of the Lotus Temple in India. Presto! 293 newspaper articles appear in every corner of the globe. -gw

UPDATE 1-Ban on Iran paper over Baha'i photo lifted-report

 PayamZamani – Visiting Haiti – "Can Education Be The Answer?" – a blog I wrote on my recent trip with MonaFoundation.org to Haiti. http://bit.ly/5ha4Gt

about 24 hours ago from web

Although the Mona Foundations schools are also co-educational, the focus is on educating the girl child, as is pointed out in Payam's blog post. -gw

 

My wife Gouya and I traveled to Haiti last month with a group of supporters of the Mona Foundation, which included "The Office" actor Rainn Wilson (who plays Dwight Schrute) and his wife Holiday Reinhorn. …

While the Mona Foundation sponsors coed institutions, it is primarily focused on educating girls and women. Educating girls is crucial. As mothers, women are the first educators, and studies show that once a girl gets an education, she has the opportunity to raise the standard of living for herself, her family, her community, and her country. According to GirlEffect.org, research in developing countries has shown the children of educated women are healthier, and more likely to be in school themselves. A woman or girl will reinvest 90 percent of her income into her family, while a man will reinvest only 30 to 40 percent. An extra year of primary school raises a girl's lifetime wages by 10 to 20 percent, and an extra year of secondary school raises a girl's lifetime wages by 15 to 25 percent. Focusing money on educating girls is important because for every development dollar spent, girls typically receive less than 2 cents.

The Mona Foundation was named for Mona Mahmudnizhad—a 16 year old girl who taught children in orphanages how to read and write and in 1983 was executed by the Iranian government because she was a member of the Baha’i Faith (www.bahai.org). In her memory, the foundation supports schools and orphanages with a specific focus on those dedicated to education of women and girls. In a speech to the foundation supporters on the trip, Mona Founder and President Mahnaz Javid, said, “As we continue [Mona Mahmudizhad’s] unfinished work in her honor, we will continue to do all we can to be the partner to social economic development projects, like this, that will ultimately raise the leaders of this country.”

 

 

 

It's been cold and rainy for days in Tacoma. That's not really news. It is November, after all. Nevertheless, it has me pining for July. The last weekend in July is especially good. Statistically speaking it is the precise time of year when rain is less likely to happen. Rain can't fall on the Baha'i parade and slow down our progress. But these images from Ethnic Fest back in hot and dry July are pleasant to bear in mind as we pursue countless opportunities in our follow-up to the last Intensive Program of Growth on the Hilltop.

 

 

Last Thursday night was another night of confirmation in the neighborhood. I went back to Coach Charles again. The door opened and the living room was full. There was Charles' daughter and grandson. There was a young man in down jacket and du-rag with his 8 months pregnant partner. He was born in Israel. The mother of his child is of Sikh descent. Charles had already introduced him to the Faith just as I arrived. We carried on the conversation another 90 minutes. And, oh, by the way, I played a little Dawnbreaker Collective, the track entitled "Good morning, Israel," on my iPod dock. Rainy weather, good times. -gw

This is my “people get ready” set. How do you get ready? -gw

 

 

It doesn't take much to close down a newspaper in Iran. -gw

 

The Feast of Qawl (Speech) was this evening. We celebrated victories regarding the setting up of classes for children and pre-youth in our community. -gw 

 

 

 

Here a proud mom is taking a picture with her phone of her kids on the sofa opposite. It seems to me that Abdu'l-Baha is streaming goodness into the room at the same time.