От: Roland St-Onge [roland@netrover.com]
Отправлено: понедельник 12 февраля 2001 8:05
Кому: bahai-spiritual-development@egroups.com
Тема: [Bahб'н Spirit] Fw: Moving & historic journeys to Haifa
`Hello Dear Friends,
I know that many of you are also on Baha'i Discuss, but those who are not, I had to send you that story, I just couldn't help it! I was so enlighten when I read it, it was a must for me to share that feeling with other Baha'is.
Roland
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike M." <m9@interlog.com>
To: "Baha'i Discuss" <Bahai-Discuss@BCCA.Org>
Sent: Sunday, February 11, 2001 8:47 PM
Subject: Fw: Moving & historic journeys to Haifa
> Below: part of a forwarded account by Susan Sheper,
> an Auxiliary Board member in Kinshasa, Democratic
> Republic of Congo (DRC), describing the emotional
> impact of, and incidents from, the recent meeting
> of the Universal House of Justice with Councillors
> and Auxiliary Board members. Mike
The 5 people from the east of Congo were traveling only with travel documents and there was some hesitation about whether or not they could let them in to the country with no passports. Finally the immigration officer said "well you know, if it iswith the Baha'is then there isn't any problem".
Instructions were then given to all the immigration officers to facilitate the Baha'is entry. There was some World Centre staff waiting to welcome us on the other side of immigration. They said that the grass on the slopes of Mount Carmel was vibrating in anticipation of our arrival.
Our first destination in Israel was Netanya where we had to spend 2 nights before heading to Haifa. The look of sheer delight on the faces of Papa Lomo (a 76 year old man from Mbandaka) and Iwassa Bolinga (from Boende - a small town in the middle of the Equateurian forest) as they sat in the front seats of the bus that took us up the freeway from Tel Aviv to Netanya was worth a thousand words. They, of course had never been on a vehicle even remotely resembling the tour bus we were on and had certainly never seen a road like the one we were travelling on. So many of them commented "we have left the world we know and we are in a different world".
Once in our hotel in Netanya, our group decided to meet in the lobby at 8pm to go out to find some dinner. I thought that at least for the first time, I'd better help them out since they had no idea how to find a restaurant and how or what to order.
We all went to drop our things in our rooms and at 8 o'clock we were in the lobby - all except Mpulondo. We waited a little while, then I called up to his room. The phone rang a few times, then there was a hesitant hello (he had never used a phone before). I asked him if he was planning to join us since we were all gathered in the lobby and ready to go and eat. He said "Madame, I made a mistake". "What's the matter?" I asked. Mpulondo replied, "I forgot to ask you how to use the elevator. I'm stuck up here in my room and I have no idea how to get down." At that I said "Wait there, I'm coming to get you."
I found the poor fellow, an Auxiliary Board member, Director of the Provincial Institute, standing helplessly in the hall staring at the elevator, a look of exasperation on his face. One quick lesson, and he was his own man again. But it really opened my eyes to how much we take for granted.
On the streets of Netanya we were wooed by the restaurant owners who hadn't seen any tourists for some time because of the recent trouble in Israel. Netanya itself had been the victim of a series of bombings only days before our arrival.
We settled on felafels (Middle eastern sandwich containing fried chick pea balls) which quickly got renamed by the Congolese who are always quick to make a joke and especially when it means a play on words. So felafel became "faire l'affaire" because felafels fell well within their daily food budget.
Sunday was a free day which I think for our group was a bounty and a chance to get at least a little bit acclimatised to this new world. It was fortunate that we arrived in Israel a couple of days early, because had we gone straight to Haifa, the sight of the World Centre may just have been too much.
Breakfast at the hotel that day, for anyone who was not a Baha'i, must have been quite an experience. The restaurant was full of Africans, most quite unsure of what it was that they were eating - but that did not stop them from eating A LOT!!
More people arrived throughout the day: Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, St. Martin, Haiti, New Zealand, Australia. It was only possible to understand the love that immediately existed between all these people in the light of Baha'u'llah's message.
A large group of french speaking Central Africans gathered in the afternoon to practice singing a song called "Prisonier d'Akka" (The Prisoner of Akka). Being African does not mean you CAN sing, it only means you LIKE to sing--and Prisonier d'Akka never sounded worse -but boy we were having fun. We certainly wern't named to the Auxiliary Board because of our voices and we proved it that afternoon!
January 8, 2001. Noon took ages to arrive. That was the time the bus was to come to take us to Haifa. The buses were organised by hotel, so we were all split up at that point since we were all staying at different hotels. Laetitia and I arrived at the Beth Shalom hotel where there was a World Centre volonteer there waiting for our bus. Everything was, of course, perfectly organised. Special personalised briefcases were waiting for us full of Conference information, a pad of writing paper, a gift of photos of the Holy Places and even a pen inscribed with the name of the Conference!! I was overwhelmed!! I can't even imagine what Papa Lomo was thinking!
Laetitia and I quickly dumped our baggage in our room and headed straight for the Pilgrim House. From there to the Shrine of the Bab, walking through what the Beloved Guardian had purposed as preparatory gardens for entry into the Holy precincts. It is not of this world and yet it is fundamental to this world and everything that happens in it. I found myself asking, how could I have the bounty of being here AGAIN! This Place. This Holy of Holies. I felt like a child who had eaten his fill and was now stuffing his pockets with extra candy. It was bounty upon bounty being there with my Congolese friends.
Back in the pilgrim house, it was still very difficult to assimilate that all these people were Auxiliary Board Members. Of course the number and variety was staggering. A group of us including Congolese, Tongans, Sai Panese and South
Africans all went out for felafels together. We felt we had known each other for years.
For the next 5 days we were all divided into groups of about 25 and treated to a mini-pilgrimage which included visits to the Prison in Akka, the House of Abbud, the House of Abdu'llah Pasha, the upper terraces, the Centre for the Study of the Holy Texts, the new visitor information centre (for visiting dignitaries, study groups and journalists) The Archives building, The House of the Master, The Seat of the Universal House of Justice and on the final day, Bahji and the Shrine of Baha'u'llah.
It felt very right that we started at the prison and finished at Bahji, that majestic Palace worthy of housing the King of the Worlds. At the prison, we stood across from the window of the cell of Baha'u'llah. There was a tearful and reverent attitude amongst all of the people in the group. We were also taken into the courtyard of the prison where the story of Mirza Mihdi's tragic fall through the skylight was told. The visit to the room in the House of Abbud where Baha'u'llah revealed the Kitab-i-Aqdas was also very moving; to see the level of reverence paid by people of every nationality towards that house and especially that room.
Our group had 7 people from the D.R.Congo and the commentary was in English so I was on tap for simultaneous translation. This continued throughout our visits. One of the remarkable things about the arranged visits to the Holy Places was the organisation of the groups. On pilgrimage, you are in one group of the same people from the beginning to the end of the pilgrimage. On this special visit, the organisers had arranged mini groups (ours, for example was 7 people from Congo) who were with a different larger group each day, so that we all had exposure to as many different people and nationalities as possible. For example, the first day, we were with some Canadians, Tongans, Croatians and Germans. The second day, people from Haiti, New Caledonia, Albania, Turkey and Mongolia. And so on, each day, a new group. We were all amazed at how smoothly this experiment in diversity worked!
The next day we started at the top of the terraces for the descent to the base of the arc, where we were to cross over to the Centre for the Study of the Holy Texts. The terraces are exquisite beyond description. The flowing lines, the gurgling water, the vivid and multiple colours, the perfume of the flowers combined with the spectacular view of the Bay of Haifa looking straight toward Bahji create a atmosphere of heightened spirituality suitable to it's position on the Mountain of God. On those terraces, everywhere one looks, there is perfection. All one hears is the falling water and birds rejoicing. Every Terrace offers a different view of the Shrine of the Bab and the Arc.
We walked down as far as the Archives building then back up from behind it and over to the Centre for the Study of the Texts for a brief tour. The friends were awed by the perfection of design and construction of this beautiful building. We were then led back down to the Visitor's information centre which is located under the Hatzionut bridge. Walking in, one is overwhelmed by the dignity of the place. One is met in the entrance hall by a hologram of a turning globe projected on to a large slab of glass upon which is engraved "The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens", so the principle teaching of Baha'u'llah confronts people in a very powerful way as soon as they enter the building. In the ajacent reception rotunda, the words "Your Lord cherishes in His heart the desire to behold humanity as one body and one soul" are inscribed around the base of the ceiling. the rest of the rooms in the complex are dedicated to exhibitions outlining the life and teachings of Baha'u'llah.
Returning towards the Shrine of the Bab, I ran into one of the Baha'is from Congo. He was literally speechless. He could not find any words to say how he was feeling. It was a moving encounter.
I am now going to skip to January 14, the day that we climbed from the bottom of the terraces up to the Shrine of the Bab. If I give the details of all the days, this will just get too long. This day, January 14, was for me, probably the highlight. The bus took us to the base of the mountain and we were told that photography would not be permitted and that we were requested to climb the mountain in silence and a reverent attitude. I was so grateful for this. Taking pictures and having pictures taken all around you really takes away from the experience (I can say this very objectively because I am a photographer).
At the base of the terraces, we were greeted by a member of the World Centre staff who reminded us of Baha'u'llah's Tablet of Carmel and also what Baha'u'llah said about the terraces - that this was the avenue of the Kings and rulers of the earth and that they would ascend and circumambulate the Shrine of the Bab. He then said in a very significant way that the House of Justice had decided that we should be the first to ascend those terraces. I was doing simultaneous translation at the time and was just thinking that it was difficult to translate and feel the full significance of the Words at the same time, when suddenly, the full significance of the Words hit me square in the heart, and I was unable to continue translating for the rest of the talk. I was suddenly overwhelmed by the whole event, by it's historical nature, by the love of the Universal House of Justice and the incredible gift It had given us to be there. I cannot explain the emotion that overtook me so unexpectedly and was grateful for Laetitia's hand which held mine and helped me to keep my balance as
we climbed the terraces - black and white, south and north together - up to the Shrine of the Bab.
We circumambulated the Shrine in a slow, reverent, highly diverse and highly unified circle of humanity, and then continued up over Terrace 11, which is the Hatzionut bridge. (I say bridge, because it is structurally a bridge over Hatzionut Avenue, it is also the bridge that links the lower terraces and the Shrine of the Bab to the upper terraces. But when you are on Terrace 11, there is no sense whatever of being on a bridge. You are in a garden, a park of outstanding beauty and perfection - and peace) I slowly regained my equilibrium as we walked across the Arc and joined the gathering crowd that was standing in line to enter the Intenational Teaching Centre Building for a historical tour.
The building is, of course, exquisite. There is a 9-pointed star skylight in the main concourse which introduces a sparkling play of light on the walls and floor below. We were led into the Council Chamber of the International Teaching Centre - I think everyone was very much aware that this was where our "Boss" made its decisions and that the directives that we as Auxiliary Board members receive come from the wise and loving circle of people who sit around the beautiful round mahogany table that was in front of us. The windows give a spectacular view of the Shrine of the Bab and the Arc with the azure blue Mediterranean sea as a backdrop. The room is presided over by a beautiful colour portrait of Abdu'l-Baha. Our tour continued to the library, an exquisite wood panelled room leading out on to an upper balcony overlooking the Arc, then on to a multipurpose room, the communications nerve centre of the ITC, and a beautiful 390 seat auditorium. Everything was the essence of dignity and perfection.
We were led back down to a lower floor (there are 9 of them!! only 2 of which are visible from the outside) where we were told we would receive refreshments. I was again moved by an inexplicable emotion as we entered a large dining area filled with row upon row of tables, all set with plates, cups and saucers. Plates of home-made cakes and cookies filled the centre of the tables. Teams of people were busily serving coffee and tea to those seated and clearing and re-setting the tables as the diners left. The people serving were accountants, translators, communications experts, electrical engineers, secretaries and so on. I was so touched by the love expressed in that gesture of serving refreshments (to 1000 people) and the dignity in which it was done that I found myself having difficulty eating anything.
When we finished eating, we were ushered to yet another part of the building where an exhibition honouring the Hands of the Cause had been installed. It was very personal and offered a glimpse into the diversity of the people who were named Hands and the one thing that they all had in common - their devotion and service to the Faith.
The afternoon was dedicated to a Devotional programme hosted by the Universal House of Justice in the main concourse of It's seat, in which a message by the House to the Conference was read, outlining the three major areas of focus for the upcoming 5 year plan: the further development of Training Insitutes, Systematic growth and Individual Initiative. The prayers and readings were in English, Persian, French, Kannada (an Indian language) Spanish and Russian. The final part of the devotionals required us all to gather on the steps of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice facing the golden-lit Shrine of the Bab. There, in the twilight, Hand of the Cause of God, Mr. Ali Akbar Furutan chanted the Tablet of Visitation in Arabic and Mr. Glenford Mitchell (member of the Universal House of Justice) said it in English. It was the perfect end to a perfect day.
I walked back across the Arc, past the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, the Centre for the Study of the Holy Texts and cross back behind the Archives building to get to the Hatzionut Bridge terrace in order to cross over to the Shrine of the Bab. What my eyes saw that evening, under a perfect deep indigo velvet sky with stars sparkling like diamonds and the moon shining down in a smile upon the floodlit Shrine surrounded by lamps dotting the gardens - this is one of the images that I find I am trying to hold on to. I never want it to fade - a beauty so perfect, so peaceful, so full of promise - why does the rest of the world not see? And when one knows the suffering and the toil that went into creating what is before our eyes today, initiated by a Prisoner, on a mountain of solid rock, in a desert climate, in a country torn apart by war, is this not proof enough that we are capable of anything? World peace, the unity of mankind, a world parliament, all these things ARE inevitable.
The next two days were dedicated to the joint conference of the Counsellors and Auxiliary Board members, presided over by the Universal House of Justice and the International Teaching Centre. After initial addresses, the floor was opened to the participants. Of course, the organisation was perfect. Everyone who wanted to speak had 3 minutes and simultaneous translation was done through headphones. People from every corner on earth shared their experiences: Tanzania, Equador, Haiti, Russia, Australia, Uganda, Philipines, Liberia, Fiji, Canada, Albania, Guinea, Mongolia and so on and so on. What I found most wonderful about these consultations was that everyone had had different experiences, but we all spoke the same language (this expression works better in French "on parle les langues differentes mais on parle tous le mкme langage") In other words, since we were all Auxiliary Board members, every one of us was somehow involved in the Institute process, many of us intimately, we all encourage individual initiative in teaching and are working to systematize our teaching efforts. So even though we came from the farthest reaches of the earth and our individual experiences differed, our overall experience and understanding was united.
There were 2 refreshment breaks and a lunch break each day and I mention them because they were so extraordinary in their efficiency. We had 45 minutes for the refreshment break in which 1000 people were served at several tables behind the Seat of the Universal House of Justice with coffee, tea, juice and homemade! cookies and cakes. And when the 45 minutes were up, all 1000 people were back in their seats and the programme started again! ON TIME. For lunch we had an hour and a half. And in that time, all 1000 people walked over to the International Teaching Centre building, found places already set with their food in front of them, ate their sandwiches (made by World Centre volunteers) and oranges, drank their water and juice, and got back to their seats in the concourse ON TIME. What a lesson in discipline and WILL. No one wanted to be late - so no one was late!
The last day of the conference was special because we broke up into Continental conferences. Africa was in the Multi - Purpose room of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice. And since it was the African continent, our procedings started with song. I don't think the Seat has ever felt such energy! I was soooo grateful to be a part of the African group. The room was not only vibrating - it was jumping! That day was also special for us Congolese because when it came time for lunch, when everyone else was going off to the International Teaching Centre building, we (we were now 21) were invited to have lunch in the lunch room of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice with our 4 Counsellors (Congo is so complicated and so large that we need 4 Counsellors) plus Joany Lincoln and Firaydoun Javaheri from the International Teaching Centre and the host of our lunch, Mr. Ali Nakhjavani.
We were all seated at a large table and quickly and politely served our lunch by a group of at least 5 servers. We all sat there almost too stunned to eat. When we finished, the tables were quickly cleared and Mr. Nakhjavani spoke to us in French. He spoke about the suffering of the Congolese people which dated back to the beginning of the time of the Belgians, how that suffering continued under Mobutu and how it continues today with the war that is tearing our country apart. He said that he felt, the main reason Congolese were so receptive to the Faith was because of their suffering. He also predicted that the present situation would not continue for a long time. Maybe 2 years or less. And things would start to get better. He said we must be prepared to take advantage of the better times to come to help Congo launch itself back into the forefront of the African Baha'i community - as it was in the past. We all found it very curious that while we were in the Shrines praying for peace in our country (one evening we all gathered at the Shrine of the Bab to pray together), and while Mr. Nakhjavani was predicting an end to the present misery, such a drastic change should be happening back in Kinshasa, with the assasination of the president. More on that later.
The conference ended with an address to the Baha'is of the World by the Universal House of Justice, in which It announced to a cheering, crying representation of humanity that the Baha'i Faith had entered into the fifth epoch of the Formative Age. The lightbulbs in the room needed no electricity - such was the energy created by that announcement. The realisation that we were all there at that moment of history - making history - was truly overwhelming.
After devotions, everyone filed out of the Seat congratulating each other on the new epoch. There was such a celebratory air. I received a report later from a World centre staff that that evening, there was a beautiful rainbow over the Bay of Haifa!!
Everyone tried to hold on to those last moments. Each of us painfully aware that it was coming to a close. Many of us spent some last precious moments in the Shrines before heading back to our hotels to pack and wait for our busses. It was hard to say goodbye to that Place, but something told me that I would never really leave. I know I belong there. My heart lives there. It is Home.
I found Laetitia already back in our room well into packing. We caught the bus at the prescribed time, then someone said to us "have you been following the news?" (the world could have stopped turning for all I was following the news for the last 9 days) Then He said "President Kabila has been shot and is probably dead". We were on such a high, that even that news had little impact. My immediate concern was about getting to my family, but somehow I didn't feel worried or frightened.
As we got to the airport in Tel Aviv, more reports were coming in and it became obvious that the airport in Kinshasa was closed. Arriving in Addis Ababa, we tried to find out what was going on, but reports were confused. The next morning, we were told that the flight was on and we would be catching the bus for the airport as planned. Then after breakfast, I got a call from Ethiopian airways saying that there would not be a flight to Kinshasa.
At this time the Congo friends were all gathering in one of our rooms for prayers for the country. I told them the news and said that I was trying to find out what arrangements were being made for us. They continued to pray. It was again confirmed that the flight had been cancelled and then, just as the prayer meeting was breaking up, the supervisor came back on the line and said "the flight has been reinstated - you should go to the airport immediately".
We managed to find everyone and got to the airport in time for the flight. We arrived in Kinshasa where everything was very calm and seemingly very normal. We 21 who had just experienced miracles in the Holy Land felt convinced that our prayers there had been listened to, in a way that we would never have expected.
.....
Susan
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