Week 5 - Preparing our Adventure to Visit the Friends

Day 27 – Home Front Pioneers, Central Alberta, Canada

Expanding the Feast of Light/Nur 

Feast of Nur

Today, May 3^rd, we received a lovely email from one of the friends in the Ponoka group. She advised Frank and me that she’ll be holding the Feast of Light/Nur at her home.

We conducted a Fireside with our friend at the extended care hospital in Lacombe. The topic was How To Lift Your Spirit. Our guest spoke about his limited affiliation with his church these days and he was receptive to the discussion.

We are blessed to be included in the email messages fanned out from Red Deer Local Spiritual Assembly. The letters from the Universal House of Justice, the Canadian National Spiritual Assembly and other sources are used as valuable resources.

Whatsoever gathering is arranged with the utmost love, and where those who attend are turning their faces toward the Kingdom of God, and where the discourse is of the Teachings of God, and the effect of which is to cause those present to advance--that gathering is the Lord's, and that festive table hath come down from heaven. — `Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 89

Day 28 – Home Front Pioneers, Central Alberta, Canada

This Collective Centre

Unity

Today, we spent some time reviewing the 8 March 2017 letter from the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada. Without boasting, we imagined ourselves listening to Abdu’l-Baha as he revealed the last of fourteen Tablets of the Divine Plan. His plan is our plan.

 Also, the NSA’s words make it clear that a cluster is a place where we are learning to build strong, vibrant communities.

The Central Alberta Cluster is a true Collective Centre. We’ve heard of active children’s classes and hope to learn more about junior youth groups, study circles and devotional gatherings. There are many pockets of activity and we look forward to being of service.

“…Through the breaths of the Holy Spirit [“a Collective Centre”] performs miracles; …” – Abdu’l-Baha, from the Tablets of the Divine Plan

Day 29 – Home Front Pioneers, Central Alberta, Canada

Friends of the Faith at Every Opportunity

Welcome to Rimbey

We travelled to Rimbey and walked the shopping district to meet as many town folks as possible. Over the years, we’ve achieved a high level of confidence and trust in Baha’u’llah’s message and sharing it has become our focus.

Our first exchange happened at the Canada Post office. We shared with the woman at the counter that we’re new to the community. She asked where we were from and we told her Vancouver Island. 

She shared that her sister lives in Parksville but she’s very lonely there. In unison, we suggested she get in touch with the Baha’i community. We wrote Baha’i on a piece of paper and left it with her; she accepted it and thanked us.

Another happenstance occurred in a craft store. Frank is preparing the front of the RV to display the text, Try Baha’i. We needed supplies and described our project to the store owner. She asked What’s Baha’i? Frank relayed a few of the gems provided to us by Baha’u’llah to share with the world. What a pleasure.

We get so excited when we are able to explain the Faith to a stranger. We always feel that we’ve handed the person a treasure.

 “The world is in great turmoil, and its problems seem to become daily more acute. We, should, therefore, not sit idle, otherwise we would be failing in carrying out our sacred duty. Baha’u’llah was not given His Teachings to treasure them and hide them for our personal delight and pleasure. He gave them to us that we may pass them from mouth to mouth, until all the world becomes familiar with them, and enjoys their blessings and uplifting influence.” – source: Teaching the Cause, pg. 11

Day 30 – Home Front Pioneers, Central Alberta, Canada

Heart to Heart Resuscitation

Glad Tidings

On Saturday, May 6, we spoke on the phone with a Baha’i friend in Wetaskiwin. She admitted that she feels isolated and hoped that another Baha’i registered on the voting list in that city would seek her out.

We offered our support by trying to connect with the other registered voter in Wetaskiwin. We haven’t had any success, so far.

In the meantime, at her agreement, we will keep her up to date on our pioneering activities which include visits to Ponoka to meet with the group there. She wants to be part of that.

As isolated believers ourselves, we know what it feels like to soldier on by yourself without the support or hoping for a phone call from a Baha’i friend.

We’ve now added this remote Baha’i to our ongoing follow up call list.

There is no harm in thy loneliness in those regions; for verily, the hosts of confirmation are thy help, thy Glorious Lord is thy protector and the angels of the Kingdom are thy fellow-speakers. Glad-tidings be unto thee for this! Blessed art thou for this!
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá v1, p. 61)

 Day 31 – Home Front Pioneers, Central Alberta, Canada

How Abdu’l-Baha was Revealed to the Bentley Community

Dear Editor

The Bentley Bulletin newsletter is published and distributed throughout the community of Bentley, Alberta. Susan responded to a question posted in the paper, “Is marriage becoming outdated in today’s society? Is cohabitation the new norm?”

She responded to both questions with the theme that marriage is a Divine Institution and ended her ideas with the following quote, ‘Bahá'í marriage is the commitment of the two parties one to the other, and their mutual attachment of mind and heart.’ – Abdu’l-Baha

Teaching the Faith comes in all forms and fashions.

Having on his own initiative, and undaunted by any hinderances with which either friend or foe may, unwittingly or deliberately, obstruct his path, resolved to arise and respond to the call of teaching, let him carefully consider every avenue of approach which he might utilize in his personal attempts to capture the attention, maintain the interest, and deepen the faith, of those whom he seeks to bring into the fold of his Faith. – “The Advent of Divine Justice", pp. 51-52

Day 32 – Home Front Pioneers, Central Alberta, Canada

How to Circumvent Discouragement

Try Baha'i

We spent another morning studying the Faith and calling Baha’is throughout the cluster to announce our travel plans and intentions beginning Sunday, May 21^st to Friday, May 26. Some welcomed our offer of a home visit, others did not. 

We had been advised by our mentors not to have too high expectations of receptivity. We struggle with the idea that a believer does not want to share their love for Baha’u’llah with other friends. We prayed and let our thoughts come alive in other themes – like what a great time we’ll have with the friends who are willing to accept a home visit.

Another distraction we used this week was to put a sign on the front of our RV – Try Baha’i. We hope to have great fun with it as we travel throughout the Central Alberta cluster.

For love of God and spiritual attraction do cleanse and purify the human heart and dress and adorn it with the spotless garment of holiness; and once the heart is entirely attached to the Lord, and bound over to the Blessed Perfection, then will the grace of God be revealed.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 202-203)

Blessed Is The Spot