Sponsoring Students ~ Gems of the Future

i have recently realized the significance of what it means to 'sponsor' a student.  basically it is providing the necessary funds to cover the fees for secondary school which is not covered by the government in most countries throughout Africa.
 

once a student with very little financial means finishes primary school -- which is free in a country like Kenya, as long as one can provide a school uniform and basic stationery for oneself -- the chances of progressing through secondary school diminish drastically because the fees are beyond what the masses of citizens can afford, even for day school instead of boarding (which is very common throughout Africa).

as i am now working with a group of 14 year olds that are preparing to take their exams and graduate from St. Luke's Educational Centre, i am moved by their high resolve to work hard in the most meager of institutions to educate themselves even though most cannot afford secondary school.

when i think of the loss of potential revealed in every child in this world who does not have the opportunity to attend even a basic school beyond primary, it staggers my mind what a waste of human capacity that is..what a tremendous loss to every community that is not educating its youth..and what a responsibility we have to care for each child if we want this world to be the best place it can be..

i do not understand the intricacies of governmental policies, taxes and laws which can ensure that every community provides free education for its young people, but i do know that if it's not set up that way then there is surely something wrong with the system.

i wish i could sponsor all of these students but cannot.  i explained to them that it wouldn't be just to sponsor one of them and not the others, as i am working with them as a group.  they know i am going to try and reach out to our friends and see if any support can come that way.  i thought it's possible, too, to write about it here in case anyone reading may be inspired to sponsor one or more of them as well.  the websites about sponsorship in Kenya explain that it costs about $50/month to sponsor one student.  it is best if it is a 4 year commitment.  if you want to reach the students at St. Luke's who are not connected by these organizations helping other schools,  please contact St. Luke's directly on their website or send me a message.

"Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value.  Education, can alone, cause it to reveal its treasures and enable mankind to benefit therefrom."

~ Baha'u'llah

Dagoretti jr. youth 1st service project

Yesterday twenty-nine jr. youth traveled from st. luke's educational center to the Kikuyu Hospital for their first service project.  We began the morning by walking to the closest matatu station; the drivers asked for more money than the kids had brought, so we walked further up the main road to the next stop so we could afford the fare.  We waited for an empty matatu and thought only half would travel first, but one by one the kids piled into the taxi with us 3 adults and we all rode together, smooshed but very happy!  The kids started singing songs with great joy as the 5 minute ride got underway.  It reminded me of the days when the Delft kids would sing loudly whenever they were together doing something that made them happy.

We joined the congregational service that was being held at the hospital.  This was recommended to us by the chaplain who welcomes all guests.  The kids were to sing some songs for the gathering.  After listening to a short sermon and some singing, the group was recognized as special guests -- they were invited to come to the front and sing.  I had appointed Peter, one of the older jr. youth, to introduce the group.  When he went up, none of the other kids followed him to arrange themselves for singing; instead they all remained seated.  He spoke quietly and without confidence yet i felt so proud of him for his courage.  This is the first time these students are being exposed to anything related to the power of expression in public.  They are all learning so much in the process of trying to do new things.

As soon as Peter finished speaking, one of the chaplains invited the 'teacher' (while looking at me) to come and introduce the group.  Before i could respond, Bilha, one of the mothers, and the friend who introduced me to St. Luke's, walked to the front of the congregation and explained briefly who we are and why we had come.  The children had started to gather around Peter but they did not organize themselves well.  Some tall ones were standing in front of shorter ones, and they were overcome by a sense of shyness.  All of the joy that I have seen them sing with was hiding inside of them.  They managed to sing 2 songs with the help of the congregation's guitarist but they didn't convey the joy or spirit that is in their hearts.  As soon as the service was over and we assembled outside to wait for the chaplain, one of the older students came to me and said, 'That was a shame'.  I responded that it is a learning, something we can reflect about and learn from.

listening to instructions

After figuring out with administration what our tasks would be and how to organize ourselves, the housekeeper came to give the students instructions.  We divided ourselves between the 'Shining Stars' (11-12 year olds) and the 'Spiritual Warriors' (13-14 year olds) and then set off to different areas of the compound.  The jr. youth were eager and excited to clean!  Some did garden work; others cleaned toilets and picked up trash.  Everyone worked for an hour before going to visit patients.  I was with the Shining Stars and could see their interest but hesitancy to actually go and greet the patients -- they stood together and sang different songs to the patients they visited in different rooms.  After taking one photo of them and disturbing their concentration i decided to step back and let them go with the matron of the ward.  Afterwards we met up with the Spiritual Warriors before eating a snack and walking home.

washing hands before visiting patients

 There are some significant aspects of this outing.  They were more than willing to come up with the money for the matatu even though their families are materially poor and many cannot afford to pay school fees.  In the same way did they collect money to buy fruit to offer to the hospital even though some of them leave school and have no food to eat until they return to school and have tea for breakfast.  It is also significant how their hearts served so willingly and sincerely; they felt so good after working hard.  They all care about those who are ill; they consciously pray for others who are not well with that deep gratitude that God has kept them well today and that their health is dependent on God's Will.  Lastly, they were so happy to walk 3km back to school instead of take another matatu.  It was such an opportunity to show friendship to one another, to laugh and run..to be kids.  I had such a great time talking with them that i wished we could have walked another 3kms so i could get to enjoy our time together more!  I also felt so happy to be on the back roads of Kenya and see the rolling hills of planted maize and banana trees -- sights I never get to see on the main roads in a car.  I kept telling them how fortunate they are to live like this -- ie., to be surrounded by natural beauty and walk to many places with a sense of community that they all share so naturally.

singing to patients

It's important for me to explain that these students prepared for this service project without any material support except for printing out indemnity forms.  I guided and supported their ideas of serving at the hospital and called the chaplain to see if it was ok to come.  In our sessions we discussed the math involved for transport and buying fruit; they came up with the idea to walk home to save money on transport which they couldn't afford.  They knew which gospel songs they wanted to sing and came up with a plan on how to cover the cost of buying fruit -- some volunteered with pure-hearted joy to contribute extra money to compensate for those who didn't have any money to contribute.  They met their financial goals and worked together like a family who protects each other from any sense of loss.

We ended the day with reflections and discussion about what we felt and learned from the experience.  I felt like we all grew closer as a group, as well as having shared something special together.

walking home

Arising to serve humanity

 A new story is beginning in the Dagoretti market area on the Karen side of Nairobi.  It began when i walked to the small, local grocery store to buy vegetables.  outside of the market is a shop to buy flowers.  With joy i greeted the young woman behind the table as she pruned roses.  She was immediately attracted to the joy.  After warm exchanges of courtesy she asked me if i was a Christian.  From there we have been exchanging heart to heart desires for a better world.  She is a woman who does not want to wait for people to come into the church to be saved.  She is about helping other people; she wants her community to be free of alcohol and drugs and all that is hurtful to children.  I introduced the Baha'i-inspired spiritual empowerment program for jr. youth, providing the vision for long-term investment in young souls to ultimately change the neighborhood.  Then one day by surprise she announced that her cousin is the principal of st. luke's educational center in that neighborhood and that he'd like to meet with me to discuss initiating the program in his school.

I was excited beyond words, as if God had clearly answered my prayers to be able to be of service in this capacity in an area that is relatively close to where we live, but i was also very hesitant because I didn't have transport to get there -- I don't have a car to drive and i'm not willing to take a matatu alone because I feel anything can happen that will threaten my safety.  So I called the one Baha'i mother in this area and asked if she could drive me to this meeting and she took me a few days later.

After a very positive and receptive meeting about the program, we agreed with the principal, Mr. Kamau, that we would consult about the logistics and get back with him.  While driving home, my friend generously and lovingly offered that the woman who works for her could pick me up and take me every week to the school.  She explained that this could be part of her work during the week, in the spirit of being of service which is the highest expression of all work we do as Baha'is.  The woman who works for her is also a Baha'i.

That moment made me offer up the deepest praise and thanksgiving to God.  I have been longing to engage once again in a service-oriented activity at the community level here in Nairobi.  The only limitation to the program being held in the school was my transport and now it was sorted so effortlessly through the willingness of a friend whose heart feels connected in the spirit of service to offer her car.
It has been 3 weeks since that initial visit to St. luke's educational centre.  Since that time, the principal and teachers have begun the study process for becoming animators of their own jr. youth groups and/or children's class teachers.  There is word that another school has found out about it and wants to be trained as well.  The kids are enthusiastic and grateful.  I have led 2 out of the 3 sessions and have heard from the principal that the kids are really happy with the program.  They are discovering that the potential for excellence lies within them and must be exercised by their own volition.  They are beginning to feel their own uniqueness in how God has created them in order to make this world a better place.  They have chosen going to a hospital as their first service activity which we will begin planning next week.  The school is abuzz with new energy and it's such a bounty to see.

I am already thinking about all of these kids as if they are my own children.  I look forward to all that lies ahead in terms of learning and growth, challenges and successes, service activities and transformation.

"The betterment of the world can be accomplished through pure and goodly deeds, through commendable and seemly conduct."  

~Baha'u'llah

arriving in Nairobi

"Striving means this: Ye must live and move according to the divine commands and behests, be united in loving with ecstasy and joy; do not take any rest but engage continually in the service of the Cause of God."

~ Abdu'l-Baha

we have arrived in Nairobi, Kenya!  the air is cool and fresh.  the greenery is lush and beautiful.  the landscape is full of rolling hills, tile roofs, old vans that serve as transport for most people, and roadside markets.  we haven't driven around too much but what we saw was a mixture of South Africa and Ghana -- a mixture of material development and underdevelopment combined with layers of African culture.  i love it!

i have already begun to connect with the people we are meeting -- it's as if the invisible magnetic force of love is operating between our souls through the warm and friendly greetings, smiles and helpfulness being shared.

it feels great to be back in Africa again after a wonderful holiday with family in America.  holiday is always the best time to enjoy family and rejuvenate myself with rest and recreation, but when it ends i become eager again to serve humanity in as many ways as i can each day, striving to put myself aside and be concerned with the needs of others.

like most places in this beautiful world, Kenya has its extremes of wealth and poverty, its prejudices of religion, class and race, and its battle against crime, injustice and terrorism.  i can feel the presence of security (where our car was examined with a machine that looked underneath for a bomb before entering the parking lot to a mall) which is both comforting and disconcerting.  i have seen the density of slums that sprawl far too long into the distance while driving to the kids' new school.  most houses and flats have bars on the windows, high walls along the perimeter and electric wires secured on top of the walls.  trucks and vans pollute the air with noxious fumes.  trees and flowering plants decorate most areas of the city with natural beauty and color, and serious facial expressions beam with radiance whenever i direct my genuine smile at them..

i can feel my heart being drawn to all of the possibilities that are to come in time as i begin arising to make new friendships and serve the community here.  good relationships and deeds that benefit other people are the gems that permeate the spirit of oneness in this world.  the joy and beauty of life is derived from this aspect of our oneness.  it is in this way that i feel most happy and grateful to be here..

"Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and center your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements."

~ Baha'u'llah

service project ~ creating beauty in the community

 it took weeks of practicing consultation to make a decision and plan a service project, but finally the 'gems of justice' group agreed on creating a flower garden along a public pathway near my home.

they first went and got permission from the neighbor along whose wall it touches.  she was happy to have the weeds gone and some plants growing against her compound wall.

weeding and clearing out rocks & other debris

they came back and wrote down the materials they would need -- i explained to them that i had extra chicken fertilizer and cow manure that they could use to enrich the soil.  they agreed that each member would contribute what they could afford to create a fund to buy the plants.  one member said that he wouldn't be able to offer any money and they all supported him, saying that it was ok.

when most of the jr. youth were on school holiday, we spent a couple of hours clearing the land, mixing in chicken fertilizer and cow manure, and carrying cement blocks to form a barrier around it.

mixing in fertilizer & manure

the next morning we drove to a plant nursery with their money and talked about the principles of consultation before they walked around to choose the plants.  they understood that it was most important to listen to everyone's ideas and to find agreement before deciding which plants to choose.  i stayed in the car while they worked together -- they were thinking about cost as well as the type of plant, whether it would grow to be a bush or a tall and slender plant, etc.

filling up water at my house to carry to the garden

they returned to the car very happy that they had purchased 6 very diverse plants with their very own money (which was a small amount).  they suggested coming back later to plant them since the sun was very hot by the time we were finished shopping for the plants.  the heavy rains came so a few days passed until 4 of them returned to arrange the plants in the garden.  this part of the project was the most fun -- loosening the packed soil, digging holes, arranging the plants, watering them & covering them with some fertilizer.

almost done; enjoying how the garden looks

applying chicken fertilizer after watering the plants

they learned a lot about how to create a healthy garden for plants, as well as how to value each person's contribution in the process of applying skills and making decisions.  they needed some spiritual guidance along the pathway of learning but truly mined their own gems in making this service project a success!

joy!

friendship growing through working together :)

celebrating Ayyam-i-Ha

the days of Ha -- Ayyam-i-Ha -- are upon us and our family has prepared by making decorations, thinking of ways to be of service in our neighborhood, and creating joyful activities to share as a family in the afternoons and evenings when our children are home from school.

last night when the sun set, it was time to initiate the festivities.  our youngest son lit 2 candles and we asked the children to hide in the pantry while my husband hid the gifts around the house.  before finding the gifts, he read a special rhyme to each of them, giving them a clue where the gift was hidden.  he times them on a stopwatch and makes it a game so that at the end of 4 nights, the child with the fastest time gets to be the first to choose one of three balloons which have different amounts of money hidden inside.

after opening the simple gifts each night, we do a fun activity together and eat delicious homemade cookies and cakes together.  last night the fun activity was dancing together and making it like a party with the lights out (except for the blinking Christmas lights that we use only during Ayyam-i-Ha).  the other activities we have planned are a treasure hunt, a hand-painting poster, watching a movie together and eating dinner at a restaurant.

each day, the children will get to write down on a 9-pointed star a service they performed for someone.  the only requirement is doing it with joy.  at the end of Ayyam-i-Ha we will read them out loud and celebrate a great sense of purposefulness and reward for doing good by helping others, especially those who are poor and needy.

while the children are at school, i have planned a gathering with a group of mothers in my neighborhood to bring them baked sweets and sobolo (a local sweet drink) while we hang out together.  all of them are struggling to survive and working very hard to support their families and raise their children.  it is this group of women with whom i will be hosting a gathering in our home for discussing the significance of mothers in the sight of God and their role in the spiritual education of their children.  i am looking forward to this next month.

another way for me to be of service this year is to buy Ghanaian meals prepared on the roadside and distribute them to various people i know who are struggling for their survival and whose lives are full of needs.  when visiting them, i will bring some of the cookies we made as well.

in a relatively short time in our new neighborhood, by the grace of God, i have felt able to connect with almost everyone i've met.  it is this spot on earth where God intended me to live at this time in my life, so i make every effort possible to be a channel of His love through being genuinely kind, caring, generous and joyful.  it feels like a blessing to have met these souls, as if they are a gift from God from whom my heart gets to experience great joy.  for me, Ayyam-i-Ha are the days of extending my heart to as many souls as i can with whom i have had the bounty of meeting, especially those whose lives experience such material hardships..

below are the descriptions of Ayyam-i-Ha in the Baha'i Writings:

• Days outside of time’ festival reveres eternal essence of God.

• From sunset Feb. 25 to sunset March 1, Baha’is will be exchanging gifts, getting together with friends and family, and engaging in acts of charity – activities that characterize the festival of Ayyam-i-Ha.

• The festival comes toward the end of the Baha’i year, which is divided into 19 months of 19 days each. These “intercalary” days, between the 18th and 19th months of the Baha’i calendar, are necessary to align the calendar with the 365-day Gregorian solar calendar.

•  Ayyam-i-Ha means “Days of Ha.” “Ha” has several meanings in Arabic, including reference to God or the “Essence of God.” Baha’is celebrate the sacred days of Ayyam-i-Ha through acts of love, fellowship, unity, charity and goodwill.

our family's hands

• The intercalary days of Ayyami-i-Ha “stand apart from the ordinary cycle of weeks and months and the human measure of time,”. “Thus Ayyam-i-Ha can be thought of as days outside of time, days that symbolize eternity, infinity and the mystery and unknowable Essence of God Himself.”

• Baha’u’llah has said of Ayyam-i-Ha: “It behoveth the people of Baha, throughout these days, to provide good cheer for themselves, their kindred and, beyond them, the poor and needy, and with joy and exultation to hail and glorify their Lord, to sing His praise and magnify His Name.”

•  Appropriately, Ayyam-i-Ha spiritually sets the stage for the annual Baha’i Fast, which goes from March 2 to March 20. Naw-Ruz, the Baha’i new year, begins on March 21, the first day of spring. 

Ayyam-i-Ha song & video by 'Enable Me to Grow'

This is such a precious song for children to learn during the time of Ayyam-i-Ha.  It includes adorable videos of children around the world being of service and full of joy.

community.. the spirit of the season

i woke this morning with a list of things to do:  applying sealant around windows and bathroom sinks, planting seeds, figuring out the cost of baking 2 birthday cakes for my friend, and renewing our passports.  by mid-morning, after our water was delivered and breakfast was made, my mind started entertaining the idea of baking cookies for our neighbors and the families of the jr. youth group.  i had given our night guard some breakfast (as he was still on duty 3 hours past his 12-hour shift) and my heart began to feel that familiar ache for the hardworking people who suffer through the days in ways i know i have never suffered..

after finishing up using what was left of the sealant, i figured out the cost of the cakes and emailed my friend the amounts.  at that moment i felt invigorated to manage the rest of my day around making a stew for dinner and a sugar dough for cookies.  the kids were playing the board game Risk with their Aba and enjoying art, football on tv, and playing chess.  it was a perfect day for me to get things done for myself and the family, but it became a perfect day to focus on being of service to others in the spirit of Christmas..

the afternoon flew by as i felt like i was racing the time while making the dough, letting it cool, preparing a stew for dinner, and using cookie cutters on a floured surface to make as many cookies as possible.  i added powdered sugar to leftover butter-cream icing i had made for a carrot cake last week to make it a bit stiffer.  we separated the icing into 3 bowls; the kids enjoyed adding green and red food coloring to 2 of them.  they decorated them beautifully and let them set in the refrigerator for a little bit while we were like an assembly line trying to sort them into several containers.  it was too difficult to make individual arrangements so we grouped them by areas and ended up with 3 bigger packages instead of 12..

near the end of this process i had sms'd the jr. youth group to come pick up the cookies to take home to their families.  as my kids and i ventured out with a container to begin sharing cookies with our neighbors, we came upon 2 of the jr. youth who found us at one of the homes next to us.  they followed and observed as we met and introduced ourselves to new people while greeting familiar faces.  a few people were skeptical but most were happily surprised with wide-eyed smiles of appreciation.  it was one of those moments in my life where i am very consciously aware of the spirit of service being released into the world, exerting an influence in ways beyond the actual act of kindness.

what touched my heart the most throughout this experience of sharing cookies was meeting a young mother who lives in a wooden home supported by cement blocks.  she invited me inside to meet her sleeping baby.  i was introduced to her home with trust as she picked her baby up from the floor where a layer of blankets made a bed surrounded by mosquito netting.  after greeting her beautiful baby i said i would return when it was a better time to visit.  outside she was boiling spaghetti in a small pot over an open fire while a Ghanaian stew simmered in another pot.  it is this way of life that i admire, that i am in awe about -- how people know how to live with very basic accommodations, without electricity or running water, surrounded by the forces of nature at all times.  this gesture of offering a cookie was merely a way of making a soul to soul connection, a symbol of sharing the oneness of our humanity, as we all strive to live in this world..

as a Baha'i, i do not celebrate the outward forms of Christmas which typify the middle-class world: decorations, gift-giving, Santa Claus, etc..  our family carries on as it's just another day.  we remember the birth of Jesus and then continue striving to live life as a spiritual human being -- this is the essence of what Jesus represents to us.  He perfectly embodied the virtues of humility, self-sacrifice and gentleness.  the spirit of Christmas is purely about the Light of God that He brought into the world as God's Divine Teacher for humanity 2000 years ago.  today, connecting with my neighbors, who are very far removed from all the material trimmings of Christmas, helped me celebrate the true spirit of Christmas. 

jr. youth group serves, plays & studies

"Let him do some good to every person whose path he crosseth and be of some benefit to him."

~ Baha'u'llah

 the 'gems of justice' jr. youth group consulted last week and decided they wanted their 6th service project since last October to be cleaning up the road leading to our new house.  they said we would need shears, plastic bags, gloves, snacks and water.  it was a sign of their own development as a group because they were able to consult and find agreement as to what they wanted to do in relation to what they understand is a need in their community.  one of their intentions was to directly help one of the families by cutting down their weeds along the side of their home.

arriving from a neighborhood about a mile away

wearing a rubber glove to gather trash

the spirit of service brought everyone joy, including some children and parents along the street.  some of the children began helping us and by the time we were finished, a car drove by asking what we were going to do with the bags of trash that were collected.  the driver is part of a neighborhood association -- he was eager to help resolve our problem of trash being dumped and burned.  he was impressed by the youths' efforts and said that the association would call ZoomLion, the private trash company, to come and clean up this dumping area and post a sign for no dumping, as well as provide a bin.  it would amaze me if that really happens, but i am hopeful because it would be in sync with the spirit of the 'breezes of confirmation' which occur when we make efforts to do good.

at the end of cleaning up, with their bags piled in front of them

Evelyn serving the snacks (each one of them took turns serving something different)

tired but fulfilled

 the service project ended with a water balloon toss, one of our favorite activities in the hot weather.

we're currently studying the book, Spirit of Faith, which begins by introducing the theme that our true identity is that of a soul which transcends all physical and material descriptions..

creating a story on the themes in Glimmerings of Hope

creating a story on the themes in Breezes of Confirmation

noblest deed

"..is there any deed in the world that would be nobler than service to the common good? Is there any greater blessing conceivable for a man, than that he should become the cause of the education, the development, the prosperity and honor of his fellow-creatures? No, by the Lord God! The highest righteousness of all is for blessed souls to take hold of the hands of the helpless and deliver them out of their ignorance and abasement and poverty, and with pure motives, and only for the sake of God, to arise and energetically devote themselves to the service of the masses, forgetting their own worldly advantage and working only to serve the general good."

 ~ Abdu'l-Baha, The Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 103

May Maxwell story

the following is a precious, incredibly awe-inspiring story..

recorded by May Maxwell:

“One day in the streets of Paris in the early spring, I saw a little lame boy on a crutch holding a pussy-willow, his face lighted with rapture. I stood and gazed at him and he lifted his eyes to mine and our souls seemed to meet in mutual love and understanding in that moment of beauty. I told my great and learned teacher whom the Master sent to me, Mirza Abul-Fazl, of this slight but touching incident and he said that out of such moments light is born, that out of that momentary contact of the spirit would unfold in the worlds beyond a whole life of meaning and purpose. The traces appear on this earth but the fruition is beyond, the seed of a loving deed, a warm and tender contact, a word of love and hope. A little service, a small sacrifice are but the traces here which like the seed will grow to mighty trees and bear imperishable fruits hereafter. Then how much more such lives as yours, spent in the service of the Cause of God, dedicated to Him, establishing an eternal foundation in this world whose superstructure shall appear in shining minarets and gems under the light of the eternal Sun.”

~ From The Maxwells of Montreal, pp 137-138

striving. struggling. meaning of life.

"...Effort is an inseparable part of man's life. It may take different forms with the changing conditions of the world, but it will be always present as a necessary element in our earthly existence. Life is after all a struggle. Progress is attained through struggle, and without such a struggle life ceases to have a meaning; it becomes even extinct. The progress of machinery has not made effort unnecessary. It has given it a new form, a new outlet."
~ Baha'i Writings

typical structures throughout Ghana

with humility and gratitude, i am striving each day to put into action the principles of the Baha'i Faith in very practical, useful and significant ways.  i cannot ignore for a moment my duty to give and be generous, to show genuine love and sincerity, or to be a radiant beam of hope and kindliness to my neighbors.  this is the meaning and purpose of my life.  though oftentimes it entails spiritual toil and struggle amidst suspicion, mistrust, estrangement and apathy, nothing in this life brings greater fulfillment, contentment or happiness.

"..the happiness and greatness, the rank and station, the pleasure and peace, of an individual have never consisted in his personal wealth, but rather in his excellent character, his high resolve, the breadth of his learning, and his ability to solve difficult problems."

~ Abdu'l-Baha, The Secret of Divine Civilization, p.23

we returned back to our life in ghana a week ago.  arriving at the accra airport is quite a struggle in and of itself -- it usually takes an hour to get through customs and then it's mass chaos trying to obtain one's bags through the overly crowded space..

when we first opened the door to our house, it smelled full of must; it had endured intense heat and humidity for the 3 months we were away.  it took us several days of heavy duty cleaning before it felt clean and back to order.  the army of tiny ants still sends some brave soldiers out every day in the kitchen but they are met with a damp cloth and a squirt of cleanser..

once the house was cleaned and the shopping was done and it felt like we could resume normal activities of life as a family, i was excited to go visit the neighbors with whom i've developed good friendships.  the children and jr. youth were so happy to see us again!  it was a very long 3 months apart for us and the hugs were more delightful than words can describe.  each day i go and visit them since they aren't allowed to visit us (read earlier post).  i invite them to come by and collect water since they have none where they live; thankfully the guards and gardener of the compound agree that this is ok and allow them to enter.  i am always in awe watching them carrying it away on their heads as noble and strong servants of God.  the little 5 year old, Joshua, is the cutest..

our way of life continues to be enmeshed with the struggle, toil and suffering of others.  i cannot hide or separate myself from it.  i wake up and go to sleep with my thoughts 'fixed upon that which will rehabilitate the fortunes of mankind and sanctify the hearts and souls of men'.  the fabric of my mind is wrapped around the struggles of life that come with economic, social, educational and ecological inequality and injustice.  my thoughts are set in motion toward 'the betterment of the world' by practicing the counsel of Baha'u'llah to 'do some good to every person' whose path i cross.  in this way, i live with the rhythm that justice begins and ends with me..

although we live simply and economically as middle-class people, we always have something to pass on, to share, to offer, etc. to be like a fruitful tree in the garden of our neighborhood.

it is easy to connect with people on a soulful level in Africa.  here in ghana, i feel like a butterfly or a buzzing bee that stops by and visits with many of the varied flowers and gets to exchange the energizing spirit of life with them.  the love in my heart overflows with joy through many acts of kindness, hospitality and generosity.

the other day i received a call from our carpenter.  he did a lot of work for us when we first moved into this house, making a wide variety of furniture that was tailor-made for our family's needs.  he said that he had tried to call several times over the past 3 months but that my phone was switched off and he realized i must have traveled (a common thing for foreigners here in accra to do).  after the usual 'how are you?' introductions and general conversation about what's happening in life, he said something which felt like a gift from God.  he explained that because of my loving-kindness and general love for everyone, especially the children of his land, it was helping him to grow more like this toward his 'own people'.  he expressed that my love for God is so great that it helps him see what is meant by his belief in the example of the life of Jesus..

i can only attribute such a comment to my love for Baha'u'llah whose life and Teachings serve as the channel of God's love in my life.  as a soul whose life is dedicated to the betterment of the world, and whose heart yearns for an ever-advancing spiritual civilization, it is encouraging to receive such a divine confirmation for just being who i am in a very simple way of loving others..