Manila Regional Conference

We would like to share with you a note about the Regional Bahá’í Conference in Manila written by Chana Johnson, one of the Bahá’ís from Macau who attended the Conference...enjoy!

Also pls. visit Bahá’í World News Service for the official report and some photos.

MANILA, Philippines Conference

On the way to the conference there were about 50 Baha'is from Macau all on the same plane! Walking down the aisle say hello to about half the plane is a very interesting experience. It gives you the feeling that half the world is already Bahá’í! When we arrived we were greeted by smiling friends with signs saying: "Bahá’í Regional Conference"! Seeing that and realizing that the expression and excitement that was arising in myself was showing forth in everyone else around me!

This was the largest amount of Bahá’ís to gather under one roof in the history of the Philippines! A large amount of people were from the Philippines itself but were also joined by a few hundred more people from Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, Taiwan, the Caroline Islands, Mariana Islands, and the Marshall Islands. Such an amazing and diverse group of a little over 1,000 friends! A group so diverse that many times the only thing you could say to someone was Allah'u'Abha! In this single word smiles would fill peoples face, heart, and soul. So much love between people who had never met before but that obviously shared the same Faith, the same love for Baha'u'llah resulting in the same love for each other…meeting more and more members of our beautiful human family…there's nothing like it.

Being graced with the presence of Dr. Penny Walker and Mrs. Zenaida Ramirez as representatives of the Universal House of Justice we were guided through focused talks and discussions on the 20 October 2008 letter and a letter addressed to the conference from the Universal House of Justice. We also had the opportunity to hear real stories from some participants. These stories were very different from what I have been used to at least. These stories were filled with phrases like "I did" or "I am" not with the usual "I will", "I plan to". These stories were mostly told by young Bahá’ís between the age of 18 & 22. These were young driven people who went international or home-front pioneering. Youth that went into an area that had between 5-15 Bahá’ís and were able to enlighten and assist them in launching a full Intensive Program of Growth in just a few months. These are the flames that can and will 'illumine the whole earth'.

Some friends from Taiwan shared a story that involved all elements of the Institute Process. The part that I found amazing and heartwarming was about the Children Classes and those involved. The children in this community make sure to finish their homework early so that they can go with their parents to do home visits. If you ask any of these children involved three certain questions they all answer…Who do you love? - Bahá’u’lláh...Who do you follow? ‘Abdu’l-Bahá...Who do you obey? The Universal House of Justice...and these are children!

So pretty much if you don't find some way to make it to one of the 41 Regional Conferences you're going to regret it for the rest of your life!