Weekend Holy Places Visits...

Last weekend, we started our staff visits to the Holy Places for this year. We missed them last year :-(. So these are Enna-Marie's first ever visits. She enjoyed a lot walking on the pebbles, climbing the stairs, touching the beautiful carpets on the floor, pointing to different pictures of Abdul-Baha in the rooms, and also enjoyed the wind in the Akka wall.

Here are some photos visiting the House of Abdullah-Pasha and House of Abbud (one more photo to follow).

Visit of the Boodhun Family at home...

Auntie Vanysha's family from Mauritius visited us last Thursday; her parents and brother have just finished their pilgrimage. Uncle Martijn, uncle Howard and uncle Riyad came over as well. We all had a good dinner and enjoyed the time together.

bonding with Auntie Vanysha after not seeing each other at this time of the fast

enjoying the time with auntie and uncle

Group photo (standing L-R: Mama, uncle Martijn, uncle Howard, uncle Riyad, and me; sitting L-R: Vyshal, papa, auntie Vanysha, Vydiah, and Veenaud)

Yes picking-up and wearing shoes are just my favorite things to do these days...

what a squeeze from mom Vydiah and auntie Vanysha!

Meet two new babies...

Welcome to the two new babies, they are both soo beautiful. Congratulations to their proud parents!

Sienna Isabelle Martin who was born on 13 March 2007 in Newport Beach, California, is the daughter of our friends Susy and Kris Martin. Both Susy and Kris are former BWC staff.

Reina Natalie is Savvy Him and Chris Lay's daughter. She was born on 15 March 2007 in Shenzhen, China. Savvy used to serve with us in the Department of Statistics, while Chris in the Department of Holy Places.

Divine Wisdom in Fasting...

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ASKED
BY MRS. CORINNE TRUE, AND DAUGHTER
ARNA, AT ACCA, FEBRUARY, 1907

Question: What Divine wisdom is there in fasting?

Answer: The Divine wisdom in fasting is manifold. Among them is this: As during those days (i. e. the period of fasting which the followers afterward observe) the Manifestation of the Sun of Reality, through Divine inspiration, is engaged in the Descent of Verses, the instituting of Divine Law and the arrangement of Teachings, through excessive occupation and intense attraction there remains no condition or time for eating and drinking. For example, when His Holiness Moses went to Mount Tur (Sinai) and there engaged in instituting the Law of God, he fasted forty days. For the purpose of awakening and admonishing the people of Israel, fasting was enjoined upon them.

Likewise His Holiness Christ in the beginning of instituting the Spiritual Law, the systematizing of the Teachings and the arrangement of counsels, for forty days abstained from eating and drinking. In the beginning the disciples and Christians fasted. Later the assemblages of the chief Christians changed fasting into Lenten observances.

Likewise the Koran having descended in the month Ramadan, fasting during that month became a duty. In like manner His Holiness the Supreme (the BAB), in the beginning of the Manifestation, through the excessive effect of descending Verses, passed days in which his nourishment was reduced to tea only.

Likewise, the Blessed Beauty (BAHA’U’LLAH), when busy with instituting the Divine Teachings and during the days when the Verses (the Word of God) descended continuously, through the great effect of the Verses and the throbbing of the heart, took no food except the least amount.

The purpose is this: In order to follow the Divine Manifestations and for the purpose of admonition and the commemoration of their state, it became incumbent upon the people to fast during those days.

The Christians, as was written, formerly fasted fully. For every sincere soul who has a beloved longs to experience that state in which his beloved is. If his beloved is in a state of sorrow, he desires sorrow; if in a state of joy, he desires joy; if in a state of rest, he desires rest; if in a state of trouble, he desires trouble.

Now since in those days His Holiness the Supreme (the BAB) fasted many days, and the Blessed Beauty (BAHA’U’LLAH) took but little food or drink, and some days Christ did not eat, it became necessary that the friends should follow that example. For thus saith He in the Tablet of Visitation: “They, the believers, have followed that which they were commanded, for love of Thee.” This is one wisdom of the wisdoms of fasting.

The second wisdom is this: Fasting is the cause of awakening man. The heart becomes tender and the spirituality of man increases. This is produced by the fact that man's thoughts will be confined to the commemoration of God, and through this awakening and stimulation surely ideal advancements follow.

Third wisdom: Fasting is of two kinds, material and spiritual. The material fasting is abstaining from food or drink, that is, from the appetites of the body. But spiritual, ideal fasting is this, that man abstain from selfish passions, from negligence and from satanic animal traits. Therefore material fasting is a token of the spiritual fasting. That is: “O God! as I am fasting from the appetites of the body and not occupied with eating and drinking, even so purify and make holy my heart and my life from aught else save Thy Love, and protect and preserve my soul from self-passions and animal traits. Thus may the spirit associate with the Fragrances of Holiness and fast from everything else save Thy mention.”

Fast Dinners with Friends...

We signed up for a mingle dinner during the fast to meet new friends. Here's the group photo!

With our dinner hosts Holly and Saba (both in the middle) plus two new staff Ladan and Lisa

With Roger and Minoo Maftechuk at their home, baby Rumi is fast asleep already

With Shingo, Amelia and Shiori Ishikawa

Our little ones who just finished eating dinner

With Negeen, Victor and Aliyah Sobhani

Visit at the Park's Playground...

Yesterday morning, we went up to the park's playground in the Merkas, just few minutes walk from our house. It is a nice place, looks like it is well-maintained by the owner. Mommy and Enna-Marie would usually come to this area, but without daddy. So this is the first time to come together as family. As you can see from the photos below, Enna-Marie really enjoyed her time walking, climbing, and playing. Although she is not the best climber yet, but slowly she is learning this skill. She was so observant with the bigger children moving and climbing so fast. Anyway, the carousel horse riding is her favourite, we paid NIS7, and she was even wanting to take another turn, but quickly mom and dad diverted her attention to the playground. Wow, what a treat to our growing daughter...enjoy the photos!

E-M: "I love this horse ride so much!"

E-M: "Mama pleaaase I want one more..."

Walking up the stairs to the slide

Mom: "Ready..Get..Set..Go...!"

E-M: "Wow, I am learning to count this huge 'abacus' balls"

Peek-a-boo pose...!

E-M: "My daddy is so tall eh!*"

E-M: "I'm oh so enjoying my time here! So many people..."

E-M: "...and so many climbing to do. Daddy, we're up here...!"

On our way home...this is a nice, quiet neighborhood.

Dinner with the Hatami family...

We invited my friend Carmel and her parents auntie Sarah and uncle Jalal for dinner at home. Her parents are friends of my mom and dad. Mom said that the green sling she used for me when I was younger, she got it from the States and auntie Sarah's mom kindly brought it all the way to Haifa when she visited them. Anyway, the dinner was good, auntie and uncle liked the chicken/pork adobo my mom prepared and so do I. Carmel and I played a lot, running all over our house while our parents were chatting about us and other things. By the way, you can check Carmel's blog in our Friends' blog list, she has nice pictures there.

Visiting Rumi Anis

Last Monday we visited the newest baby in our community, that is Rumi Anis Maftechuk who just recently turned two months old. He and mommy Minoo are doing well. Enna-Marie was happy to see her new friend, she was enjoying the hanging stuff in the play pen and also was curious to see the swing they have for Rumi.

Update on My Sleeping...

For the past seven days I've slept by myself in my own room for the very first time!! At first I was missing daddy and mommy very much at night but now I'm getting used to it. Last night was the first time I slept through the night they said. Every night before I fall asleep I still have to cry a bit, but I think I'm beginning to figure out how to do it without mommy's help (nightfeeding)! The first night I cried for almost 35 minutes, but last night I was asleep after only 3 minutes! It is difficult for mommy and daddy hearing me cry, but they said it is for my own good. Next weekend they will put up a wall border so that my room becomes even nicer than it already is!

Below is a picture mommy took of me sleeping early morning of my sixth day alone in my crib.

Weekend Cleaning with Daddy

During the first day of the Fast, Maarten decided it was time to do some cleaning up on our balcony garden. The ficus tree got a trim, and so did the rose bushes and a couple of other plants. You can already see that spring must now soon be coming because most plants are budding with new life. Enna-Marie also joined in the activities and helped daddy clean up. She's also able now to climb by herself on the ledge.

First day of the fast...

At this first day of the fast, we went to our dear friends Arnold and Canan's place and had dinner with them. As always, we had some delicious Filipino food (sinigang na baboy and chicken adobo). Enna-Marie liked the food so much that she finished her bowl of rice with the sinigang. Mom Menchie and dad Maarten also had more than one plate (he..he..). Necati, who is in Haifa for the weekend from Jerusalem, joined us as well. Mildred later also came over.

We are happy and excited for Canan and Arnold as Canan is expecting and due in August. You can see from the photo below they already got a baby cot.

Happy fasting to everyone!

First Ayyam-i-Ha Party

Enna-Marie had her first Ayyam-i-Ha pizza party with the children at the Baha'i World Centre. She had lots of fun, enjoyed so much the activities prepared for the children. We look forward to the next year's party.

First, she gave her gift to Shiori

We enjoyed some pizzas too
and the singing...

beautiful banner upstairs

face painting

clay making (play dough)

fishing

treasure hunting and decorating of treasure chests

baloon making

and some art coloring

group picture with the newest addition to the BWC family, Rumi Anis

Our happy little princess

...ready to go home!

Happy Ayyam-i-Há!

The Intercalary Days (February 26-March 1 inclusive) should be the days of preparation for the Fast, days of hospitality, charity and gifts.

Here's an idea of what we can do at this Ayyam-i-Há period (thanks to the Family Liaison Committee of the Bahá’í World Centre for sharing this to us):

The service wreath is a grapevine wreath, decorated with flowers (silk orreal) and lights, that is hung horizontally from the ceiling using threewide satin ribbons. Hanging down from the wreath by curling ribbon are numerous 4-in square cards, wrapped in metallic paper, and each containing a message of a service or thoughtful deed. To make the cards, cut numerous 4-in squares of tagboard. Write a good deed on each one. Center the squares diagonally on 6x6 inch pieces of metallic origami paper. Fold the points to the center of the square so all the points meet. Seal with a sticker. Use a paper punch to make a hole in one corner; and thread curling ribbon through the hole. After hanging the wreath, tie the cards to dangle below, and add extra steamers of curling ribbon as desired. This is a very festive and beautiful decoration. Beginning on the night before Ayyam-i-Ha (evening of February 25), our family gathers by the wreath to say prayers and read from the Writings on the importance of deeds and service. After prayers, each child cuts off one of the cards from the wreath and opens it to learn what his special deed is for the following day. The next evening, after the deeds have been done, we again gather by the wreath and the children receive a small gift as a reward for the service they completed. We again say prayers and the children cut off another card from the wreath. This helps us all stay focused on the importance of being of service. On the last day ofAyyam-i-Ha there are always lots of presents under the wreath for everyone.

Some ideas for the service cards:

- All day long, pick up trash and debris wherever you see it-look hard! Put it in the trash can, making the world a more beautiful place.

- Clean up your room without being asked.

- Write a special card for your teacher, telling her or him at least one very specific thing you really appreciate.

- Write a thank you note to someone whose work often goes unnoticed.

- Select one toy or book from your room to give to a local charity for children.

- Show up at a friend or relative's home and offer to help with chores for one hour.

- Make treats to take to school to share with your teacher and classmates.

- Look for a person who is having a bad day, then tell that person something good about himself - help this person feel better.

- Make a list of five things you like about each of your parents, brothers, and sisters. Share the list with them.

- Call someone when you know he or she won't be home and sing a holiday song to the answering machine.

- Feed the outdoor wildlife - birds and squirrels.

(This idea was modified from an idea for an advent wreath in the December 1996 edition of Better Homes and Gardens magazine.)

Ayyam-i-Há song to share:

Ayyam-i-Há
by Candace Moore Hill

Have a Merry Intercalary Have a Happy Ayyam-i-Ha
Have a Merry Intercalary Have a Happy Ayyam-i-Ha
The Days of Ha Proclaimed by Baha'u'llah
The Days of Ha Proclaimed by Baha'u'llah