Dutch Summer School

Maarten with brother Jorrit and nephew Kian

cousins Minou & Enna-Marie meeting again this summer



friends Ysa & EM are reunited, these two met at last year's summer school

mommy Shirin & baby Sabine

best friends

cousin Nadim



daily morning gathering of the friends for prayers & some singing too

children at the end get some musical instruments that they play while everyone sings



we're glad we joined (& graduated too) the Ruhi Book 5 class on junior youth animator

Wendy...one of the facilitators

two more facilitators, from left: Lauren & Oscar, with Rob & Mahasti from Bunnik

one activity we did was to write some good qualities of a junior youth animator in colorful baloons...

...while on red baloons, we were asked to write the bad things we should remove

EM joined the kinderklas

Maarten & Minou

EM with Dan at the playground

Currently visiting family in Holland

Camping trip

What a wonderful time we spent with the Filipino friends, spouses and children this past weekend's camping. We went to Zelon, Tiberias and stayed for 2 nights. This was the last camping experience with some of our friends (Rhea and Franco Aquino, Marcelina Duldulao, Remigia Cabute and Alberto Japones) as they are finishing their term of service this year. So we had a blast, as always we enjoyed the Filipino food and desserts, siesta and chatting time, games, "kodakan" (picture taking), studying together on junior youth, and swimming.

Our singing girl

Enna-Marie loves singing. Her teacher in Gan recently praised her singing of Hebrew songs. Mommy Menchie lately introduced a song to her entitled "I Am But A Small Voice" which was sung by an international Filipina singer Lea Salonga, who was 10 years old then when her first album "Small Voice" was released in 1981. We will soon post a video of her singing this song. Meantime, here are three photos taken while practicing this song one afternoon at home wearing her favorite blue gown.

Visiting families and friends to Haifa...

Charlie, Nika & Lilli Wong from United Kingdom visited the Holy Land recently

the Wongs and Schoots with Iman Yazdani sitting in the middle

buddies Charlie & Maarten with EM

Lilli playing in Kat Katim

Lilli & EM playing at home

beautiful daughters of Luster Lai who came for Pilgrimage with their parents. Luster (not in photo) is originally from the Philippines but now resides with her family in Australia

Oscar Domingo (wearing blue shirt) was also here on pilgrimage

group photo with the Mohajer family, Filipino friends serving at the World Centre with their families plus visiting friends & pilgrims

Visit at home
of Fleur & Hamed Sharafizad, kids Anis & Jordane, Flora Sharafizad & Oscar Domingo

lovely couple Fleur & Hamed

EM playing with Jordane, while Anis is busy writing with auntie Flora

reunion of Menchie, Oscar & Arnold...these three were old buddies back home who used to see each other in national gatherings such as national convention, summer/winter schools, youth camp & other youth activities. Oscar presently resides in Australia.

Choir concert...

I had the bounty of singing with the Bahaí World Centre choir during the inauguration of the Terraces in Haifa in 2001 and continued singing with the choir in various events and Holy Days until few years ago. The choir director Franco Aquino, an amazing talent, conducted the choir for 9 and half years. Recently the choir had a concert entitled "Music Mosaic" which was held at the auditorium of the International Teaching Centre Building. This was the last concert of Franco and his wife Rhea before they will depart from the World Centre. The friends gave him a tribute that evening for his valued service in the choir. Well done Franco, Rhea and the rest of the members. I am thankful for being part of the choir and will cherish all the wonderful singing experiences we had together.