haparsim at night

tonight is the commemoration of the Ascension of Abdu'l-Baha. it's a holy day observed by Baha'is all over the world, but what is so special about it here is that one has the opportunity to visit house of 'Abdu'l-Baha in haifa where he passed away, as well as his shrine where he is laid to rest.

right now the doors of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice are being opened and the staff and pilgrims will enter for the program that will begin at midnight (to coincide with the hour which Abdu'l-Baha passed away). victor is going to attend the program tonight while i stay home with aliyah.

earlier i had such a nice evening... victor, aliyah and i went along with our friends shingo, amelia and baby shiori, to the house of Abdu'l-Baha. it was so moving to be in the candle-lit room where he took his final breaths. seeing the very bed he slept in, his taj and other personal effects made his presence all the more stronger. ... such a beautiful experience.

later we brought aliyah home after saying a final good-bye to lua (leaving tomorrow). then i went to the Shrine of Abdu'l-Baha and read passages about his final days, his passing and some of his final words to the Baha'is. i could have stayed there all night... feeling so happy and so blessed to be here.

victor and aliyah in front of the house of Abdu'l-Baha at #7 haparsim

the beginning of a good-bye

One of my dearest friends here, Lua (center, green sweater), is leaving the Baha'i World Centre to go back home to Houston. Though there are still a few days left before her departure, tonight was the beginning of the painful process of saying good-bye.. something that's a part of almost everyday life here. Still, no matter how often you do it, it never gets any easier.

my, how we've grown

aliyah at 18 months