The family of Deborah Lang Bley Hampton request your prayers for her soul,
which departed this earth peacefully on Saturday, March 6th, after a 15 year
struggle with breast cancer. Debbi possessed a truly radiant and
tender-hearted spirit, inspiring devotion among her friends and family.

She had a profound loyalty to the Cause of Baha'u'llah, serving the Faith
loyally from the age of 20 as a travel teacher, editor of Brilliant Star
magazine, member of the Editorial Board of the Baha'i Publishing Trust,
delegate to the national convention, children's class teacher, and member of
Spiritual Assemblies in Baltimore County, MD; Harford County, MD; Hamilton
Country, TN; and Chattanooga, TN. She was a talented musician and the
author of Slapped Awake, A Breast Cancer Journey in Poetry and Prose.

She is survived by her husband, Stephen Nelson Hampton; her daughter, Hollin
Bley Blaylock and husband Rodney Blaylock, step-children, Laura Hampton
Nance and former husband Ron Nance; Christopher Nelson Hampton and wife
Jennifer; brother Jeffrey Mark Lang and wife Teresa; sister Audrey Helen
Critchfield and niece Helen Critchfield; and grandchildren: Naomi Bley,
Lindi Blaylock, Jesseca and Colby Nance, Kistler, Avery, and Prescott
Hampton; and Kylan and Sajin Cyr.

Mary K. Radpour

Sunni passed to the Abha Kingdom, today
. It was from her daughter, about 20 minutes ago.ON FACE BOOKS

Delight not yourselves in the things of the world and its vain ornaments, neither set your hopes on them. Let your reliance be on the remembrance of God, the Most Exalted, the Most Great.

~ Bahá’u’lláh

This is one of Sunni's emails

That was a great article. And it is a very good plan that can be implemented in any community even if on a less formal basis. Actually I speak from experience because I live in a very small Baha’i Community where the Friends, out of love for the Blessed Beauty and each other, quietly work together to give support and assistance to each other so that no one’s needs go unattended.

I am the grateful recipient of their love and assistance. Because of them I continue to live by myself and they kindly allow me to keep the illusion (or is it delusion) that I am still independent.

We meet together often. We pray together, study the Holy Writings together, work on projects together, teach the Faith together, and just plain enjoy being with each other, any occasion will do. During the Fast we come together every evening to pray and break the Fast. Every one of the 12 Days of Ridvan is an occasion to be together every evening, studying the Holy Writings, praying together and sharing a meal while we marvel at the wonderful bounty we have been given by being allowed to know and serve the Blessed Perfection.

Two different families have keys to my apartment. I get at least one phone call every day to see if I need anything. There is always someone to make certain I get to doctor’s appointments, get to the lab for tests, etc. Groceries are picked up. If something needs repairing there is someone to make certain it gets done. I know if I need anything I just have to pick up the phone. And this only the tip of the ice berg.

Assembly meetings, deepenings, firesides and devotional meetings are held at my place so that I can always participate. For meetings held elsewhere there is always someone to make certain I get there.

And you know, I am a participating member of the Community. No matter what is going on there is always something I can do. Okay, so it’s not like it used to be. I can no longer travel teach. Someone else has to do the running around. But my brain and my tongue still work as well as ever, so just prop me up somewhere and give me a job to do.

I liked what the article said about thinking as a village. As more and more of our Baha’i Communities begin to see themselves as villages and not just some meeting place; as more and more of our Communities begin to see themselves truly as families, then it will no longer be necessary to have to develop special projects to care for any members of the Community, be they young or old.

It is not something that is hard to do. It just means concentrating our energies and resources on serving the Blessed Beauty and loving, enjoying each other the way the Master loved and enjoyed us.

As for me, I plan to be an active, participating member of the Baha’i Community until my last breath. Old folks homes are not for me. And, with a lot of help from my friends, you will never find me shut up in one.

Sunni

Dear friends,

Today, 4^th November we are remembering the passing of our youngest son

dear Alexander

He died of leukemia when he was 11 years and 11months old.

Please remember him in your daily prayers.

We have dedicated to Alexander all our services

{conferences, workshops, books (Christianity Renewed Vol. 1,2 and 3)}

to explain to the wider public of Christian background

the link between Christ and Baha’u’llah.

Please find attached a tribute/poems which my wife Helen has written

for the Australian Baha’i bulletin.

O BAHA’U’LLAH WHAT HAST THOU DONE?

&#14 7;Thou shalt find me in the heaven of the Lord, immersed in an ocean of light”

& #160; `Abdu’l-Baha

Our beautiful little boy plunged into the “Ocean of Light” on the 4th November, 1996. He was 11 years and 11 months old. His name is Alexander Thomas Olinga Vloeberghs. .

Alexander had been fighting Leukemia for three and a half years, and had two years of intensive chemotherapy as well as a bone marrow transplant, and all during that time he never complained. As soon as he left the isolation ward after six months, he turned cartwheels outside the back gate of the hospital. After all his suffering he expected to be O.K. but three days after his much adored sister Shirin left for Maxwell International Baha’i School in Canada, he had his second relapse. The doctors told him that the leukemia had come back and that there was nothing they could do. They told us he had only a few weeks to live. He was so prepared for going to the other world and eager to explore that new realm. He was looking forward to his journey. But before he left he had a few things to do. One thing he wanted was to see the snow. Thanks to the ‘Make a Wish Foundation’ we were able to go within a few days. His sister came back from Canada and we all went as a family to Mt. Hotham.

Alex was a natural athlete. Before his illness he was chosen by the Australian Institute of Sports to train in an elite gymnastic squad of only f our boys who were chosen from the best gymnasts in Brisbane. Their goal was the 2000 Olympics. It was during an intensive training session that he felt tired and we noticed that something was wrong. He was diagnosed on 15 May, 1993. During his chemotherapy he wasn’t able to swim for almost two years because of the risk of infection. When he was able to do so, he jumped into the school pool and won every race in his age group and got a medal for overall champion. He was also a great basketball player. The last time he played he was so sick he could hardly run. His team hadn’t got a goal, and just before the game was over Alex took a rebound out near the line. He had his back to th e goal, but he bounced the ball twice, crouched down, turned, jumped and shot in one liquid movement, and hit the goal. It was a moment of pure beauty that will forever be etched in my memory.

The first time he got on a snow board at the top of the beginners hill he just sailed down to the bottom not falling once. The first day we had to help him walk up. The second day he was able to walk up himself. Then he and Maxwell, his brother, started making snow mounds to jump over. At night the boys watched a snow board video and the next day they went out and did all the tricks. After the s now we were able to visit the Temple and our extended family in Sydney. Alex was also a poet and he wrote a poem for the Make a Wish Foundation to thank them.

We’re off to see the snow,

The wonderful, wonderful snow,

Because, because, because,

I made a wish to go.

My family’s coming too,

Because its no fun without them

or you,

Because you made my wish come true.

When I see myself dancing in the snow,

The wonderful, wonderful snow,

Then I’ll know its time for me to go.

Alexander

Alex loved to do magic shows for the six beautiful young girls in our community. His most famous trick was a levitation which he did with Max. His stage name was Alex Sp arkle. He wanted to be a magician.

In Papua New Guinea when Alex was small, one day I wanted to go out to do some Baha’i work, but he needed me and I couldn’t go. I lay down on the bed next to him and cried. Then I heard a voice which said to me “If you train him properly he will teach ten times more people than you in future” At that same moment I smelt the most heavenly perfume of attar of roses which filled the room. Alex was always teaching the Faith. He taught his little friends at school, many of whom consider themselves to be Baha’is. When we were in the hospital, we gave the message to everyone we could, including the nurses and parents. One morning whilst he was asleep I was able to give the Message to three people. When he awoke I told him this and he said, boy I will have to get busy if I am going to teach ten times more than you. Well he did just that, but a hundred times more instead. At his memorial service held here at Forest Hill, our family’s homefront pioneer post, almost three hundred people attended. And, faithful to the admonitions of the Guardian, he has laid his bones to rest in his pioneer post. The effect of this Baha’i funeral will ripple out over this region and the hearts of those souls who are receptive will vibrate.

At the memorial service, everyone received a program with a most beautiful selection of Holy Writings. The service was conducted with great dignity and to utmost perfection by Auxiliary Board Member Mr. John Walker. Our little local community of Laidley, including all the children, rallied around and in total love and unity, just like many souls in one body, were busy in preparing and decorating the rustic country hall where the service was held. The ladies from Toowoomba and Logan arranged a most magnificent luncheon. Their selflessness and loving attention to detail reminded me of stories of the gracious qualities of servitude evinced by the Greatest Holy Leaf. The hall was filled with magnificent flowers sent from Gold Coast, Ipswich, B risbane and Toowoomba. The Baha’i communities of Perth and Bundaberg decided to give a donation to the Arc Fund in Alex’s name. In effect, the coming together of all the Baha’is from great distances and in utmost love, has shown my non-Baha’i family just what a Baha’i community is capable of doing. Their most vibrant, tangible unity was visable to all present. Many people commented on what a great support the Baha’i community was to us. A Baha’i youth came to me and said that the previous night he had a dream in which he was attending a wonderful, joyous birthday party. Then when he arrived and saw the hall decorated with golden bows on all the pews, he said this is the place in my dream. Later when the cake came out, he was so excited and said th at he saw the cake in the dream too. This dream was most appropriate because the whole day was really like a celebration of Alex’s birth into the next world.

Before Alex’s passing he was busy preparing himself spiritually. We went out at 4.30a.m. every morning to watch the sun rise and we said 95 times the Greatest Name and 95 times the Remover of Difficulties. It was so symbolic because in one text `Abdu’l-Baha says “Time with us is measured by the sun. When there is no more sunrise, and no more sunset, that kind of time does not exist for man”. So Alex was looking at his last sunrises. It also symbolized the rising of the “Sun of Truth”, and also the sun is the physical counterpart for the Manifestation of God who gives light and life to the world. On Saturday, just two days before he died he was very weak and could hardly walk, so I didn’t wake him and went myself to pray. I was praying when suddenly a little figure appeared shuffling along in thongs with sox on. He asked me “why didn’t you wake me up Mummy?” “I said I didn’t think you would see the sun because of all the clouds”. Then he said “I don’t come to see the sun, I come to say the prayers”.

Speaking of prayers, i t is impossible to adequately describe the support, love, strength and complete composure that the prayers of the Baha’i community can give. Our family have been blessed with the most vehement support in the form of prayers for our dearest little Alex. To our Beloved House of Justice, the National Spiritual Assemblies of Australia and Papua New Guinea, the Local Spiritual Assemblies, to the most steadfast Baha’is, one and all, we offer our most heartfelt thanks. It is a pity that only when a calamity of such great magnitude strikes that we call on this great power of prayer with such a passion. I am lost in awe of the power of prayer. Through it we have been able to sustain our loss without being overwhelmed by the negative emotions of grief. We feel we are cushioned and sur rounded by a pink cloud of love, through which no pain can penetrate.

On the morning of his passing Alex was muttering to himself, Mirza, Mirza. I asked him who he was speaking to and he said to me very clearly, “Oh you know, the one who fell through the roof” So he must have been in communion with his beloved Mirza Midhi. During the afternoon he was sitting up but appeared to be asleep whilst music from the World Congress tape was playing. His father, Marc, was sitting next to him. Then suddenly Alex opened his eyes and said in a loud and clear voice - “O Baha’u’llah, what hast thou done.” Marc thought he was getting better and gave him a kiss on the forehead and embraced him as never before. Then Marc sat down to say the Tablet of Ahmad. He had only said three lines when Alex slumped over and his soul departed from this mortal world. It was so sudden we weren’t sure he had passed away. His last words on this earthly life were an affirmation of his faith.

The first people who came into the house after his passing were a family from Fiji. We felt that this was a sign because we have been planning to pioneer to Fiji to fill a goal of the Four Year Plan for our beloved National Assembly.

When we buried Alex we put some holy dust that we had swept off the grave of Mirza Mihdi into Alex’s pocket. That holy dust will be joined with his earthly dust forever. At the graveside the children all sent messages tied with ribbons to balloons up into the heavens. It was a beautiful sight.

When we were on pilgrimage, Dr. Ruhe told us a touching story about one of `Abdu’l-Baha’s sons, Husayn, who loved to explore and always wanted Baha’u’llah to take him out for a picnic under the fir trees.& #160; Husayn died when he was 4 years old. His epitaph revealed by Baha’u’llah reads: “Husayn, son of Ayn, Health and children are an endowment with life. A greater hope and a better reward with your Lord are good deeds. He was an adornment of the Exalted Paradise. We see him now in the Exalted Paradise engaged, by God’s Grace, in sightseeing.” I feel with my whole heart that Alex is now also sightseeing in that Heavenly Realm.

To my son.

Alex, my sweet child of light,

You die in your youth,

You take your flight,

Transverse, return to reunite.

Return to the sun, ray of light,

Now absorbed in eternal delight.

They greet you, the Hosts on High,

With them you recound your life gone by.

Now at last,

Mysteries you can ask:

“Why is it so,

I was chosen to go,

I’m not complaining,

I’d just like to know”

Thence the reply:

“Far better for thee,

This saga of woe,

Than a myriad lives,

This ye must know,

For your light will shine,

On all mankind,

Welcome home, Welcome home”

Love from Mummy.

Christianity Renewed
Maxwell Alexander
mvloeb@gmail.com

Courtroom Blooms With Feeling As Lerner Is Mourned
by Molly Morris

Nov. 1, 2008 -- The staid courtroom of V.I. Superior Court Judge Brenda J. Hollar was transformed into a cathedral Saturday by the outpouring of love and compassion for her law clerk Gabriel "Gabe" Lerner, a young man who in a few short months in the Virgin Islands affected the lives of so many, before his shooting death last week.
A photo of a blooming lavender lotus filled a screen in the front of the courtroom, under a banner reading "You are forever in our hearts. Possess a pure, kindly and radiant heart."
The stiff benches became pews filled with folks -- members of the young man's Baha'i faith, his family, by the Superior Court family which adopted him, by new friends -- who spoke of Lerner's open and giving nature, and his immediate love of his adopted Virgin Islands home.
( Click for rest of article )

None appeared more affected than Hollar herself, wiping away tears as she sat flanked by a battery of colleagues: retired Judge Verne A. Hedge, Superior Court judges James Carroll III and Leon Kendall and St. Croix Judge George W. Cannon.
In a letter to Lerner's parents, Dr. Jerome Lerner and Jennifer Wanasek, Hollar said in part, "Gabriel was such a special and extraordinary person. Indeed to know Gabriel was to love him. Within minutes of interviewing him....I experienced an immediate but unmistakable bond with Gabriel which grew exponentially with each passing day. The enthusiasm, exuberance and energy Gabriel displayed with every assignment given to him was a joy to behold."
Lerner was murdered Oct. 26. Two suspects, a minor whose name cannot be released and 22-year-old Devon A. Frett, have been charged with robbing, kidnapping and killing Lerner after he stopped near Cassi Hill in Smith Bay to give them a ride early Sunday morning. (See: "Devon Frett Charged with Murder in Death of Gabriel Lerner.")
According to Joan Bennett, another Baha'i, Lerner was on his way to Lindqvist Beach for Baha'i devotions and to teach the Junior Youth Group. The Baha'i faith emphasizes the underlying unity of the major world religions.
Attorney Alan Smith stood solemnly in the well, now a nave, asking only that everyone meditate for a moment on the words of Baha'u'llah, who founded the religion that bears his name, which prefaced the Baha'i memorial booklet. "Be as one spirit, one soul, leaves of one tree, flowers of one garden, waves of one ocean."
Smith said, "Gabriel must be the most loving law clerk in all the world," a sentiment echoed throughout the day.
Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson-Doty, sitting alone in the back of the courtroom, said, "It's the internal love, not the external.. It's a sense of the value of life that is so important when people lose someone. This so sadly impacts our community. My heart goes out to the family. I, too, have a young son. I can relate to the tragedy."
Nicholson-Doty said she did not personally know Lerner, but her assistants Monique Sibilly Hodge and Allegra Kean have been working with the family. "It's six degrees of separation," she said. "Everyone knows someone who was touched by this young man."
Smith said Lerner "Created an explosion of love in this community. He loved this island and this courtroom and Judge Hollar." Lerner had been admitted to the V.I. Bar just a few days before his death.
The courtroom was filled with a mixture of voices as family members, friends, and youngsters from the Baha'i Junior Youth group paid tribute to Lerner. Richie Hunt, a Charlotte Amalie High School ninth grader, said, "When I first met him at the beach, I didn't want to go home. I wanted to stay with Gabe and become a member of his church. He changed my life. If I didn't know something, he would sit with me and help. I'll miss him so much."
The Superior Court Memorial book was filled with tributes from District and Superior Court judges, along with those from Gov. John deJongh Jr., Lt. Gov. Gregory Francis and Senate President Usie Richards.
Occasional moments of humor lightened the day. Lerner's parents had the courtroom laughing when they told of their son's "eclectic" taste in books and music: "Snoop Dog, alongside Beethoven, and Nietzsche alongside a guide to ballroom dancing."
On a more serious note, Lerner's father said, "When he met Judge Hollar, his life took off. It was the only time in his life he was totally happy. He was home at last."
Carroll, who lost his 19-year old son Jason to gun violence in 2000, was visibly touched by Lerner's death. He said, "Though it was eight years ago, I feel it every day, myself." Speaking of Lerner's parents, Carroll said, "It took me years to get to the stage of grieving where they are now."
Carroll said his wife, Celia, was off-island, or "she would be here helping." Celia Carroll, with her husband's support, started the local chapter of Mothers Against Guns shortly after Jason's death.
The cruel irony of Lerner's death -- losing his life as the result of kindness -- was not lost on the family or those in the courtroom. However, his uncle, Jeffrey Lerner concluded the family's remarks: "Don't carry around bitterness and anger about how he died. Gabe would never want that."
His mother thanked the community for "the love and the warmth they have shown us."
"I have one request," she said. "I ask you to talk to someone in the Baha'i faith, to learn a bit about Gabriel."

Monday, Nov. 3, 2008

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

Contact St. Thomas Source | Search OnePaper

TO MY LORD

TO MY LORD

O Thou who assure the returns of the days and nights
O Thou who rekindle the bones who fall like dust
Thy words light my extinguish flame

O lumiere pourpre qui baigne toute choses!
comment cette forme mouvante de poussiere
cet ame sans vie sans esprit sans intelligence
peut te louer toi l'incomparable
qui est au-dessus de louanges des Saints des saints, !!
ou est la louange de DAVID ~!!


OU EST LES PSAUMES EN TON HONNNEUR
ESAIE ! JOSUE !REVEILLER VOUS !!
IL EST VENU DANS LA GRANDE GLOIRE
LES CLOCHES DU CIEL ONT SONNER L'APPEL

Thy Greatest Name flash my drooping soul
OThou who are far from me because of my trespasses
please O beloved of my heart
show to this servant the path of thy True lovers
The bird song of THOMAS in celebrating thy greatness and praise's
hasten to offer his earthly life in praising Thy Grandeur

The faith of FARIS who regnonise thy sublime station
.... in his letter we read
O! thou who converse on the Sinai
by the love of your son Jesus
and beloved friend Muhamad ......
blessed be the imortal lovers
the transforming power of Mulla hussein ...
who hear the voice of Gabriel
and acclaiming to the universe thy glad tidings of the new dawn

there came Badi the celestial coursier
who brave the fire in giving your message
o celestial martyrs
thousands upon thousands
hasten in giving their life
for Love of Thee
O BAHA'U'LLAH O BAHA'U'LLAH
o words you fail to import the meaning
no words can adequately robes the spirituality of this wondrous souls how could you ??

what power can a shadowy creature claim to posess when face to face with the uncreated

he who is not reborn in this age will remain eternally dead

ANNOUNCEMENT:

Our dear friend Arthella (Artie) Phelps made her way to the Abha
Kingdom last Wednesday evening. Beloved wife of Ray, mother of Paul,
Scott and Stacey, grandmother, spiritual mother and dearest friend to
so many of us. A true and precious soul... kind, generous,
friendly... filled with the virtues of a true Baha'i.

PSALM
This is a psalm of a new day:
~~Listen;
This is a song of the promised day:
~~Hear;
This is a prayer of the day of God:
~~Waken, draw near;
Raise the Glory of God
~~In worship;
Praise of the return of Christ:
~~Stand witness;
Thank His return in the name of the Father:
~~Bow low;
His name, Baha'u'llah.
~~Selah.

PSAUME
Voici un psaume d'un nouveau Jour.
Écoute !
Voici un chant du Jour Promis.
Entends !
Voici une prière du Jour de Dieu.
Lève-toi, approches !
Élève la Gloire de Dieu,
En adoration !
Loue le Retour du Christ
Sois témoin !
Remercie Son retour au Nom du Père
Baisse-toi en adoration !
Son Nom est Bahá'u'lláh !
Prie !
(Psaume par Marley, traduction libre par Moro Baruk)

Funeral of Mrs Firoozeh Yaganegi

Friday, 25 July, at 11am the Funeral of Mrs Firoozeh Yaganegi was held at Mona
Vale cemetery at the foot hill of the Baha'i House of Worship,
Sydney. Over 200 hundred of family and friends attended the ceremony
despite rain. Firoozeh Yaganegi, Was one of the friends that took the
call of The Guardian to pioneer and became a Knight of Baha'u'llah.
She was a caring lady and always loved by friends. She was known as
Mama Yeganegi. She traveled 23 times from Australia to Fiji to teach
the cause. A Message from Universal House of Justice was read at her
burial, testifying to her 70 years of service and informing the
family that the prayers will be said for the progress of her soul at
the shrines.

With regards,

"Handmaiden and Sacrifice"

Verse 1

The first Spirit through which all spirits were revealed.

The first Light by which all lights shone forth.

Rest upon thee, O Most Exalted Leaf.

Happy art thou, O My handmaiden and my Leaf.

All honour and glory circled around thee.

You are His consort in all the worlds of God.

Saintly Navvab, rejoice rejoice me lot.

You make my cherished wish fulfilled.

I will remember you night and day but still,

forgive us that have turned unto thee.

Chorus

Make us follow your footsteps,

Guide us in our noble quest.

Under the shadow of the Bab,

Purest Branch and Saintly Navvab.

Make us follow your footsteps,

Guide us in our noble quest.

Under the shadow of the Bab,

Purest Branch and Saintly Navvab.

Verse 2

You are the Trust of God and His treasure in this Land.

Great is thy blessedness, O Purest Branch.

Soon Jah will reveal through thee what He have desired.

From you, all the dwellers of this world, will be united.
The earth itself trembled in its longing to meet thee.

If we only knew the mysteries of your ascension,

Everyone shall awake from their wronged vision.

All would be set ablaze with the fire of remembrance.

Mirza Mihdi, O Purest Branch.

Unity shall be the fruit of this Holy Branch.

Chorus

Make us follow your footsteps,

Guide us in our noble quest.

Under the shadow of the Bab,

Purest Branch and Saintly Navvab.

Make us follow your footsteps,

Guide us in our noble quest.

Under the shadow of the Bab,

Purest Branch and Saintly Navvab.

Make us follow your footsteps,

Guide us in our noble quest.

Under the shadow of the Bab,

Purest Branch and Saintly Navvab.

Make us follow your footsteps,

Guide us in our noble quest.

Under the shadow of the Bab,

Purest Branch and Saintly Navvab.

(Author : Brian Dholah, inspired by the Holy writings)

03.07.2008

Aram Adlparvar, A little sweetness has moved on.

Beloved Friends,
It is with a heavy heart that I beg your forgiveness for bringing you thissad and tragic news. One never wants to share news of this type, but I feelcompelled to do so as you would not forgive me if I did not.
Our son, Aram Robert Adlparvar, in the early evening of July 10th, (a dayafter the Bab's martyrdom) was involved in a car accident, and was mortallyinjured. Thankfully no one else was involved.
His name was a gift to our family in 1975 by the Hand of the Cause of God,Abu'l-Qasim Faizi who was a very dear family friend. Aram truly personifiedthe meaning of his name (Serene) as he always had a special demeanor ofcalmness and joy about him. I think all that knew him would attest to the way hewould enter a room and brighten the hearts of all therein. As a father I canhonestly say that he made fatherhood easy. He was the sparkle in my eye, thesmile in my heart, and the joy of my soul. His beaming face, and hisbrilliant sense of humor turned many hearts to a joyous state. This was hispersonality from the moment of his birth in Harare, Zimbabwe, on October 21st 1985(a day after the Bab's Birthday).
His cautious adventure was evident, and he always challenged himself forexcellence in his endeavours. He won a championship with his Crew Rowing team,and also competed in triathlons, marathons and in bike races. He wasenchanted by the written word and sought its finest examples in poetry and pros. In 2004 Aram traveled the world starting with his year of service in anelementary school in Swaziland (Africa), where he fell in love with teaching andmade it the focus of his education. He also became reacquainted with the landof his birth, fell in love with its people and immediately began to pick upthe Zulu and siSwati languages. Within two weeks of his arrival in Swaziland,he was invited to a ceremony where he was adopted by a village and given aSwazi name, 'Tulane'. This name had been picked by the village, as it bestdescribed him. When he asked what it meant, he was told 'the calm or sereneone'. They had no knowledge of the meaning of his original name! After anine month stay, he continued through Asia to Australia where he served at theHouse of Worship, then to New Zealand where he visited a dear friend Harold,on to the Island of Tonga with the Ocean of Light school and the Bolourifamily, and finally to Western Samoa where he served at the House of Worship.His life was driven by his acts of service, as a Youth Animator, and as anAssistant to the Auxiliary Board. In Ridvan of this year, together we had thebounty of a Pilgrimage. Most recently he moved to Rhode Island, USA, tocontinue his education and be close to Magen Cook, a beloved friend.
God, the Great Gardener picked this young rose. I am truly honored that Godwould take Aram for His needs. The gift He gave us was returned to Him. Wepray, "that he may plunge into the sea of light in the world of mysteries."
Cindy and I will be traveling to Rhode Island to take care of the funeralarrangements. Our daughter Nura is already close, as she is serving in GreenAcre. Our first born, Kamran, will (God willing) also join us by flying backfrom the Holy Land where he is serving.
We ask for your Prayers for the progress of this youthful soul, and thepatience and strength for all those beloved ones left behind.
The funeral will be held on Saturday, July 14th in Rhode Island. All arewelcome.
There will also be a memorial gathering held in Southern California nextweek. All are welcome
I thank you from the depths of my heart for your prayers,Payam Adlparvar

passing of Madame Ruth Blackwell

Dear Friends, Last Sunday morning, Madame Ruth Blackwell took her leave of this physical world and winged her way to the worlds of light. Her funeral is scheduled for 9 am this Saturday, 24 November, at the Blackwell Baha'i Institute Building in Titanyin and her mortal remains will then be laid to rest in the nearby Baha'i Cemetary - inaugurating and giving spiritual value to that land. Madame Blackwell returned to Haiti in June 1996 at the age of 88 and, since that time, has been a dearly-loved member of our community. She will be sorely missed. For your information, we are attaching the message sent today to the believers in Haiti. With loving Baha'i greetings, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Haiti

une petite biographie
Mme Ruth BLACKWELL �tait n�e Ruth BROWNE le 14 d�cembre 1907. Elle est devenue Bah��� en ville de Chicago aux �tats Unis en 1934 o� elle a rencontr� M Ellsworth BLACKWELL, un Bah��� solide. Leur union dans l�ann�e 1937 a suivi le conseil d�Abdu�l-Bah� de r�unir les deux races, noirs et blancs, en mariage, mais c��tait un �v�nement tr�s rare � cette �poque. Souvent elle a racont� qu�elle s�est lev�e comme pionnier en r�ponse � l�appelle du bien-aim� Gardien de la Foi, Shoghi Effendi. Elle est arriv�e en Ha�ti en mars 1940. M BLACKWELL l�a rejoint plus tard de cette m�me ann�e, et ils �taient tous les deux membres de la premi�re Assembl�e Spirituelle Locale du pays qui �tait �lue � Port-au-Prince en 1942. Ils �taient membres aussi de la premi�re Assembl�e Nationale des Bah���s d�Ha�ti, �lue en 1961 et ils ont tout les deux particip� par la suite � l��lection de la premi�re Maison Universelle de Justice �lue en 1963. En 1975, sur la demande de la Maison Universelle de Justice, ils ont aid� le d�veloppement de l�Ordre Administratif de Bah��u�ll�h en Afrique, servant comme pionniers d�abord en Madagascar et par la suite au Za�re o� M BLACKWELL a d�c�d� et o� il est enterr�. Depuis c��tait d�conseill� de rester en Za�re comme femme seule, Mme BLACKWELL est retourn�e aux �tats-Unis de l�Am�rique o� elle a servi comme pionnier local, travaillant avec les natifs natals de ce pays. Mais, l�appelle du bien-aim� Gardien de la Foi pour les pionniers internationaux l�a attir� aux Bahamas, o� elle �tait pionnier locale pendant quelques ann�es, enseignant la Foi surtout parmi les Ha�tiens qui vivaient aux Bahamas. Son d�sir de continuer le travail en Ha�ti qu�elle a commenc� en r�ponse � l�appelle du bien-aim� Gardien l�a motiv� de revisiter Ha�ti en l�ann�e de 1995 et de retourner d�finitivement en 1996.

Passing of "Miss Jean," Jean Nicholson

Jean Nicholson, "Miss Jean" to a lot of people, ofGulfport, MS, passed to the Abha Kingdom. She had been an active Baha'i for many decades and a pillar of her community.
She belonged to many Baha'i choirs and sang all over the country.
In her spare time she made pillows of all sizes, shapes and colors that were
given out to just about anybody who visited her home.
Her funeral was held Friday, 04 Jan, at the National Cemetery in Biloxi,
MS.
It was simple and elegant, with her son, Miguel, explaining the Faith to non-Baha'is, and leading in the prayers.
All her children were inattendance as well other family members and Baha'is

from all over the region.

passing of Tahereh Rassekh Radpour

Dear Baha'i friends,
With grieving hearts we share the news of the passing tothe next world of Mrs. Tahereh Rassekh Radpour, in Chattanooga, TN,on Sunday, January 13, 2008,

while surrounded by her loving family.
Mrs. Radpour was 93 years of age at her passing, and she had a longlife of service to the Cause of God.
As a young mother she showed heroic courage in facing down a menacing mob when she and her family pioneered to a village in Iran. When the Beloved Guardian announcedthat Baha'i women in Iran should prepare for participation in Baha'iadministrative service, she took leadership in their education for
this service. She was one of the first two women elected to service on Local Spiritual Assemblies in Iran, and she served as theSecretary of the Tehran Spiritual Assembly for a number of years.
Endowed with a regal bearing and a fearless capacity for speaking the truth, she mentored hundreds of Baha'i youth into leadership roles in the community.

Her loyalty to the Cause and to its institutions,including the Guardian and the Universal House of Justice was exemplary, and she nurtured her large extended family into active service. She leaves 3 children - Kaihan Radpour Strain, IrajRadpour, and Shahrzad Radpour Naderi - 11 grandchildren and 19great-grandchildren.
We request your prayers on her behalf as she enters the sea of light in the world of mysteries.
Visitation will be held on Friday, January 18th from 4 to8 pm at the Chattanooga Funeral Home, North Chapel 5351 Highway 153Hixson, TN 37343. A Memorial service and the reception followingwill be held at 3 pm on Saturday, January 19th, 2008, at TheChattanoogan Hotel, located at 1201 South Broad Street, Chattanooga,TN 37402. Friends who wish to make a donation in Mrs. Radpour'sname are encouraged to remember the Tahirih Justice Center(http://www.tahirih.org/) or Health for Humanity(http://www.healthforhumanity.org/)

Passing of Veronica Wilbourn, [L.A., CA, USA]

Dear friends,
Our dear Baha'i sister, Veronica Wilbourn, of the Los Angelescommunity, winged her way to the Abh=E1 Kingdom on January 24, 2008. Herfuneral will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, February 4, 2008 at:
Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park & Mortuary10621 Victory Blvd.North Hollywood, CA 91606818-763-9121

passing of Don Johnson, Monterey, CA U

Dear Friends,
Our friend and inquisitor, Don Johnson, belovedson of Harold & Marge Johnson, started his journey thisafternoon Sunday, February 2, 2008, to the Kingdom of Abha.
Your prayers for progress of his soul in Kingdom of Abhaare appreciated.
The funeral will be Thursday, February 7 at 2PM atSan Carlos Cemetery near Lake El Estero in Monterey.Marge and Harold are trying to arrange somewhere foreveryone to gather afterwards and maybe have somethingto eat, probably near the cemetery.
On behalf of the Johnson family,

Passing of Heshmatollah Ehsani

On behalf of Mehrdad Ehsani...
Dear Friends,
My father, Heshmatollah Ehsani, passed away peacefully, yesterday at4:30PM in his home, in Bryan Texas. He was surrounded by family andclose friends and took his last breath while listening to prayers thatwere being said for him.
He lived a long and victorious life and died in peace and contentment.His last clear words a couple of days before his passing were "ghorbaneshoma beram" or I love you all.
Funeral services will be held this Sunday, February 24, 2008, at 3:00 PMin Memorial Funeral Chapel, 2901 Texas Avenue South, College Station,Texas, 77845, (979) 694-8615. There will be a website established forvisitation by family and friends that are far away. A reception will beheld, after the burial services, at 5:00PM at our home, 2105 Fawn Court,College Station, Texas.
With Love,Mehrdad Ehsani

Memorial Video - passing of prominent Iraqi Baha'i

Abir Majid is a very dear friend of mine.
He was born in the hospital which now stands where the Ridvan garden was located in Baghdad Iraq.
He was born where Baha'u'llah announced his mission to the world.
He grew up in Baghdad.
Abir's father, Saddiq Majid, was the chairman of the Iraq NSA.
When the Baha'i National Center was taken over by Saddam Hussein's government and all the contents were stolen -- it was Saddiq Majid who stood at the door and demanded an accounting of everything that was taken.
For that he was put in the infamous Abu Ghraib prison.
He was released 10 years later when he went blind in prison.
Abir doesn't mention it but the entire family was put in prison - Abir included.
Abir has told me stories about how he was bastinadoed in prison - the soles of his feet were beaten. Abir spent over a year in prison. His crime - and the crime of his family members - was being a Baha'i.
Abir wrote some of the Islam articles on my prophecy-fulfilled webpage plus he wrote http://bci.org/islam-bahai/ ---
which has had millions of hits.
I met Sadiq Majid. I heard him speak. I even did a two hour long video interview with him where he tells his life story
. The attached video tribute of Abir's father is very touching. We lost a great Baha'i when Sadiq Majid left this world.
-Joel
Note: forwarded message attached.
I hope all of you are doing well. For those of you who could not join us at the memorial gathering for my dad, I thought I would share with you a video clip / slide show prepared by my niece which includes some photos of his life, and tributes by his 5 grandchildren. The audience at the memorial liked it, and I hope you like it too.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdTPH13eKN8 Thanks. - Abir

Passing of Parvaneh Kennedy, [MA, USA]

it is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our belovedParvaneh Kennedy early this morning.
Death proffereth unto every confident believer the cup that is life indeed.It bestoweth joy, and is the bearer of gladness. It conferreth the gift ofeverlasting life. As to those that have tasted of the fruit of man's earthlyexistence, which is the recognition of the one true God, exalted be Hisglory, their life hereafter is such as We are unable to describe. Theknowledge thereof is with God, alone, the Lord of all worlds. (Baha'u'llah:Gleanings, Pages: 345-346)
The Memorial Service will be held at 10:am Saturday March 15, 2008
Nordgren Memorial Chapel300 Lincoln St.Worcester, MA 01605508-852-2161
For Directions:http://www.nordgrenmemorialchapel.com/
Graveside Service will immediately follow Memorial at Hope Cemetery
Hope Cemetery119 Webster StreetWorcester, Ma 01603
http://www.friendsofhopecemetery.com/directions.htm

Passing of Harvey King

Dear Friends,
We, the family of Harvey King, send deepest love and gratitude to all of thefriends for their most loving prayers and support.
Following confirmed prayers by the Universal House of Justice and many ofyou, Harvey passed on peacefully, into our beloved Abha Kingdom the eveningof March 11, 2008.
With interest and confirmation of another sort in the power of prayer, itwas just 10 days short of 35 years ago he was in the hospital with aprognosis of "no hope" following surgery for cancer. With that, the manyfriends prayed for healing, he regained good health, the cancer neveroccurred again. His passing followed many healthful, happy and fruitfulyears serving and teaching our beloved Faith and we, his family members aremost grateful for the gift of that time to be with and serve with him.
We hope this short history will confirm all of our understandings of ourneed for each other and the power within our blessed Faith.
Thank you all most lovingly,
Gena King and family

It is with great sadness and feeling of loss that we wish to inform the
Universal House of Justice of the passing of our dearly loved Brigitte
Lundblade-Hasselblatt - Knight of Baha'u'llah for the Shetland Islands and
Mother of the Estonian Baha'i Community - into the Abha Kingdom on 17 May
2008 at 5:40 in the evening

Mrs. Lundblade was, at last, able to return to her homeland, Estonia,
according to the wishes of the Beloved Guardian Shoghi Effendi in 1989,
after serving the Cause of God in many Baha'i Communities in northern
Europe
and the United States of America for almost six decades. Her numerous
years
of devoted service to the Cause of the Blessed Beauty and her love of
family, community and the world around her will be dearly missed by all
who
have had the honour to know her. Her words, actions and life and the
sweetness of her being will continue to be a source of inspiration for us
all and the generations to come.

Now that her soul has winged its way to God's Spiritual Realm, we will
express to her family heartfelt appreciation for her decades of heroic an
exemplary sacrifice despite her advancing years and difficult physicalm
ailments to which she refused to succumb until her very last moments.

May God shower upon her illumined being His infinite bounties as our
heartfelt prayers for the progress of her blessed soul will continue.
>
> Preparations for the funeral are underway and details will be sent to
> your
> attention as soon as they have been approved by the family.
>
>
> With loving Baha'i greetings,
>
> Tiia Bach
> Secretary
>
>