On Visiting Haifa: A Baha'i Pilgrim's Notes

Baha'is everywhere are sharing news about Haifa. These "notes" were passed on to me in an email from a fellow believer here at my work. All pictures with this post from the Baha'i Media Bank.

Day 2: A pilgrim's notes

Friends, these notes are from a family, former BWC staff members, who are on pilgrimage right now. They are the last pilgrimage of the summer, a most unusual one indeed. Their purpose in sharing them is to "encourage the friends and to calm their fears." In their words, "That is the service we can provide to you here."

Beginning of Day 2: The last sirens we heard were last night when we were going to bed about 10:30 p.m. So far today, beautiful blue skies, overwhelming heat, and NO sirens!

A few notes about being here ... I get the sense that the Beloved Universal House of Justice is allowing us all here because it doesn't want to prevent us from attaining our hearts' desire when we have been waiting so long. I am filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude for being here at this time. This is a historic pilgrimage for all of us.

Our instructions today are to check with the hotel desk at Noon. Then we can go to the Pilgrim Reception Center and to the Shrines until 2 p.m, after which we will go to the Seat to meet with the Beloved Universal House of Justice, the Hand of the Cause, and some Counsellor members of the ITC in the multi-purpose room.

Last night we went into the Mercaz for dinner. There was hardly any one out on the streets and very few stores were open. Interestingly enough, the Israeli's seem to respect the fact that we are here. We are feeling more of a sense of community with the Israelis than we have in the past.

It will be difficult to forget the sound of the clay tiles on the approach to the Shrines yesterday. I want to keep that in my mind forever!

End of Day 2: Only 3 sirens today. We have not been allowed to go to the Shrine of Baha'u'llah due to the danger, but we were again allowed to go to the Shrines of the Bab and of 'Abdu'l-Baha. We were circled by the Supreme Concourse close to the Bab's precious dust as we heard loud booms and then the sirens this afternoon. And we were meeting with Hand of the Cause of God Dr. Varqa as the sirens went off this evening, in the Administrative Center of our Faith.


Now for a few Pilgrim Notes about our day. We met with the Universal House of Justice this afternoon. It was amazing, so many memories walking up the driveway to the Seat -- the driveway that I used to be able to see outside the high rise. Then into the Seat...As I entered, I couldn't move for the flood of memories of that room! They all came back in a rush!

These next notes are my own personal notes from talks and are in no way official. Please read them with that in mind.

A few notes from the meeting with the Universal House of Justice. All nine members were there, Glenford Mitchell spokeperson: We pilgrims bring evidence of the life energy of the Faith, coming from 16 different countries to pay homage to Baha'u'llah during these difficult times. We have not been able to make it to Bahji, but we should not feel deprived -- the Shrine is just across the bay. How many believers in the whole world would give anything they had just to be where we are now? He asked us to remember the Iranian friends who would walk on foot for months just to glimpse Baha'u'llah's hand. (Hmm, sounds familiar.) He said we are at the very center of the administrative order. He also said the House has heard from the Lebanese friends and they are fine. Then he made remarks the Universal House of Justice asked him to make. He said our pilgrimage is taken day by day. The main thing is to meditate and draw closer to our Lord.

We will miss some things. The House is allowing us to reapply for a full pilgimage and be put on a short list if we wish. He also said that we pilgrims represent evidence of Baha'u'lah's words, "Soon will all that dwell on earth be enlisted under these banners." He asked us to return to the field of battle to fight victories untold.

Dr. Varqa spoke of the Hands of the Cause of God.

Counsellor member of the ITC Dr. Penni Walker spoke of the Universal House of Justice's messages. She reminded us of their words that sometimes God's major plan disrupts the minor plan. This is one of those times. But the House says we should not be dismayed.

We should take those anxious feelings and channel that energy into positive goals for the Cause. The Beloved Guardian says in Advent of Divine Justice that "Strife and confusion must never befog our vision."

She emphasized the messages of the Universal House of Justice and the importance of teaching and working on the core activities of the Five Year Plan. She ended with a quote from the Guardian to the effect that "The friends must realize that, having the Cause, they have everything."


These seem to be fitting words to leave you with for the end of the second day of Pilgrimage. It's now 10 p.m. here in Haifa. Will try to write more tomorrow evening.