April 2005

April 12th was my first birthday in the Holy Land, and with all the virtues I've been developing here, I decided to practice the virtue of courtesy by letting everyone know it. Consequently, my friends Ben (pictured below, left) and Kara lured me to a surprise party at a restaurant on Ben Gurion Avenue after Thursday night study class. I had never had a surprise party before and was genuinely shocked and touched to see a table full of friends, and even more shocked by the flamethrower style candles that accompanied my birthday cake and Arabic version of happy birthday, compliments of the restaurant. My flatmates Mandana and Joanna helped set up the surprise and also gave me a white gold necklace with the Greatest Name (a Baha'i symbol) engraved on it. All three of us have the same necklace now...awww! Feel the bond! I have to also share this photo gift designed by Lucas for Houtan and I. Houtan and I share the same birthday, with the distinction that I began enjoying this incomparably amazing day two years earlier than him!










Also in April, a group of friends went hiking in Haifa Forest, located on the top ridge of Mount Carmel. None of us were very familiar with the trails, so we spent a good deal of our time wandering aimlessly, but not without determination. At one point we landed up on the main road and an ice cream truck pulled up beside us, which means that, on principle, I bought an ice cream, along with Musi (in the stylin' camoflage ensemble). We did eventually find a worthwhile trail, just in time to take cover under some trees during a little rain storm.













Also in April, the World Centre bid farewell to two retiring members of the Universal House of Justice. For their farewell, I was part of a small ensemble that played Scottish tunes on violin, flute, mandolin, and penny whistle. Below are photos of me with my flute-playing friend and the retiring member of the House of Justice who had served on that Institution since its inception in 1963, along with his wife, who I was fortunate to work with in the correspondence office. It was very moving to bid these humble, hardworking souls goodbye, and their devoted services to the Faith will continue to inspire for a long time to come.