Prayer-Full Efforts

Over the weekend, William had a dawn prayers session in his brother’s house. William did a short deepening session on the ‘dynamics of solving problems through prayer’ in the back pages of the white prayer book with the family. And after that, the entire group said 2 selected prayers to keep the focus. It was a good learning experience for the Baha’is to make devotionals even more meaningful and in depth with our friends. 

There was also a devotional at the Rajadorai’s. Shamini had said that her daughter’s friends, one or 2 of them will be there. But in the end, the house was crowded!. They had also invited their neighbours to join in. It was a devotional for the healing of a sick neighbour. Altogether there were 8 friends who attended along with a few Baha’is. A short and sweet devotional with one of the christian friends saying her own prayer as well.

PJ Park Picnic Party

“Welcome to the PJ Park Picnic Party”

Uncle Eng Too shows us how they use to do it…

Something goes terribly wrong..

Hehehe… Who did that? *grin*

But we didn’t let him get away…

And on the other side of the party… Captain Ball!

But the trajectory again went a little further than expected… “There it is…”

“Appa, pass the ball back la!”

“Kalai, one of us has to do it. We can’t consult about this forever.”

“Peace guys…”

All in all, the residents of Peejaystan had a GREEEAAATTTTT time!!

Happy Ridvan!!

Before and After

Before we launched our intensive teaching campaign, the community got together for a reflection meeting – a time where we firm up our plans for the week, and also to pick up some new skills as we learn from others. One of the highlights was the workshop we had, where each group was given a scenario and there’s a ‘teacher’ and a ’seeker’, and everyone gets to explore different ways of introducing the Faith.

Towards the end of the campaign, was a very significant event – the Baha’i election. On the 21st of April every year, Baha’is get together to elect the 9 members of the Local Spiritual Assembly.

“On the election day, the friends must wholeheartedly participate in the elections, in unity and amity, turning their hearts to God, detached from all things but Him, seeking His guidance and supplicating His aid and bounty.”

“When called upon to vote in a Baha’i election, believers should be aware that they are carrying out a sacred task unique to this Dispensation. They should approach this duty in a prayerful attitude, seeking divine guidance and confirmation.”

Sharing and consultation.

Let me present to you, the Local Spiritual Assembly of Petaling Jaya.

Happy Ridvan everyone!!

Celebrate Good Times, C’mon!

Ridvan Fiesta

WEDNESDAY, 18th APRIL

 

Sonia: 

Amy, Navin, Shern, Pravin & I decided to hold a pre-Ridvan dinner party for a couple of our friends. The aim was to introduce them to other Baha’is. We chose to make it a Mexican Fiesta complete with Mocktail Margaritas, Salsa & Chips, Chicken Fajitas and Creme Caramel.

 In the midst of dinner, we announced that this dinner was to celebrate Ridvan, the King of Festivals. They asked what the festival was for and we said it was when Baha’u'llah declared that he was the Manifestation for this Age. Although our friends did not ask much questions afterwards, it was still a success as we got to know them better. We hope to invite them to our young-adult dialogues on social issues soon.

Coffee Ladies

WEDNESDAY, 18th APRIL

 

Shashi: 

 

It was such a vibrant atmosphere at the ladies coffee morning at the Ongs’ this morning. Our main guest, Maria Chin Abdullah, initiated the discussion. We talked about many things – from the Malaysian education system vs international school systems, the rights of women, how women educate their sons/daughters, politicians, how women’s roles have changed/advanced etc. Of utmost importance was how we all saw and realized the need for virtues/character building lessons in children, which Unity School is already running.

 

It was all very interesting, but for me the most important moment was to see how my friend took a great interest in the discussion. In fact, at one point she turned to me and said “Hey, thanks for inviting me. How come you never told me that you do this virtues session at your place?” I didn’t have an answer. “I taught I had…” was all I could manage.

 

The true fact is that my friend and I share many things about educating our boys who are one month apart. We belong to a group of mothers who attended a playgroup at the Playcentre library. I thought I made it known to her that I was Baha’i and the types of activities I am involved in. But now, she is interested and I am so happy that I took the trouble to invite her to this morning’s coffee session. She is now keen to have us show her how we do our virtues training and perhaps to start something at her condo in Kelana Jaya.

“I am really really happy!”

All you need to do is share what you believe…

TUESDAY, 17th APRIL 

Wei-Zhien: 

As some of you would know, my play revolves around the events that happened in 1969, during the racial riots. Today, my director sat us all down and we discussed about the new text that was added in and how we felt about the play as a whole. While some of my co-actors had expressed personal apprehension about the potential repercussions, I shared with them my own feelings and apprehension about how it would affect society as a whole, down to the individual. I began to talk about the principles of the Baha’i Faith, about how we should eliminate the prejudices that exist in our society, about the injustice and corruption that has taken over people. And even though I did not mention Baha’u'llah or the Baha’i Faith, I really felt overjoyed that I had shared the very teachings I grew up with. It is a big step for me as there was never an opportunity for me to teach my co-actors since January. Finally, there is an opening…so I am really really happy!

A New Kitchen Excuse

The Kitchen Team knows what to show-off…

TUESDAY, 17th APRIL 

Zohrab & Mei Hua:

As part of the plans, we had intended to invite a couple we have known for awhile for dinner after being hinted by the wife that she would love to visit after the kitchen renovation. Hence, we took the opportunity to invite them and the Thanabalans – to catch up and share Baha’i beliefs with them. Where opportunities arose, principles of the Faith were shared. The couple was at ease and did ask numerous questions on the Faith, especially on the afterlife. Explanations were provided and we ended with a devotional for the departed, the sick and unity. Little Sandra’s reciting of “O God, guide me..” caught the wife’s attention and she was amazed! Balan also managed to explain the Departed Prayer before we began. A truly aided and inspiring night…

Positive Messages

An email teaching moment…

Crawford shared with his colleague in America regarding the treatment of Baha’i school children in Iran and subsequently the Baha’i election process, which seems to have struck a chord with this guy. He is obviously thinking about these “positive” messages/solutions coming from the Faith towards very negative situations.

Central’s Light in the Dark

SUNDAY, APRIL 15th

friends in PJ C:
Our fireside was on the ‘Purpose of Life’. Aravindh’s colleagues came by the doorstep and Prassena got to persuade her neighbours to attend the fireside. With a total of four friends the powerpoint presentation fireside was going on well when…BOOM! – the lights went out! But that did not stop us.  Aravindh continued to give his presentation till the end with candles and torchlights illuminating us!

MONDAY, APRIL 16th

3 families met up and prayed together. We decided to split into two groups. One group would go to public places such as restaurants or shops to distribute flyers for our upcoming firesides and the other group went on to visit a contact in their new home. The first group went on finishing all the flyers they had to distribute. The second group however, could only visit the friend at 9.30 which was a good thing because we haven’t bought a house warming gift yet! So 2 young ladies went out to buy the gift and an uncle and a young man went around the neighbourhood to distribute flyers. 9.30 came and the second group was off for the visit. It was a very nice heart warming visit and prayers were said though we did not manage to share the Faith directly because none of us spoke fluent chinese but the son of the aunty there was all okay for ’studying spiritual stuff’ when he was asked. We are to visit next time with hopes of direct teaching them. =)

TUESDAY, APRIL 17th

Again we met up for prayers but this time around we had no plan planned. But as the old saying goes, if we pray only, nothing will happen, we need to move and that is when the Concourse on High will help us. So moved we did. We went off to a park but sadly no soul was there…BUT we did not give up yet, we then went into the car and wanted to head off somewhere else when we saw an old Baha’i uncle sitting by the roadside with the elderly night patrol. We then got down from the car and started making contacts! They were all elderly men and in their midst was a young Bangladeshi youth and was very pleased to find other young Malaysians being friendly. Words were spoken and numbers were exchanged. As for the elderly uncles, we now had other people to contact when we are in the area =)…An eventful night indeed.