In Their Eyes..

We were in the middle of exams and studying for Arabic test when Nadia objected that I keep interrupting her thoughts and she asked for a break. Well, I was ready to kill her so I figured we both need a break. I went on to clean the kitchen and fix some food and she went to here room and when she came back said mom read this, what do you think? I felt so bad that I was so frustrated with her that she did not want to study. But this is what she wrote:

"In their eyes"
I see fear in their eyes but love in their hearts
I see pain in their hearts but love in their soul
I see courage in their eyes and they still move on!

By Nadia Akhtarkavari Ru
Dedicated to the Baha'is in Iran

The reason we were rushing extra to study is because the mom’s had planned for one of the friends here that her husband was martyrdom in Iran to give a talk to the kids about her and her husbands story that night. A combination of getting ready for the talk and the fact that she read Olya’s story last month give her a good understanding of the situation. We managed to finish what ever we could do that day for studying and we went to the talk it was so amazing. http://info.bahai.org/article-1-8-3-15.html I had met the speaker several times before but had no idea of what she and her family had gone through the courage and the love for the faith and the strength she had is writing in her face. This is her picture with the kids:

Couple of weeks ago my Uncle (Amo) my fathers brother passed away in Iran. I remember him when we went to Iran as a child. The most beautiful memories running around with my cousins and being loved by my uncles and grandparents. Thinking of him in the Abha Kingdom with my father sitting together looking down at us I know they are in a better place. On the other hand Thinking of his family and wife makes my heart ache. I also can’t stop thinking of who he left behind and how hard it must be for them being Baha’is and living in Iran at this age and losing a father. So hard to try to make sense out of all of these things. But reading the ending of Nadia’s poem “they still move on” made me realize how we have no choice but to move on and like Abdul’Baha said to one of the believers “Little by little day by day” that is how things been with us. My thoughts my love and my prayers continue to be with my uncle’s family and all other belivers in Iran who seems so far away yet so close.

Time flies

I can’t believe it has been weeks since I posted. Sorry for that. I can’t even think of how can I start updating you. So much happening everyday is it really unbelievable. I am getting more and more involved with work and the kids have there exams this week. A lot of the friends from our orientation group that we came at the same time are leaving so lots of good bye gathering. New friends and pilgrims are here. Another amazing wedding for an awesome couple I can write pages just on that. One of the people that had a huge impact on Yasmeen and Nadia’s last year here been Dan and Gazalah who left last week to go back to the United States. That was really hard on all of us specially Yasmeen and Nadia as they had developed this amazing connection with both of them and attended Islam and Quran study classes that Gazalah conducted in their home with a group of youth and kindly allowed the kids to join. The knowledge and the love that she gave them will always be with them and we are very thankful for that.

Dear friends from back home Greg and Mary are here in their pilgrimage and we been spending any free time that they have together. Having them around it makes this place feels like home and home sick some how with the short 10 days they been here it has been so amazing. I will try to upload some pictures and put them on and will write more update when I am not on the run. Just wanted to tell you that just because I am not writing it is not that I have not been thinking of you all in the same way even thought I am not there I feel you in my heart always. Some things in life and feelings just do not change no matter how far apart we are.