And then the Master penned these words...

"Oh! that I could travel, even though on foot and in the utmost poverty, to these regions and raising the call of Ya Baha'u'l-Abha in cities, villages, mountains, deserts, and oceans, promote the Divine Teachings! This, alas, I cannot do! How intensely I deplore it! Please God, ye may achieve it."

--America and the Most Great Peace, p. 78 [part of The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh]

Before I start I am going to read this one last time... *reads again from the words above*

`Abdu'l-Bahá wrote these words when speaking to the American Baha'is about traveling around the globe...

totally awesome.

[AND WHAT'S MORE IS...]

Much more historically significant?

THIS:

---->what was said before and after this statement<----

Here is the statement in its entirety-

"The hope which `Abdu'l-Bahá cherishes for you," He thus urges them, "is that the same success which has attended your efforts in America may crown your endeavors in other parts of the world, that through you the fame of the Cause of God may be diffused throughout the East and the West and the advent of the Kingdom of the Lord of Hosts be proclaimed in all the five continents of the globe... Thus far ye have been untiring in your labors. Let your exertions, henceforth, increase a thousandfold. Summon the people in these countries, capitals, islands, assemblies and churches to enter the Abhá Kingdom. The scope of your exertions must needs be extended. The wider its range, the more striking will be the evidences of Divine assistance... Oh! that I could travel, even though on foot and in the utmost poverty, to these regions and, raising the call of Yá Bahá'u'l-Abhá in cities, villages, mountains, deserts and oceans, promote the Divine teachings! This, alas, I cannot do! How intensely I deplore it! Please God, ye may achieve it." And finally, as if to crown all His previous utterances, is this solemn affirmation embodying His Vision of America's spiritual destiny: "The moment this Divine Message is carried forward by the American believers from the shores of America and is propagated through the continents of Europe, of Asia, of Africa and of Australasia, and as far as the islands of the Pacific, this community will find itself securely established upon the throne of an everlasting dominion. Then will all the peoples of the world witness that this community is spiritually illumined and divinely guided. Then will the whole earth resound with the praises of its majesty and greatness."

(All italics, bolding and enlargements of words was my own emphasis)

All of the things I bolded, were so amazing, cause the American Baha'i community of the PAST (before most of us were alive) DID these things FOR US!

IT WAS they WHO were the "Knights of Bahá'u'lláh"

THEY were the great number of Baha'i "Pilgrims" who were charged with GREAT TASK that `Abdu'l-Bahá layed down for them!

That's SOOOOOO cool that they did that!

and now,

if you look at it historically, WE, THE CURRENT AMERICAN BAHA'I COMMUNITY are now reaping the benifits and rewards of all that
Great work!

AND!!!

Now, at the end of the statement the Master says- "Then will all the peoples of the world witness that this community is spiritually illumined and divinely guided. Then will the whole earth resound with the praises of its majesty and greatness."


YO! "this community" is us! We are now on the other side of the hurtle of spreading the Cause to all the regions of the world! How cool is that!?!

NOW.

Q. What do we do?

A. Well, exactly what Bahá'u'lláh, blessed is His name, would have us do!

THE FIRST STEP WAS to keep the fire of the faith going in the land of its birth and surrounding areas [DONE.]

THE SECOND STEP WAS to spread the teachings to the west that with their freedom and ability they could teach freely to the rest of the world. [DONE.]

THE THIRD STEP WAS for those souls in the west TO SPREAD THE CAUSE of GOD throughout the world to where? everywhere, cause Bahá'u'lláh, blessed is His name, said that without the Baha'i faith being universal, that it would NEVER succeed. So this HAD to happen. [DONE.]

THE FORTH STEP WAS to create an institute course that would be able to reach millions of people, did I say millions, cause I meant billions! [DONE.]

LASTLY FOR NOW...

THE FIFTH STEP IS implementing the institute on a local level so we can have growing Baha'i communities which will be able to soon grow in their strength!!!!!

peep this

"The elements required for a concerted effort to infuse the diverse regions of the world with the spirit of Baha'u'llah's Revelation have crystallized into a framework for action that now needs only to be exploited."

(Universal House of Justice- 27 December, 2008)

the Baha'i Faith is growing fast. it will only get faster.

Yo!

Back to my original point (now that you are back from our little journey) THIS IS WHAT THE MASTER IS REFERRING TO at the end of the statement, the work we are doing RIGHT now!



The courage and audacity that the Baha'i community is
showing by going out and serving our communities, the
likes of which (yes even here in Minneapolis, MN) the
world has never seen.

We are teaching with a new vigor, we have learned
to connect with Baha'u'llah, blessed is His name,at such
a level that we are doing thing so praiseworthy that the entire world is slowly, and more recently quickly,
recognizing!

AAAHHHHHH! THis is it! we are so close to


THE Most Great Peace YOU can taste it in the


like the tantalizing scent of a rain


storm soon setting in!

let it rain.

You guys! Yesterday there
were Baha'is giving a speech
at THE U OF M about the
Faith to many people!

(IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING OUR BAHA'I BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN

OPPRESSED
NATIONS

WOULD GIVE ANYTHING TO DO THAT IN THEIR NATIONS, and indeed they have AND ARE!)

Today a jr youth group was started in Minneapolis! As a result 5 more jr youth (at least) are going to learn what it is to live a life of service.

thats peace.



There are already many children AND parents learning about Baha'u'llah, blessed is His name, each week right here, that don't even live in Baha'i homes. I was a part of this community when it was once the common perception that we didn't know how the heck any of this would/could happen! Now it is happening...

REMEMBER this:

"It is always harder to see greatness when you are in the midst of it and it is all that surrounds you, than when you are at a distance." ~me

Let us be greatful we are in it's midst!!

Let us CELEBRATE!

[ S E R I O U S L Y ]

Seeds have been planted for years... it is time for us to harvest what rightfully belongs to Baha'u'llah, blessed is His name,; the "cities of the hearts of men"!!!!!

be there the end
of may for our next IPG