Clau & Mom in Haifa, Israel!!!

I thought I'd begin by giving you an idea of how beautiful it is out there in Haifa!!!! And then read on after the first set of pictures about my mom's visit.

See more pictures at http://terraces.bahai.org/photos.en.html or at http://info.bahai.org/article-1-6-5-2.html

My mom's visit to Haifa!!!!

It is often hard to explain to anyone what visiting Israel means to us Baha'is. Israel, as we all know, is a very special place, in the sense that it harbors the holy places of several major religions. For us Baha'is, Haifa and Bahji in the Akka area hold very special significance because the Founder of the Baha'i Faith (Baha'u'llah) and His forunner (the Bab) were buried in these places. Baha'u'llah lived in Akka before He passed away in Bahji. Also, in Haifa, on the side of Mount Carmel, the Baha'is have located the nerve center of their administration.

Now, for an individual Baha'i, being able to visit Haifa and Bahji is simply a dream come true. It is pilgrimage. You come to appreciate the majesty and significance of key events in Baha'i history, to visit the Holy Shrines, and to visit with our Supreme institution. You are also able to appreciate the poignant history of other religions that have graced Israel over time and to visit some of their holy places, like Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee where Christ walked and taught the multitudes.

My mother was able to visit during the month of August and she, indeed, experienced the magic of that country. She visited the holy places and shrines often during that time, and she was also able to visit Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee and many of those places where Christ walked. She was so...thankful, so grateful to God for making it possible for her to make that trip, and she was soooo happy!!!! When she returned home to Cameroon, everyone said that she practically glowed with some inner light and happiness...! In my mother's words, she "was with God".

My mom, Betty, sitting up front, and Clau, my sister, standing up in the yellow dress.

Mother and Daughter
Friends who came for a dinner in my mom's honor.
Claudine and friends.
Claudine (far right) and other Africans on a Holy Day celebration.