Uganda day 1& 2

Well we're here in Kampala Uganda and doing well. Carloyn Wade is a wonderful person and host & is helping us adapt.

The Mother Temple of Africa is beautiful, the grounds are very well cared for. Africa has a beauty of its own, there is something very special about Africa that I have a difficult time trying to put into words. But I will work on that and make an attempt, in the future, along with trying to post photos.

We are learning to adjust to the limited availability of the internet along with electricity, hot water, learning to enjoy cold showers. The food here is very different but very good. I'm going to attempt to learn how to make a very delicious flat bread that they make.

Our first project is to fix up Grace's cottage so the new secretary from the U.S. can live in it.  So we're starting with the roof and working down, the electricity has been completed and the plumbing is in progress by a local.

Uploading photos take a very very long time. We will all have to learn a wee bit of patience with the photos, that will be updated, especially me.

I will update this blog as often as I can so please be patient.

  

This is the Bahá'í House of Worship in Kampala, Uganda, it sits on top of a hill overlooking the cities that surround it. It is truly a beautiful place and very peaceful .  It took an hour to down load this photo, so there may not be many photos of Africa till we get a faster connection. 

I tried resizing the photo but it still took an hour.  I tried cut and paste and that doesn't work to well either.

7 Sept 2011
We've finished replacing the ridges on the roof of Grace's cottage, we will be checking to see if that took care of the all the leaks in the roof.

Next is replacing the tiles in the Shower after the plumbing is completed by John-Bosco. we have removed all the tiles so far, the tiles we removed will be used in the kitchen counter and the wall.

One thing you learn real quick is that nothing is wasted if you can reuse something you do as, like everywhere else in the world the prices are rising for everything everyday.

Farewells...

Farewells....this is the hardest part of leaving the Bahá'í World Center, saying farewell to all of our really great friends that we have made while we were serving here.

We have come to realize that the longer one stays here the less people you know, because all of your orientation leaves...you make a few more friends along the way then, they leave. And after a while it is your turn to leave. You would think you would get used to saying farewell, but you don't, it is still difficult.

But the good part of farewells for a Bahá'í is that the world is a very small place and is getting smaller everyday. The chances of having your paths crossing again are very good and you get to meet more wonderful people and Bahá'ís along the travels in your life. Whether you are doing the traveling or some other person is doing the traveling.

Some photos of our farewells.

Our Farewell dinner with Mr. Correa

 Everyone in this photo are leaving the Baha'i World Center

 

Carrie, Barbie, Mamello, Michael, Elham, Unize 

and Outam who we all miss and is in Mauritius when this photo was taken

This is the last get together of our orientation.  

Farewell dinner at Emelda and Badi's

 Farewell at the Works Department

The Red Shirt gang in Works

 

The farewell gang in FMD 

and thats all there is come this Sunday we will become part of the history of the Baha'i World Center.

Until our next blog, take care of each other and be kind to all who cross your path. 

With our Love and Smiles Barbie & Mike

Leaving the Baha'i World Center

After 3 1/2 years our time at the Baha'i World Center is coming to a close. It is a bitter sweet time, a part of you does not want to leave and a part of you knows it is time to leave. We often wonder what we will miss the most, and have decided that it will be, being so close to the Shrines and being able to visit them. Being able to walk through the Gardens and the amazement of being here.

I've often been asked by the new staff that comes, do you ever get used to going to the Shrines, does the amazement of walking by the Universal House of Justice ever become a normal thing.

I've always found that even though I walk by the Universal House of Justice twice every day, I find that I am every day amazed by the beauty of the building, but more so what goes on inside the UHJ building. There is an amazing feeling that I get when I walk by the UHJ that is difficult to explain, I don't know how to put into words what that feeling is. Extraordinary, Amazing, Phenomenal, remarkable, these words can not even begin to express what I feel when I walk by the Universal House of Justice.

Going into the Shrines are just as difficult to describe. For me going into the Shrine of the Bab is like being in the presence of Royalty only more magnificent. Being in the Shrine of Abdu'l-Baha is like visiting an old friend, someone who is always there to listen to you no matter what, who always has time for you.

Going to Bahji WOW how do you put into words that experience. From the moment I step onto the grounds of Bahji a sense of peace comes over me and the closer I get to the Shrine the more at peace I am. The feeling that no matter what problems I bring with me into the Shrine of Baha'u'llah I know that in Gods own time and in Gods own way he will take care of what ever my requests are. When I leave the Shrine of Baha'u'llah, in my heart and soul I know that whatever Gods will is, is what is best for me. Maybe that is what Faith is all about. Maybe that is what makes this Faith different from all of the preceding religions, that this Faith is the culmination of all the religions that have come before.

These are only my feelings, my beliefs, my experiences, to try to describe what it is like for someone else is impossible.

Here are some of my favorite photos....

Mike and I are leaving the Baha'i World Center on the 5th of Sept. we will be heading to Kampala, Uganda to serve there for 21/2 months. then to India to visit the Temple there and for the 25th anniversary of the Temple, then to Australia, New Zealand and Samoa than maybe back home.

There is a saying; that one can make plans but God's plans are always better.  So keep in mind that God does love laughter, especially when we make plans.

I will post to this blog at least once a week to let all of you know where we are and what we are doing, depending on whether or not we have access to the internet where we are.

With all our Love, Smiles and much Happiness to all of you.

Mike and Barbie Mundt