where we are

Finally some pictures from where we are. my parents live at the north of Kazakhstan, very close to Russian Siberia. Therefore we have all four seasons, the winters are cold, the springs are beautiful, the summers are short and pleasant, the falls are warm and colourful. The town is rather small, only 150000 population. Almost every third person you meet on the street you know or saw before. for me who hasn't been here for a while, it's may be every 15th person...:):) These pictures were taken on the second day after our arrival, it was around -18C
For Amir it was a first time to see this kind of winter. He was very excited. the snow here is dry becouse the climat is dry, which makes it easierto bear . But the snow doesn't turn into a snowball, unless you pour some water on it...
Amir was also excited to see how much steam comes out of our moouths! but one's gotta be careful not to breathe with ones' mouth all the time, sore throat is very common for this reason.
happy to be home...

Sacred Experience

floor tiles in Ridvan garden
sea shore in Akka
flowers at one of the Monuments
Bahji...
Olive park in Bahji
Reading before going to Akka

Pilgrimage has been really a Sacred Experience. One of the purposes is to re-fresh or for some people to establish special connection with God and the central figures of the Faith by visiting the Holy Shrines and the Holy Places associated with their lifes. It is a very thoughtful experiece, one re-considers his whole life during pilgrimage, finds answers to his questions and goes home full of determination to serve his Lord. Since everyone has this chance in life at one point, i thought i won't post pictures we made in the Holy Places, but rather try to convey the spirit of love and fellowship that united us with other pilgrims. And may be to post pictures of some cute moments and small elements that made our journey special apart from the main impression.

Bryan, we were in the same pilgrimage group
His sister Charmain
Me and Charmain during one of the tours
in Mazra'i garden
Bryan and Amir on the balcony of the Mansion of Bahji
Bahji Visitor Centre

the youngest pilgrim in our group:)
it's not an easy task to go on pilgrimage
walking and praying in the Monument Gardens, we met up with Jamal
diverse group of a beautiful half of humanity
in the court yard of Al-Jazzar mousqe
happy pilgrims with Shohreh and Mutale
bye-bye Katya and Carlos! we will miss you a lot!
the Shrine of the Bab on the last night of pilgrimage

we're home!

dearest friends, we made it home.
we took some pictures, but for technical reasons we cannot post any for now. and i still remember i promised to put some pictures from our pilgrimage. please be patient, as soon as we figure out what is the problem, we'll post some pictures. my parents have embraced us with their love and care as soon as we got off the plane. they make everything to make us happy. it is cooooold in here, i must say quite a change. it's only now that i think of those staff emmbers who left the World Centre while i was still there and what they must have gone through returning home or elsewhere. i am so happy to be here, it's wonderful to be home again. Amir just corrected me saying that it's actualy freezing in here:):) real winter, with cold wind, white sparkling snow, steam coming out of the mouth when speaking or breathing, and many things that we are yet to experience as we've been outside only for 20 minutes today. till the next post.
love, us

pilgrimage

9 magic days with amazing group and guide visiting the Shrines and Holy Places... more picture to be posted soon...

wisdom

"Not everything that a man knoweth can be disclosed, nor can everything that he can disclose be regarded as timely, nor can every timely utterance be considered as suited to the capacity of those who hear it." Such is the consummate wisdom to be observed in thy pursuits. Be not oblivious thereof, if thou wishest to be a man of action under all conditions. First diagnose the disease and identify the malady, then prescribe the remedy, for such is the perfect method of the skilful physician.

(Compilations, The Compilation of Compilations vol II)

7/7

getting ready to leave, running around trying to figure out all logistics and practicals, preparing for pilgrimage, and my exam, we totaly forgot that on 7 November it was 7 months since we got married. oh well, this time is a bit crazy for both of us, so no wonder we don't have time to remember important dates, hehe... anyway, it's hard to believe but we are more than half way through our first year as a married couple, gosh! it's been absolutely wonderful and i am looking forward to many many more months and years of life together.

November - birthday month

Happy birthday to my beloved sister, Maryam! She is gifted with so many amazing qualities that make our relationship go beyond immediate family, we are best friends! She has a very juicy (as we say in Russian) beautiful voice and she is also an artist, as in she paints and draws professionally:) and yes, she is the one who just got engaged and will be married to her wonderful fiance Askar in two months time. Exciting!

sky view from our window

sky looks and feels different back home, it's much higher up. here in israel clouds are law, thunders stronger, rainbows brighter, rains heavier. but the sea makes all of foregoing look spectacular.

Happy birthday, zhanym

It's my zhanym's birthday tomorrow, 8 November. Love you, zhanym!

23 days

... are left for us to enjoy the Holy Land. These days will be filled of joy coming from the last days of service, followed by the sacred experience of pilgrimage, farewell meetings with friends and colleagues who made our service here so special, and meeting with the Universal House of Justice itself ...

Close to you

"Close to you" a new movie, love story, made in Philippines. This is the second Philippino movie i have seen so far. I was truly impressed by young, beautiful and good actors and a mature approach in addressing personal problems of youth nowadays. Of course, there was a love triangle, but, to my surprise, both guys in it were of goodly character, great friends and good looking. So, i must say, the girl had to work hard on her choices:) There was no pressure from neaither side on her, all conditions were created for her to grow through the situation and find a solution on her own. She of course chose the one i simpathized:):) The movie was made in the Philippines and Singapore, that's where one of the guys was from. It had some comic moments and of course i cried out of happiness:):) Anyway, it was a pleasant experience and a learning one too:)

p.s. i wanted to post this photo last week, but blog didn't let me to. therefore, i am posting it now. this picture was taken by my favourite photographer here in bwc Behi at the wedding of our friends Shimmy and Vijay. i was guarding the noisy door and resting my feet from unconfortable high-heel shoes

can't see=can't hear?

today morning as i was just dressing up for work, my friend called me and said he would come by to pick up something and that he could give me a ride. he said he'd be next to my building in 3 minutes. i looked outside, it was pouring, so i thought, let me try and get ready in 3 monutes. sure enough, in 3 minutes i was walking out of my building with shower-wet hair and a cup of hot tea in my hand. i was so proud of myself couse i saved some money. as i walked in my work place i realized that i forgot to put my eye glasses on! dahhh! i am literaly blind without them:):):) what is even more funny is that when i can't see well, i cannot hear well as well! strange connection, but that's how it is. the good thing i experienced though as a consiquence of not having glasses is when i was walking to lunch break, i felt so much taller than i usually do, i wonder if it is an effect of my glassesless vision:) i like this feeling though cause i always wanted to be taller than i am. anyway, the day went by well enough, i moved my computer monitor closer and managed to work on few documents:) and, i got my hair cut during lunch, now i look new;)

Leah

This photo warms my heart and makes me smile wide:)
Leah is a daughter of my orientation friends Nancy and Ramraj from Mauritius
i miss Leah:):):)

update

exactly one month from now we'll be sitting at home and having some tea with my parents, watching falling snowflakes behind the window, and wondering whether the Holy Land really happened to us:)

oh, and we get to go on pilgrimage in two weeks! exciting!

and... Happy-Gappy birthday, Vidya joon!

words have layers.

Happy birthday, Jamal:)

It's my brother-in-law's birthday today:)

walking down the terraces
arc buildings view from the terraces
happy...
mom enjoying birds' singing in one of the nature reserves near Haifa
exploring Massada with mom
this is the line separating original wall from reconstruction work
why is it closed? we want to get in, pleaaase!

Mama

mango for the first time in life
the day before she left, some friends got together to say good bye
mangoooooooooooooo
enjoying the waters of the Sea of Galilee
visiting teh Church of Primacy St. Peter
coming back from a trip at night - gorgeous view
in Nazareth with Amir
in Bahji with Tahmina I love you, Jamal! I love you, mama!
Canan and mom

I am back

I am back in the blog world. it is so nice to be on vacation! but i miss the office and everyone there already! tomorrow i am going to work in bahji for half of the day and then i and amir will go to the Shrine together. and sunday-back to full time service again:) i have tonns of pictures from my mom's trip here, but i won't be able to post them until i am on my conputer in the office which is where i am not right now:) so, hopefuly, next week some stories and pictures from my beautiful mom's trip to the holy land.
meanwhile we just realized that we are here for another 6 weeks only, and then off we go to kazakhstan. strange mixed feeling of excitement and worrying how things will turn out for us there... asking for your prayers, friends, it is going to be a wonderful and probably with some tests transition:)
love you all,
till next week,
chao