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FOOTPRINTS in the SANDS of TIME Memoire of a Maidservant

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FOOTPRINTS in the SANDS of TIME Memoire of a Maidservant FOOTPRINTS IN THE SANDS OF TIME Memoire of a Maidservant Shahla Behroozi Gillbanks © Shahla Behroozi Gillbanks 2019 All Rights Reserved Published online by The Afnan Library Trust Sandy, Bedfordshire, 2019 1 FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was one only. This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord, “You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?” The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.” ~~ Mary Stevenson, 1936 2 INTRODUCTION: "FOOTPRINTS IN THE SANDS OF TIME" is my memoir as a Bahá’í in Iran, pioneering in different countries around the world, and a historical account of service in the United States, New Zealand, and Czechoslovakia. Part, I, MY FAMILY HISTORY starts with the 1880’s historical perspective of Persian history when my grandfather left Ishghabad for the ancient city of Hamadan. Then his family life in Tehran and his involvement in the Persian Constitutional Revolution. It continues with the story of my parents who lived as Bahá’ís in the 20th Century of Iran, the social and political changes of Iran and its impact on the life of the Bahá’í community. Part II, MY LIFE JOURNEY: includes my life in Iran, pioneering to the Philippines, New Zealand, Kenya, and the Caribbean. It entails a recollection of special events of my life, as I experienced them; the memories of the Bahá’í personalities that I was privileged to know, and their influence on my spiritual growth. These precious souls were the spiritual role models for the fresh saplings of the Bahá’í community in Iran. They helped the new generation of Bahá’ís in tasting the sweet savors of love, loyalty, and service in its most sublime state. Each of my contemporaries experienced these same events differently as if looking through a stained-glass window and seeing different formations of magnificent shades and colors. I dedicate this token to the memory of my spiritual mentor, Hand of the Cause of God Dr. Muhajir. A person who has had the most influence on my life and the countless others who have had the bounty and the joy of knowing him. We were the traveling companions of a mentor who helped us to find the path in the fragile and yet timeless journey of life. 3 CONTENT PART 1, My Family History, 1844 – 1900’s PART II, My Life Journey CHAPTER 1: My Early Childhood and Youth in Tehran, 1950 – 1968 CHAPTER 2: The Philippines, 1968 -1971 CHAPTER 3: New Zealand, 1971 - 1973 CHAPTER 4: Returning to Iran, 1973 -1974 CHAPTER 5: Kenya, 1974 -1979 CHAPTER 6: Dark Times in Iran, 1978 -1979 CHAPTER 7: The Caribbean – British West Indies 1979 -1982 CHAPTER 8: Professional Contributions; Teaching People with Capacity; California, 1982 - 1992 CHAPTER 9: The Holy Year – Czechoslovakia 1992 - 1993 CHAPTER 10: Emblazoning the Name of Bahá’u’lláh, 1993 -2001 CHAPTER 11: New Path of Service, New Zealand, 2001 – 2004 CHAPTER 12: Florida, Trusting in the All-Merciful Lord, 2005 – 2018 4 ACKNOWELEDGEMTS When I resumed my efforts to write this Memoir which started 20 years ago, I took a course on “Writing Biographies and Histories” with the Wilmette Institute. The mentors and participants of this Course helped me to formulate my thoughts and write this book. I am grateful for the technical guidance of Robert Stockman, and mentoring of Thelma Batchelor, who encouraged me to pursue this project and bring it to fruition. As this Memoir had spanned more than 50 years, I reconnected with old friends via Facebook and asked for their help in recollecting events and editing different sections of this book. I would like to extend my gratitude and appreciation for their cooperation and assistance. Especially: Terry Gillbanks for proofreading and editing of the Memoir. Behin Newport for her input for the Chapter on Iran. Carol Serry and Flora Stefan for the Chapter on the Philippines Helen Harrison, Rochelle Brader, Manu Ala’i, Ron Pratt, Paul Vessey, Suzanne Mahon and Terry Gillbanks for the Chapter on New Zealand. Pat Paccassi’ s input and her website on “Bahá’í History of Caribbean.” Faranak Bethel for help with the Chapter on Corona. Neda Amoui for her input on Czechoslovakia. Shahla Gillbanks 5 PART I MY FAMILY HISTORY 6 A Glimpse at the Persian history, circa 1844 to the early 1900’s ‘Abdu’l-Bahá , in Some Answered Questions, describes the social milieu of Persia as follows: “The Báb —may my soul be His sacrifice!—it was at a young age, that is, in the twenty- fifth year of His blessed life, that He arose to proclaim His Cause. Among the Shí‘ihs it is universally acknowledged that He never studied in any school, nor acquired learning from any teacher. To this the people of Shíráz, each and all, bear witness. Nevertheless, He suddenly appeared before the people, endowed with consummate knowledge, and though but a merchant, confounded all the divines of Persia. Alone, He undertook a task that can scarcely be conceived, for the Persians are known throughout the world for their religious fanaticism. This illustrious Being arose with such power as to shake the foundations of the religious laws, customs, manners, morals, and habits of Persia, and instituted a new law, faith, and religion. Though the eminent men of the State, the majority of the people, and the leaders of religion arose one and all to destroy and annihilate Him, He single-handedly withstood them and set all of Persia in motion. How numerous the divines, the leaders, and the inhabitants of that land who with perfect joy and gladness offered up their lives in His path and hastened to the field of martyrdom! The government, the nation, the clergy, and prominent leaders sought to extinguish His light, but to no avail. At last His moon rose, His star shone forth, His foundation was secured, and His horizon was flooded with light. He trained a large multitude through divine education and exerted a mavellous influence upon the thoughts, customs, morals, and manners of the Persians. He proclaimed the glad-tidings of the manifestation of the Sun of Bahá to all His followers and readied them for faith and certitude. The manifestation of such marvellous signs and mighty undertakings, the influence exerted upon the thoughts and minds of the people, the laying of the foundations of progress, and the establishment of the prerequisites of success and prosperity by a young merchant constitute the greatest proof that He was a universal Educator—a fact that no fair-minded person would ever hesitate to acknowledge.” “Bahá’u’lláh appeared at a time when Persia was plunged in the darkest ignorance and consumed by the blindest fanaticism. You have no doubt read at length the accounts that European histories provide of the morals, manners, and thoughts of the Persians during the last few centuries, and these require no repetition. Suffice it to say that Persia had sunk to such abysmal depths that foreign travellers would all deplore that a country which had in former times occupied the pinnacle of greatness and civilization had by then fallen into such abasement, desolation, and ruin, and that its people had been reduced to utter wretchedness. It was at such a time that Bahá’u’lláh appeared. 7 As soon as the Báb revealed His Cause, Bahá’u’lláh proclaimed: “This great Man is the Lord of the righteous, and it is incumbent upon all to bear allegiance unto Him.” He arose to promote the Cause of the Báb, adducing decisive proofs and conclusive arguments of His truth. Although the divines of the nation had obliged the Persian government to exert the most vehement opposition; although they had all issued decrees ordering the massacre, pillage, persecution, and annihilation of the Báb’s followers; and although throughout the land the people had undertaken to kill, burn, and plunder them, and even harass their women and children—despite all this, Bahá’u’lláh was engaged, with the utmost constancy and composure, in exalting the word of the Báb. Nor did He seek for a moment to conceal Himself, but associated openly and visibly with His enemies, occupied Himself with adducing proofs and arguments, and became renowned for exalting the Word of God. Time and again He suffered intense adversities, and at every moment His life was in grave danger. He was put in chains and thrown into a subterranean dungeon. His extensive hereditary possessions were entirely plundered, He was four times exiled from land to land, and in the end He came to abide in the Most Great Prison. Notwithstanding all this, the call of God was ceaselessly raised, and the fame of His Cause was noised abroad. Such were the knowledge, learning, and perfections He evinced that everyone in Persia was astonished. All the learned people—friend and foe alike—who attained His presence in Ṭihrán, Baghdád, Constantinople, Adrianople, and ‘Akká received a complete and convincing answer to their every question.
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