Our Year of Two Summers

I arrived in Tripoli in late afternoon of March 30, 2010. As the airplane was descending to land, the color of the clouds changed from white to orange. A ghibli (dust storm from the Sahara to the south) had blown in, and the air was full of dust. The temperature was warm for this time of year, about 38C, or 100 degrees F. Usually it doesn't get there until June or so; but as one guy put it, the wind from the Sahara feels just like a blow dryer. The next day was significantly cooler and clearer, with bright sunshine. So far I have only been to the hotel and to work, but I have rested, gotten organized, and feel recovered from the trip; no more jet lag! I am staying at the Bustan Hotel in ... read more

On June 20 we departed for Israel on our long anticipated pilgrimage to the Holy Land. One of the precepts of the Bahá’í Faith is that each believer should try to make a pilgrimage to Bahá’í holy places at least once in their lifetime. Unlike the pilgrimages of other faiths, Bahá’ís must make a request for pilgrimage to the Universal House of Justice in Haifa. The UHJ is the nine-member body that governs the Faith internationally. Once you have made that request, you are placed on a waiting list, which usually takes about five to six years. This insures that the nine-day experience is maximized for the Bahá’í believers, who are given wonderful tours, with well-trained guides and have the opportunity to spend time with other Bahá’ís from all over the world who speak the same ... read more

Upon my return to Ameera’s Fashions, Fatima recognized me immediately and greeted me warmly and introduced me to her brother, who worked there as well. She kindly exchanged the dress and the male shop attendants loaded me down with more Turkish candy after the exchange. When I asked if I could take photos of them and their shop, the men all agreed but Fatima declined to let me take her picture. I asked a young boy who was with his mother in the store if I could take his picture but he also refused. His mother, a completely veiled woman, however, struck up a conversation with me. She asked me “Do you believe in The Prophet,” to which I responded that I did. She then asked me “Do you believe that The Prophet Mohammad is ... read more