Laddi and Paul of Springbrook, AB

This glorious couple is part of the Central Alberta Cluster with a long history of individual approaches and declarations to the Faith.

As a young lady, Laddi met Ted and Joannie Anderson during her time in the Yukon and became their babysitter for their young children. Through conversations and being around the family, she developed an interest in the Faith. She came to accept Baha’u’llah as the Messenger of God for this age in 1960 after having been invited to the social portion of a Feast. At this time, an older woman who had recently returned from pilgrimage in Haifa said that she had something to tell Laddi. She felt overwhelmed with joy in anticipation that she would be welcomed into the Faith.

Later, she became part of the team that established ten Local Spiritual Assemblies in the territory.

Back at her families’ home, her change of religion had a measurable impact on her mother. However, Laddi remained steadfast in her dedication to the Cause, which she told us came over her like a wave of love.

Paul grew up in a Baha’i family and so attended children’s classes and youth conferences. He declared his Faith in 1962.

He recollected an adventure he shared with some of his Baha’i friends when they crossed the border into the United States in the 70s. The van they were travelling in was covered with a few inscriptions, “Unity and Diversity”, “New Wind Blowing” – the name of their band, and a graphic of a stick man. Paul said the van must have given the authorities the impressions they were hippies and perceived them as dissidents of the time. After a thorough search of the van by the border guards and coming up with nothing untoward, the group was permitted to proceed through the gates.

Laddi and Paul’s collective strategies for teaching the Faith have been and still remains a low-key approach. They trust their good neighbour behaviour and volunteering will suffice.