By Susan and Frank Black
12th Day of Ridvan Departure
We left the homeowner and his two cats in Sicamous, BC on May 2nd, 2018 and drove to Salmon Arm. Our house-sitting gig was over and we were setting out for an adventure of travel, teaching the Faith and meeting with as many Baha'is as possible from Kamloops, British Columbia to Dawson City in the Yukon.
At Marine Peace Park in Salmon Arm, BC, we joined our friends to celebrate the 12th Day of Ridvan and to say goodbye to our dear soulmates. We gathered around the bus and sang the songs that had been carefully crafted by Frank on the front and sides of the bus. “We Are the Drops”, “Allah'u'Abha”, and “Shine Your Light on Me, Baha'u'llah” brought smiles to our faces and energy to our hearts. Afterwards, we sat together at a picnic table, said prayers and enjoyed one another's company with coffee, pie and fruit. Frank and I collected their enthusiasm and well wishes for our journey ahead to the Yukon Territory.
O God, my God! I have set out from my home, holding fast unto the cord of Thy love, and I have committed myself wholly to Thy care and Thy protection. I entreat Thee by Thy power through which Thou didst protect Thy loved ones from the wayward and the perverse, and from every contumacious oppressor, and every wicked doer who hath strayed far from Thee, to keep me safe by Thy bounty and Thy grace. Enable me, then, to return to my home by Thy power and Thy might. Thou art, truly, the Almighty, the Help in Peril, and Self-Subsisting. ~ Baha'u'llah
Clinton, BC – The Music Man
We drove the bus off Hwy 97 travelling north and worked our way through the dry streets of Clinton to the library. Our intention was to access the Internet, however, we could not. Frank stood outside the bus for a few minutes scanning his surroundings and a woman walking her dog asked, “Are you the music man?”
“Yes.” Frank pointed to the musical notes. “These are Bahá'í tunes. This one is called The Unity Song.” He sang it for her. She stood patiently and listened. “We're Bahá'ís travelling through your town on our way to the Yukon.”
She didn't say a word, picked up her pet and walked away. Her heart wasn't into it.
McLeese Lake Rest Area – Travel Fellowship
It was drizzling and pleasant. Frank was standing outside the bus playing Allah'u'Abha on his chanter. A young fella sporting a cluster of knotted dreadlocks asked Frank about the songs written on the front of our bus and along each side.
“I just played this one he said pointing to the front of the bus and this one is called the Bahá'í Unity song. He sang it for our guest. The traveller thanked him and said that he was from Israel and knew all about the spectacular Bahá'í gardens in Haifa. “How do you meet Baha'is in Canada?” Frank offered him one of the cards we'd made with the three songs he'd so craftily painted on the bus. The www.bahai.org is printed on the back page of our handout. The man accepted it and drove away with his friends.
Alexandria Rest Area – Town Worker Knows a Bahá'í
We parked at the Alexandria Rest Area to relax and tidy up the bus. Mr Dave Thompson approached our bus door and said, “Well you must know Forbes Campbell. He's a Bahá'í. I worked with him for years.”
“Yes!”
We chatted for a while about our common friend until Dave excused himself to return to work.
The Bahá'í graphic on the back of our bus makes it very clear who we are and those lovely curious folks who approach us warm our hearts.
Bahá'í Unity song
Shine Your Light on Me song
