Five years of marriage!

Today marks our five year anniversary.

It's been a wonderful and loving journey up until now. Sometimes joyful, sometimes hard... but most of all trying to continually help each other to serve humanity in more effective ways.

A lot has happened since the day we got married.

To sum it all up ...

-got married in Nottingham, England

-went back to Haifa, Isreal to finish our service

-after 9 months brought Nima back to Canada with me

-did my Montessori teacher training program

-Nima ultimately found work at a really great company called Prollenium

-lived with my parents for two years

-moved into our own house in Newmarket, Ontario

-have lived in our house for over two years and serving along side our wonderful Baha'i community in Newmarket

-worked as a teacher for two years

-took a little break and now working for the Department of External Affairs at the Baha'i National Centre

Many of our friends and family might be wondering why we don't have children yet. To be honest, we've been trying for over two years and have recently found out that we have some fertility issues that we need to deal with. This is what we are currently going through... so please keep us in your prayers. What we are trying to learn from all of this is what detachment means for us and how we can truly submit our will to the Will of God.

Some might be surprised as to why I'm sharing such private information over the internet. Well the reality is that many couples are going through this. At least in Canada, the statistics are 1 out of every 6 couples. That is not a joke!! I've seen many of these people with my own eyes. And if this entry might help another couple feel less alone in this process than my intention has been fulfilled.

July 12, 2009

On July 12, 2009, my beautiful mother got married to a wonderful British man!! I guess like mother like daughter :)

The days before, the day of, and some days after were filled with laughter, joy and utter happiness for not only the union of two souls, but the union of two families.

I love the Towfigh's and feel so happy to be part of their family.

The only sad thing is that I have to say goodbye to my mom as she departs for England to live with her new husband.

Blessing in disguise...

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/07/15/iran-airplane-crash512.html

Religious Discrimination in Iranian Sports

Khashayar Zarei is a sixteen year old Iranian Baha’i. He is the judo champion of the Iranian youth and the national schools champion but he cannot be a member of the national team. Last year he was picked to represent Iran in the Asian youth judo tournament in Yemen but the Iranian Judo Federation declared that Zarei could not be a member of the national team because he was a Baha’i. This was later confirmed by the national coaching staff, the coaching staff of the Fars province and the Protection Office of the Sports Organization. The Protection Office found that Zarei’s participation in international tournaments would be against the law. The Office did not specify what law prohibits Baha’is from representing Iran in sports tournaments.

The Iranian youth judo trials this year was held on June 15, 2009. At first, the Fars Province Judo Commission did not issue Zarei credentials for entering the tournament. After some controversies, the chair of the Iranian Judo Federation, Mr. Amini, found no legal grounds prohibiting Zarei’s participation. Zarei entered the trials and won all his matches. Once again, however, the Federation found that since Zarei was a Baha’i, he could not be in the national team nor could he represent Iran in the world championship tournament in Armenia. The Federation authorities pointed out that the orders had come from the Protection Office and that the Federation was without authority to act.

The by-laws of the International Judo Federation and other national federations indicate that these organizations must operate independently of politics and be free of national, religious, ethnic or racial discriminations. Iranian constitution and the by-laws of the international Olympics Committee also do not allow religious discrimination. The discrimination against the Baha’is is not limited to the athletes as they are also prohibited from getting judo coaching or refereeing credentials. This is against the spirit of judo.

Issues like the discrimination against the Baha’is demonstrate that sports in Iran are politicized. This results in a flawed system as the athletes’ abilities do not determine their success.

Iran, the birthplace of the Baha'i Faith

We entreat God to deliver the light of equity and the sun of justice from the thick clouds of waywardness, and cause them to shine forth upon men. No light can compare with the light of justice. The establishment of order in the world and the tranquillity of the nations depend upon it. - Baha'u'llah

From Wikipedia: Built in 1971, the architect, Hossein Amanat, won a competition to design the monument, which combines elements of Sassanid and Islamic architecture. Ironically, he practices a religion—the Bahá'í Faith—that is persecuted by the current government. Amanat integrated a degree of Baha'i symbology in the design, such as having exactly nine stripes on each side, and exactly nine windows on either of the long sides of the structure. It is part of the Azadi cultural complex, located in Tehran's Azadi Square in an area of some 50,000 m². There are several fountains around the base of the tower and a museum underground.

Junior Youth Service Project

After completing a Junior Youth animator course offered by the worldwide Baha'i Community in different localities, Nima and I were able to start our own junior youth group in Newmarket, Ontario (one year ago). There are 12 youth that come, all of which are from various racial and religious backgrounds.

The program focuses on strengthening the power of expression – literacy, comprehension and eloquent speech – and critical thinking, helping youth to recognize the moral implications of speech and action and aiding them to make sound life decisions.

To build and sustain truly prosperous communities in a time of rapid global change certainly depends to a great extent on the effectiveness of the preparations the youth make for the world they will inherit. All Baha'i inspired junior youth programs are offered with the conviction that people of this age group (11 - 14 yrs) represent a vast reservoir of energy that can be directed toward the advancement of civilization. For more information, check out http://www.wordswell.ca/.

Since service to the community is an important aspect of the program, some of our junior youth recently participated in a road clean up. One boy said to another, "If we do things like this, it will help make our community better!"

Happy Ridvan!