The Yegue Teaching Campaign, which combined the use of the arts and the institute process, was reported to have been a ‘total success’. This initiative by two Auxiliary Board members, in consultation with the Youth Club of Bambara, took place in the canton of Moyen-Chari during 10 days in June.

The teaching team was composed of about thirty Bahá’ís, including two fulltime facilitators at the Samandari Institute and 24 members of Bamara’s Bahá’í Youth Club. Each time the team entered a village, the youth performed on percussion instruments and sang songs. As soon as people gathered around them, the youth made way for other Bahá’ís, who presented the Message. When the new believers were registered, the facilitators from the Institute stayed in the village to organise basic courses.

Sixteen villages were visited during the campaign. Approximately 1,060 former Bahá’ís regained their faith in Bahá’u’lláh, and 340 persons are new believers - of whom five are village chiefs and two have been pastors.

Jacqueline Yegue, for whom the project was named, was from the same canton where this project was held. She was of Ngama ethnic background and, in 1972, was one of the first Chadian women to embrace the Bahá’í Faith. She was also the first Chadian woman to serve on the country’s National Spiritual Assembly. A very dynamic woman, Mrs Yegue taught all levels of society. She died suddenly in 1997 and was buried just 100 metres from the seat of the Samandari Institute.

BINS, No 441/31 August 1999

An American Bahá’í, Linn Williamson, has been working as a psychologist for the Centre for Crisis Psychology, which coordinates the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) psycho-social programmes for Kosovar refugees in Macedonia. He trains others - teachers in the camp schools and play group organisers who conduct pre-school sessions every day. They help children to recover from trauma using play therapy and puppets to encourage discussion of what the children have experienced.

He wrote - "If the children and their parents can learn to overcome ethnic hatred and excessive nationalism, then peace and stability in the region may not only be achieved but maintained."

The Committee for Pioneering and Travel Teaching lists priority areas needing help from this community on page 7. Here is a glimpse of lives and experiences of friends overseas who have arisen to serve the Faith in this way ...

My Mum and Dad (writes Rose) - Mr and Mrs Khalilian - have done wonders in Hong Kong. They live on a farm not so far from China, in the New Territories, and hold functions which attract many local Chinese people. They have truly pioneered here and offer their love and hospitality to all who pass their way. In Zhuhai there is an "English Corner" set up by a Bahá’í family which is very successful.

We encourage anyone who is considering moving short or long-term to China to use Hong Kong as a stepping-stone. More information from CIPTT.

Travel-teachers and pioneers are welcome as there are many areas in Trinidad and Tobago where there are no Bahá’í activities, but many persons registered as Bahá’í who need a helping hand to guide them to further knowledge and understanding of the teachings and administration of the Faith. In addition, the seeing of new faces, the movement of confirmed and dedicated Bahá’ís throughout the world, is invigorating to the community.

A very successful Women’s Seminar took place in Ulaanbaatar in August and eloquent talks were presented by Drs. Peter and Janet Khan. More than 500 invitations were distributed and about 260 people participated from all provinces of Mongolia. The participation of men in this seminar was particularly encouraged. The spiritual atmosphere of the day had a remarkable effect on the response and attitude of the participants. A feeling of respect and humility was apparent from the remarks of those taking part. This event increased the recognition of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh a hundredfold in Mongolia.

During the course of the seminar the name Bahá’í was mentioned hundreds of times by participants and speakers. Never had there been a public gathering in Mongolia with so much mention of the Faith and its principles.

Deep happiness was felt in my heart (writes Mihan), when in the past few months two people became Bahá’ís, both through having read articles in the newspaper about the Faith many years ago. One of them was a lady of Czech origin who had kept the article that she liked so much for nine years. Last year when David Hofman was here, once again she saw an article, this time with a telephone number. After a few months of studying she enrolled as a Bahá’í. The other person was a young man who lives near Montevideo and in less than a week he accepted the Faith.

This year there was a wonderful summer school where the street children joined the children’s classes and invited their parents to the evening sessions. It seems the parents were not sure where they were going but they went anyway and had a good time. In December a Winter School is being held in a seaside resort town (bathing only for the brave!) where we hope that the work done in the summer will bear fruit. Your prayers are needed that this small band of Lithuanians can really forge ahead with their plans for the end of the Four Year Plan and bring in those waiting souls ready for the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.

Our feasts often consist of a freshly killed chicken, taro (a sort of potato) and coconut cream, followed by a drink of strong Samoan cocoa. To give you an idea of what sort of things can happen unexpectedly here ... the other evening eight 50-seat canoes began a race from our village to Apia (the main town). Not only was it from our village but it was from our back garden (which is the ocean). It looked so spectacular and the shouting and drumming only added to the sense of occasion. In the evening our kids headed into town to watch some fire-dancing and the next day they went surfing!

In Athens we have run a systematic fireside programme for over four years, working on specific themes for discussion and reflection - about ten weeks on each theme. Gradually these have attracted a circle of friends. More often half who come are not Bahá’ís and they love to explore these concepts and to be exposed to the spiritual atmosphere which is generated around the Word of God. Months and years rolled by and we wondered if anyone would ever feel moved to declare themselves as Bahá’ís!

Now, in this last year of the century, we have had four new believers from this group - one for each year of the programme! We just needed patience.

Greece has had the bounty of visits from travel-teachers which encourages us and enlivens our faith and trust in the outcome of our efforts. This year saw the opening of the National Bahá’í Centre in Athens, a huge asset. Greece is bursting with potential and with every travel teacher we see success in one way or another.