Year of Service

That one indeed is a man who, today, dedicateth himself to the service of the entire human race.
(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 249)

Wert thou to consider this world, and realize how fleeting are the things that pertain unto it, thou wouldst choose to tread no path except the path of service to the Cause of thy Lord.
(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 314)


As Bahá’ís we are recommended to dedicate a period of time of lives fully to service for the progression and healing of mankind, be it months or years.
Ever since I was a child I thought of myself giving my year of service in the jungle with a native tribe somewhere in Latin America. My thought came true and I came accross the need for youth to volunteer in Progreso, Costa Rica and after a lot of comfirmation, decided that this would be the place to dedicate a period of my life to service.

You might be thinking: "What do you do on a year of service?"

Well on my particular trip it will consist mainly of what we call in the Bahá’í Faith, the Core Activities.

• Children's Classes: moral and spiritual development of children through Bahá’í inspired material, arts, music, crafts, sciences, and games!
• Junior Youth Groups: (for ages 12-15) These small groups of adolescents strive to develop their power of expression, create individual and societal moral structures, enhance spiritual and intellectual capacities, be of service to humanity through the arts, sciences, music, and plan and carryout service projects, and be agents of social change, "builders of unity," and "champions of justice."
  
• Devotional Gatherings: gatherings with the purpose of prayer and devotion through the union of any person of any religion, background, or belief.
• Study Circles: small groups of youth and adults who study of a series of books focused on the individual finding a path of service. Each book has service components, which the group would carry out. The themes throughout the courses include the basic Teachings of the Bahá’í Faith, history of the Bahá’í Faith, children's classes, junior youth groups, teaching the Cause of God, and more.

August 8th I leave to Costa Rica and staying with a Bahá’í family who offered their home to me in Ciudad Colon which is in one of San Jose's providences. Then August 13 I will be on my quest to my final destination: Progreso, Costa Rica which is close to the border of Panama.
I will be staying with the Guaymi tribe who are high spirited, loving, humble, and hospitable people. The village consists of around 250 people and I'll be an addition to their community as of August 13.


STAY TUNED FOR SOME MORE DETAILS OF MY TRIP, EXPERIENCES, FEELINGS, AND MORE.

Bahá'í Faith Introduction

This year of service opportunity derived from my religion, the Bahá'í Faith. It would only be appropriate for me to give a brief explanation of this wonderful source.

The Bahá'í Faith is a world religion whose purpose is to unite all people and races in one universal Cause and one common Faith. As Bahá'ís, we are followers of Bahá'u'lláh who we believe is the Promised One of all Ages. Many traditions, cultures, and religions have a promise of a future when peace and harmony will be established on earth and humankind will live in prosperity. Well we believe that the promised hour has come and that Bahá'u'lláh will enable humanity to rebuild this world.

Bahá'u'lláh says:

"That which the Lord hath ordained as the sovereign remedy and mightiest instrument for the healing of all the world is the union of all its peoples in one universal Cause, one common Faith."


For a global society to flourish, Bahá’u’lláh said, it must be based on certain fundamental principles.

They include:

• The elimination of all forms of prejudice
• Full equality between the sexes
• Recognition of the essential oneness of the world’s great religions
• The elimination of extremes of poverty and wealth
• Universal education; the harmony of science and religion
• A sustainable balance between nature and technology
• The establishment of a world federal system, based on collective security and the oneness of humanity.
  
  for more information please visit: www.bahai.org