Children Class and Junior Youth Group Started!

The Ghiyasi family started their neighborhood children class and junior youth group this Saturday, 22 September 07!!!

Video rap on UNITY: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0ghtve_WVY

They had about 8 non-Baha'i children learning lesson 1 from Ruhi Book 3. It was on unity and they learned the quote: "So powerful is the light of unity it can illuminate the whole world." Nava Ghiyasi did a wonderful job teaching the class. She will need a helper since the children called it the "best class ever" (see picture) and they said they would invite more children for next time.

As for the Junior youth group, Nagin and Quddus had 3 participants: Lawrence and Wendasha who are 12 and Eric who is 11 years old. We stared with a prayer "O God guide me..." The we asked them why they wanted to be part of a junior youth group. Immediately, Lawrence raised his hand and said: "It keeps us out of trouble." We asked him what kind of trouble? And he said: "violence, gang relationship." Another said: "drugs and fights at school."

And then another purpose to get together, one said: "service project." So we asked them, what kind of service project? They said something to help others and help the environment. They decided that they wanted to clean the park and then possibly plant trees and flowers, and visit elderly people.

We also are going to play basketball since the park has a basketball court. They also want to play kickball, soccer, and relay race. They also promised to respect each other and to strive for spiritual and intellectual excellence. We discussed what both of these are and how to improve our spiritual qualities of honesty, truthfulness, respect of others.... We read the following quote to illustrate striving for excellence: "Let each morn better than its eve and each morning better than its yesterday." We promised each other to treat each other with respect and to listen to one another.

Nagin taught them a rap on unity (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0ghtve_WVY ) and they also want to do a play for the whole community. So we will prepare for that next time and talk more about what we need to clean the park such as trash bags, gloves...

They also came up with a few names for their junior youth group: Praying Group, Spiritual Group, Shining Star. They will think of more names and decide on a name soon!

We ended prayers as they each read prayers on children from the prayer book. They can't wait until next week and so can't the rest of us! We then played basketball and the children played on the swings.