Decision to pioneer brings joyful surprises
The following reflections from a pioneering couple who are about to be deployed to one of New Zealand’s three international pioneering goal areas highlight the confirmations that come with arising to serve.
Having experience in the early days of intensive neighbourhood activities in Manurewa, Auckland, and later pioneering on the homefront to contribute to community building in a provincial cluster, gave them the necessary knowledge, skills and experience that will make them valuable contributors to growth in their new cluster. They are also consciously spending time again in Manurewa to “refresh” their skills before their departure.
“It is anticipated that these friends would come from stronger clusters, settle in less advanced centres of activity in receiving countries or regions, and quickly become part of an emerging nucleus of individuals committed to cultivating a vibrant pattern of community life. The spiritual forces released by such movement and the experience that a pioneer is able to bring to the community are potent catalysts for progress”.
—The Universal House of Justice in its call for pioneers dated 24 May 2022
Michael Vaughan writes:
What surprises might happen during this new Nine-Year Plan?
At a gathering in Auckland at the end of October 2022, I listened to the newly formed Pioneer Taskforce giving an update on the pioneering goals for the first year of the Plan. The Cook Islands, French Polynesia and the Czech Republic need pioneers from Aotearoa, preferably young couples or young families or youth.
Hearing that no one had pioneered yet, I said, “Yvonne and I can go.” I was surprised I had made such an offer on the spur of the moment. So was Yvonne.
Are we a young couple? Only 64 and 67 years of age.
An emotional and spiritual roller coaster had been set in motion.
Lyndsey Ula from the Taskforce asked us to consider French Polynesia and the Czech Republic. From recent travels we knew a little bit about the Czech Republic. But where is French Polynesia?
Two weeks later we were in a zoom meeting with the liaison Counsellors for Aotearoa (Tessa Scrine) and for French Polynesia (Kirk Johnson). Kirk talked with us about the spiritual significance of pioneering, the needs and reality of French Polynesia, and suggested we visit the country, as soon as is possible, to see if we think we can fit in and serve there. The Czech Republic was still an option.
The House of Justice speaks of the effect of the movement of pioneers to regions and countries at an early stage of development.
“The spiritual forces released by such movement and the experience that a pioneer is able to bring to the community are potent catalysts for progress.”
— The Universal House of Justice, to the Bahá’ís of the World, 24 May 2022.
Seventeen days later we landed in Tahiti at 1.30 a.m., to be warmly hosted by the Wattiaux family who had recently pioneered from the Gold Coast in Australia. The presence of many souls from the next world was palpable. During our ten-day visit, the generosity of spirit of the local people made us feel at home. We were also touched by the joyful hearts and deep love for Bahá’u’lláh of the local believers. We were amongst the Friends of God.
A few days later we travelled from the island of Tahiti to Raiatea Island (Hawaiki). At times we wept tears of joy, overwhelmed by the outpouring of spirit from the concourse. We visited Taputapuatea, the sacred departing place of many of the waka of the original discoverers of Te Ika a Maui and Te Waipounamu. At Taputapuatea, a local kaumatua pointed to a mountain on a neighbouring island, informing us that it was the place where the Tainui waka had been built and launched.
The next day a small boat took us across to Taha’a Island to pay homage at the foot of this sacred mountain, Maungaroa. We became immersed in an indescribable mingling of the spiritual forces of this world and the next, connections reaching back in time.
On the way back to Raiatea, the skipper stopped to allow us to snorkel in the warm waters of the coral reef, the home of the parrot fish, the clown fish and many other colourful varieties. As we snorkelled on the reef, male clown fish would try to distract us away from their anemone homes where one or two tiny baby fish and their mother peeped out to see what was happening.
Back on Raiatea, the next morning we sat by the sea shore for a breakfast of fresh raw fish as well as pineapple, bananas, papaya, mangos and cool coconut water. A pleasant temperature of 26 degrees with a light onshore breeze. We joked, “Not sure if we could live here?”
We returned to Aotearoa, deeply affected by the vastness of the ocean; the stunning beauty of the bush clad volcanic islands, their lagoons and coral reefs; and by the joy, the openness, and the warmth of spirit of the Ma’ohi people.
Once back home, the acceptance of our offer to pioneer to Ma’ohi Nui (French Polynesia) brought great joy. Our response to the summons of the Universal House of Justice was confirmed.
“If by the grace of Almighty God, the friends should succeed in reaching the heights of heroism to which they are now summoned, history will assuredly pay tribute to their actions …”
— The Universal House of Justice, 30 December 2021
The ongoing prayers, love and encouragement of the institutions has been wonderful.
At the end of February, we had to travel to Wellington for an appointment at the French Embassy. Visas take one month to be issued. We are now awaiting visas; busy selling our worldly possessions; strengthening our capacities; and learning French and Ma’ohi languages.
Taking that first step to pioneering created many ups and downs, and surprising confirmations. We are on track to land in Tahiti before 21 April, 2023.
Brief history
The first Knights of Bahá’u’lláh arrived in Tahiti 70 years ago in October 1953. This accomplishment was set in motion in 1916, some 107 years ago, when ‘Abdu’l-Bahá revealed the seventh Tablet of the Divine Plan. In this Tablet He wrote that the glad tidings of the manifestation of the Lord of Hosts must be delivered to all the people of the Pacific Ocean. Within the many countries and islands that He named were three archipelagos of French Polynesia — the Society Islands, Low Archipelago, and Marquesas. These became three of the goals of the Ten-Year Crusade launched by Shoghi Effendi in 1953. In October that year the first Knights of Bahá’u’lláh to settle in French Polynesia arrived in Tahiti: Gladys Parke from New Zealand and her friend from Tasmania, Gretta Lamprill.
It is in this seventh Tablet that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá states,
“O that I could travel, even though on foot and in the utmost poverty, to these regions, and, raising the call of “Ya Bahá'u'l-Abhá” in cities, villages, mountains, deserts and oceans, promote the divine teachings! This, alas, I cannot do. How intensely I deplore it! Please God, ye may achieve it.”
Pictured below: Yvonne Williamson and Michael Vaughan at the airport on Raiatea Island (Hawaiki).
