My experience at the Baha'i World Centre

It all started in the fall of 2003 when I was visiting one of my sons who lives in England.  One day, as we were talking about Bahá’í issues, he became very determined and said, “I think you should apply to serve in Haifa; they need people like you there”.  My lack of enthusiasm made him download the application forms and fill them in.  He took a picture of me and sent it all to the Recruiting Office.

Then things began to roll.  ‘One year’ I had agreed to be gone, but in order to qualify for any office job I was asked to ‘extend my availability’.  As time went on I more and more appreciated the idea of having a ‘sabbatical’ after 8 years in Albania.  When asked what kind of job I would not want to do I said, “Sitting 8 hours a day in front of a computer and doing translations only”. 

So, in May 2004 I arrived with an orientation group of 25 friends from all over the world and was invited to serve in the Library for 30 months.  I’m not a Librarian, but oddly enough, my first job in Cincinnati, Ohio, many years ago was is the Public Library, and I have a good collection of books on diverse topics.  When people come into my living room in Vlora, Albania, they automatically say ‘Biblioteka!’  From the very beginning I felt at home here.  I was trained by a friendly colleague how to accession books, and how to use the different computer programs and tools at our disposal.  We receive books, pamphlets, magazines, theses and audio-visual materials that have to do with the Faith or mention it, from National Assemblies, Bahá’í Publishing Trusts or individuals.  And since they come in over 700 languages, knowing a few of them comes in handy. 

We have a 44-hour week, i.e. we work from 8 am to 6 pm Sunday to Thursday, with 1 or 2 Friday mornings per month on duty.  Here we call it 'service' because that is what it is: we have the privilege of serving the Universal House of Justice!  Some of us have a 1 ½ h lunch break, which we spend sharing a delicious lunch with friends at the dining hall, doing some shopping at the Food Centre or strolling through the awfully tempting Book Shop.

Young volunteers usually share ‘flats’, and older ones, such as I, have their own apartment.  Mine is very conveniently located not far from the Shrine.  In the morning walk through the splendid terrace gardens that are a joy to the eye and the soul, ready for another day in paradise (in my case the CST Building - Centre for the Study of Texts, the present location of the Library until the permanent one will be built). 

But it is not only work here – there are evenings and weekends filled with all kinds of activities.  I hardly ever come home before 8 pm because there are so many interesting things to do: I give an English class for friends who wish to improve their English, then there is ballet class with some other ladies, choir practice, Ruhi classes galore, farewell parties, potluck dinners, lectures, concerts, Holy Days, etc.  On weekends I often act as a support guide for terrace tours, which is a wonderful opportunity to serve.  I sometimes answer questions from visitors, who are always highly impressed by the beauty of our World Centre – the buildings, the terraces and the gardens.  Then, of course, the almost weekly trip to Bahji to spend time in the Shrine of Baha’u’llah and the gardens.  Weather permitting, I ride to the beach on my newly acquired mountain bike for a long stroll or a dip into the sea amidst hundreds of Israelis enjoying the outdoors with their children.  I find that the Shabbat is a truly marvellous institution.  It permits people to interrupt their daily routine of work and do something totally different, e.g. take the family out for a picnic, to walk, play or dance at the beach, or visit one of the beautiful National Parks.  It is truly admirable, the way Israelis combine their historic treasures with tourism and outdoor living.

One of my fist impressions here was the high standard of perfection – visible in the gardens, of course, but also applied in the offices, the dining hall, the tunnels – everywhere you go there is cleanliness and order: the two prerequisites of beauty.

About ten times a year a new ‘orientation group’ arrives, i.e. 20-25 new staff members for the various departments.  Each year, on average, approximately 230 individuals complete their period of service at the Bahá’í World Centre.   Often young Bahá’ís serve for less than two years in the Gardens, the Kitchen, the Cleaning & Maintenance Department or Security.  Consequently, with this high turnover of staff, you may have just become friends with a very special person, and next thing you know, she is leaving the World Centre. 

There is always a great need for special skills.  If you have any or wish to have a truly unique experience in your life, you should offer to serve at the BWC for at least a year.  Although, just because you offer to serve, it does not mean that you will be invited .  Serving here has helped me gain insights into how our beloved Supreme Body functions, what service truly means, and provides me with more opportunities to develop my spiritual potential than any other place on earth. 

Martha H. Otto, BWC, Haifa, Israel

April 2005