Comments on: Hanoi: Baha’i 20th Anniversary

By: Gary L. Matthews

Gary L. Matthews — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 18:56:48 +0000

Thanks so much, Dan, for the new information, your kind comments, and the link. Also for reposting, on your website, the historic video of Michael Orona and his family performing at the convention.

Please note also that I’ve updated the article to include the name of the speaker I had previously omitted.

By: dan jones

dan jones — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 16:09:00 +0000

The "beautiful lady" is Mrs. Tran Thi Bich. She's very dear to my wife Quynh and I, as we stayed with her family for over a month while we were in Hanoi. I caught bits and pieces of her history over time but I would have loved to be present for these proceedings to hear her tell the story. Thank you so much for your many posts about Vietnam. Not only are they a joy for us to read personally, but they form part of an indispensable record of this very significant event in the development of the Bahá'í community of Vietnam. I hope you don't mind, but I've quoted parts of this post on my own blog describing the National Convention, and linked and attributed it. Cheers!

By: Gary L. Matthews

Gary L. Matthews — Sun, 06 May 2012 02:41:06 +0000

Oops! Egg-on-my-face alert! Guess I didn't make clear which of the women in which of the photos is Zabine. For this article series, I haven't been using captions, but simply placing photos in-line next to the events being described. That's a less explicit method of labeling, more open to confusion. Also, I had intended, at the outset of the series, to post an airport photo of Zabine and Peter saying their goodbyes. Looking back, I now see I never did this. My mistake! So please click this photo. This depicts Zabine with two lovely young women, Ha and Huyen, who guided us on a tour of Hanoi's Old Quarter on our second day here. Zabine is of course the one on the left. (Just kidding! Zabine is over 35.) Or check out the first photo in Hanoi from the Handlebars, where Zabine "Motorcycle Mama" Van Ness is being outfitted with helmet, just before first taking to the Hanoi streets.

By: Janelle

Janelle — Sat, 05 May 2012 18:03:35 +0000

It is interesting that the Counselor mentioned our belief in obedience to government. It is such an important principle of our Faith.

I believe that Zabine was getting her nourishment from spiritual food.

Gary, if possible, please post a picture of Zabine. Somehow I have not identified
her in group pictures. Thanks.