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A Junior Youth Class was successfully held at Stutong Baru last Sunday. Our first encounter with the junior youth at Stutong was memorable as it was our very first experience conducting a junior youth class in Bahasa Melayu. Despite the scorching hot afternoon, 7 participants had gathered for the class at one of the participants’ humble home. They were all excited and were full of spirit when we arrived there.

We left Kota Kinabalu for Labuan at 8 in the morning. Everyone was excited and full of spirit to teach. Some were revising their flipchart. We were greeted by Mr. Goh Kok Kyiu in Labuan ferry terminal and was treated lunch too. Thanks to Mr. Goh for being so hospitable. Also thanks to Mr. Naysan Lee for assisting in printing of the Iban flipcharts. Upon arrival to Limbang by ferry, we were greeted by Mr. Kong Siew Moi, Dr. Johun Teh, Mrs. Jubang and a few youth. They brought us straight to Mendamit Bahá’í Centre which is 45 minutes from Limbang Town using two cars and a school bus. There at Mendamit Bahá’í Centre, we met Mr. Sumbang and Mdm. Rata, Mr. Changgau and Mdm. Sema, Mr. Suili and his brothers – Richie and Junaidi, and other youth.

My trip was arranged by friends in Macau with the main purpose to facilitate institute study cycles for Book 6 and Book 7. On arrival at Guangzhou, I tried to call Ai Takaki a Japanese lady from the airport. But she was not back from picking her children from school. So I took the bus 6 (actually I should take bus 2) to Ai’s house. Luckily I met two local girls they accompany me to Ai’s place by taxi.

From airport on the way to Ai’s house, I entered a city of many sky tall building, hotel with very big garden, big shopping mall with very big compound, alot of people sitting there for taking rest. There were people and vehicle everywhere. City life is very busy. The building are tall, places are big, road also wide with 4-8 lane. Only most of the local people are short. So I didn’t feel so short there!

Walter Nusslein, a Baha’i from the town of Hassfurt, Germany, was in Kuching last September to meet up with friends. He came with his wife, Veronica, a native Kayan from the upper Baram River, and their 4 children, three of whom were born in Sarawak.

Walter came to Sarawak more than 20 years ago as a surveyor attached to the Public Works Department under a German technical exchange programme. While serving in the Niah area in the interior region of Sarawak, he met up with a young Baha’i teacher. This young Baha’i teacher was none other than Tipik Ladi, the present Secretary of NSA Sarawak.

On October 30, Mr. Terrence Tinggi Sait and I drove to Sarikei and met Roland Katang in Taman Jasmin. Together with his two brothers-in-law, Kudang and Solomon, we visited the family of the late Philip Suning, the first Iban follower of Bahá’u’lláh. It was a pleasant meeting and we reminisced about old times in Brunei and Limbang and the early years in Sarawak. I remembered how he invited Grete to visit Sungai Stalun and how that place in central Sarawak was opened to the Faith.

We then took some pictures of the family and friends who also visited them. We later went together to the gravesite of the late Philip. The grave is in a remote field with some other graves. It is easy to find and there was a small jungle path to the site. We said prayers at the site and also took pictures.