Anjana Bhavna Practical experience of Being with One in Sierra Leone Ebola Crisis We sisters Anjana and Bhavna, originally from East Africa, are serving in Freetown, Sierra Leone for the last 9 years. Ebola outbreak We first heard about the Ebola outbreak in a nearby country, Guinea Conakry and then in Liberia. The outbreak was then reported in the town Kenema, bordering these two countries, 300 kms from Freetown where Baba’s centre is located. In the beginning the people weren’t taking it too seriously as they had very little information about Ebola. This created a lot of rumours and misinformation. On 31st July 2014 the President of Sierra Leone announced a state of Health Emergency which included a number of measures on what to do and what not to do. No public gatherings of more than 5 people were allowed in any place. All the people started wearing hand gloves and all public places like supermarkets, banks and government offices kept chlorinated water to wash hands; we also kept chlorinated water at the centre. There was fear of shaking hands and any physical touch. Since 2 months we had even stopped eating any vegetables as a precaution. There was an atmosphere of panic everywhere. Baba’s children who were from foreign countries started evacuating their families out of the country. We were being advised to stock up on food and water. The Government even announced one day as a public holiday for the whole country to pray. Rakhi Celebration We took Vedantibens advice if we could keep a Rakshabandhan program and she said to go ahead and celebrate. We sent invitation emails to all students and contact souls to come and take blessings on Raksha Bandhan day. In this situation of panic they were surprised that the Brahma Kumaris had invited them and they were very happy. To create a light atmosphere amidst this chaotic situation we decorated the centre with beautiful lights and candles. On Sunday 10th August from 8.00am - 8.00pm many students and contact souls came to have their rakhi tied with appointment. On arrival at the centre one of the sisters helped them to wash their hands up to the wrists with chlorinated water. Since it was a State of Health Emergency only 2 - 5 people were allowed to go to Baba’s room to have their rakhi’s tied. The feeling was that everyone needed some advice from Baba’s centre so the centre became an advice and support centre. Around 250 people came to Baba’s house during the whole day and left with a feeling of lightness. The Living Yagya We have had wonderful experience of being part of this unique Godly family. We got a lot of support from the Freetown Brahmin family, our Regional Director Vedantiben. Through regular calls and emails the Nairobi family also supported and guided us at every step with our travel procedures. During this time we were also preparing to go to Madhuban so we had sent our passports to Accra, Ghana for Indian visas. The passports got delayed as one by one the airlines suspended their flight to Freetown. The Accra family and Sr Grace in particular helped to facilitate getting the passports back via DHL. Since we did not have our passports in hand we could not travel, in the mean time we received the news that the direct flight to Nairobi, Kenya Airways had suspended its flights. With full faith in Baba our internal stage was constantly very stable. We created a bhatti for ourselves to sit in Baba’s room every hour. Being with One We were remembering Baba’s words: “That a day will come when students will not be able to come to the centre even when they really want to”, this became the practical experience in Freetown where all public gatherings were banned. We also could not go out anywhere. The project Being With One is a timely project. We were constantly connected with One not just for ourselves but for the students as well as they expected us to support them spiritually to make them courageous. We had to take support and courage from Baba in order to share it. We enjoyed the company of the One and it made us fearless. There was a feeling that in the end we will not see what is happening outside but Baba will take us beyond. We felt that Baba’s canopy of protection was upon us all the time. Just like Baba says: It was a feeling of the kittens being safe and sound around this chaotic situation. A long Journey Home By the time we got our passports back, most of the airlines had suspended their flights to and from Freetown including the direct flight Kenya Airways. Kenya also banned other West African passengers from the affected countries from landing into Nairobi apart from Kenyan Nationals. We made several attempts to book on the only flight out of Freetown and at last after two weeks we got a circuitous route on Royal Air Maroc to Casablanca via Monrovia and then on Turkish Airlines to Nairobi via Istanbul which took almost 40 hours. Since one of us was not a Kenyan national, we were remembering Baba all the way visualizing Immigration officers at the Nairobi airport stamping the Tanzanian passport without perusing the original port of embarkation and this is what actually happened! They stamped the passport without any questions; The Magician at Work! Thanks to Baapdada, Drama & Divine Family. Anjana and Bhavana
Posted on: Mon, 22 Sep 2014 17:59:59 +0000
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