"I never imagined this."

The first time we arise to teach, it can seem scary. We’ve never done something like this before—how will it turn out? And then, we share the Message with an interested seeker. And for the first time, we see with our own eyes how a seeker’s heart reaches out to Bahá’u’lláh. And we experience the reality of the teaching process, and that we can do it! So with joy we share this update from West Valley, AZ (A), which recently launched its first intensive teaching effort, and contains a moving account of one believer’s first teaching encounter.

First, here are a few numbers reported by the friends, midway through the teaching phase:

Positive responses: 71

Anna’s conversation shared: 34 times

Return visits scheduled: 50

New believers (adults and children): 34

And here is the story of one believer’s teaching breakthrough: . . .

We approached a home where there were 3 young women conversing. One of the teachers had never before shared Anna’s conversation in a direct teaching encounter, particularly in English (which is not her mother tongue), but she said she would give it a try, asking us to help if needed.

Then, with complete faith, she began. All 3 women listened intently and asked a few questions. They were particularly moved by the teachings on racial equality and justice. At the end, all 3 declared their faith in Bahá’u’lláh. We informed them about the children’s classes and junior youth group that were ongoing at the apartment complex where they lived. One of them stated, “We really need this.”

The teacher was stunned at all 3 souls declaring their faith in Bahá’u’lláh simultaneously on her first occasion of direct teaching. Her eyes welled up with tears as she told us: “I’ve never seen anything like this.” and “I never imagined this.” and “How could I have done this?” This is such a bountiful confirmation of her efforts from Bahá’u’lláh!