Sarah Munro writes:
“Should they attempt to conceal His light on the continent, He will assuredly rear His head in the mid-most heart of the ocean, and raising His voice, proclaim: ‘I am the life-giver of the world!’” – Cited in ‘World Order of Bahá'u'lláh’, p108
With these words of Bahá’u’lláh in the forefront of my mind, I undertook a three--month short-term pioneering move to the Faroe Islands from January to March of this year. I had gone there in June last year travel-teaching, and fallen in love with the people of the islands, the Bahá'í community, and the landscape. So much so that, on my return, I sent out 16 letters begging any school to give me a job! Having secured one for ten weeks in a town of 5000 called Klaksvik, I was off….
The local Bahá'í community instantly welcomed me, and allowed me to stay at the National Centre in the main town of Torshavn at the weekends so I could join in activities going on there. This is relatively comfortable accommodation and available free for any travel-teacher or short-term pioneer.
Meeting people to introduce to the Faith was not difficult. I immediately struck up friendships with the teachers at the school, some of my students, and friends of the local Bahá'ís. I was regularly invited to visit these new friends in their homes and had many opportunities to talk about the Faith. They received Bahá'í literature in the Faroese language too.
Determined to systematically teach the Faith to my open-minded and receptive students, I set up a weekly English Discussion Evening, while another way I felt I could offer service to the community was through the arts. The islands’ Fiftieth Anniversary Committee asked another pioneer and me to create a short drama evoking the spirit of the first pioneer to the Faroes, Eskil Ljungberg. Eskil, a Baha’i from Sweden, arrived in the Faroes in 1953 at the age of 67, and died there at 99. His life of dedicated and sacrificial service is an inspiration to all. We were able to create a twenty-minute piece, successfully performed at the Naw-Rúz celebration. One of the highlights of my short service was a fantastic opportunity to proclaim the Faith through the media. A journalist contacted me after hearing me speak on the radio and asked for an interview “to discuss the Bahá'í Faith”. I was thrilled! It resulted in a double-page centre spread in one of the two weekend newspapers on the islands. The Faith was constantly referred to very favourably, and this generated a lot of interest among the local people. A very clear answer to ardent prayers!
Now I am home, I am determined to encourage other Bahá'ís to travel to this wonderful country, where I found the people receptive to the Teachings, easy to associate with, and the landscape among the most beautiful I have ever seen. For more information contact the Faroe Community directly on bravo@post.olivant.fo
BACK TO CONTENTS PAGE