A short time ago we were being encouraged to study Ruhí books 1, 2, and 6 and the sequence didn't seem to matter much. Now we are beginning to learn that the sequence does matter and that our study of the later books is greatly enhanced by the earlier. Book 6 Teaching the Cause will mean so much more to us if we have engaged ourselves in topics such as the "Joy of Teaching" and "Introducing Bahá'í Beliefs", both of which are units in Ruhí Book 2 - Arising to Serve. And consider how an immersion in the Twin Manifestations (Book 4) will contribute to Teaching the Cause. Acts of Service & Teaching.

In the introduction to book 2 we learn that the Ruhí Institute decided to... "...help the participants learn about the path [of service] as they walked it by performing specific acts of service. The next challenge was to define the first act of service, one that would build on the concepts that had been imparted in Book 1. It was hoped, of course, that even though Book 1 dealt largely with the issue of identity, it would have stimulated some activity among its participants, for example, the study of prayers with other believers or the holding of devotional meetings. The question was, then, What should be the first act of service to be formally studied in Book 2?... Sharing deepening themes with newly enrolled believers, then, became the first act of service to be addressed by the Institute."

Sombreros to Gum Boots - the Sanchez Family in the Atlantic Region

Unit 2 of Arising to Serve features the story of the Sanchez family. In greater Moncton, they were the Robichauds. In the Evangéline region of PEI they are the Arsenaults. Whatever the family name, this is one step toward adapting exercises that have been proven in places like Colombia and Ecuador to fit the reality of Atlantic Canada. We need to ask ourselves, how can we, in Atlantic Canada benefit from book 2? How can we adapt the activities and exercises to encourage us to Arise to Serve? What we can do... If we do not have a Sanchez family of new believers we can

• Role play inviting our contacts to firesides and other Bahá'í events.
  
• Practice giving short talks about the Covenant, Life of Bahá'u'lláh and Community Life to our friends, Bahá'í or non-Bahá'í. Since we are learning how to organize our thoughts and to give short presentations, we can ask our friends to help us acquire these skills and to let us practice with them. We may even give them the list of the points we want to cover and ask them to make sure we have followed the outline and to evaluate our talks. If we practice our skills with a non-Bahá'í friend, have we not also conducted a fireside with them while sharing a sincere desire to improve your skills?
  
• Role play responses to questions other than those in the exercises in Unit 3. For example, how would you respond to someone who says, "War and aggression are a natural part of life. Look at September 11th. Two thousand years after Christ. It has always been this way and it always will be." Think of other topics of conversation related to current events and consider how you would achieve the goal of Unit 3 - "to acquire the ability to introduce Bahá'í ideas into a conversation."
  

Be creative and imagine how book 2 can be adapted to your situation. Book 2, when seriously considered, can help you serve the Faith.

Individual Initiative and Teaching: Some of the Fruits of Book 2

• In Nova Scotia we note "an explosion of personal planning" as a result of book 2 study circles, some of which has gone beyond the pencil and paper exercises on page 54.
  
• In New Brunswick two participants of a book 2 course volunteered to work with a local Head Start program and to help children-at-risk.
  
• The Sackville, NB study circle made a travel teaching trip to Big Cove and has had spiritual meetings with youth during which prayers and sweet grass ceremonies were offered.
  
• In PEI a Ruhí book 1 study group for non-Bahá'ís was started as a result of the first role-play exercise in unit 2. Three non-Bahá'ís are attending with two Bahá'ís. Everyone in the group now knows the short obligatory prayer by heart. One person commented, "It's a lot easier to invite people to study together with you than to say ,"Hey, I want to teach you something."
  

There have probably been many personal accomplishments and fruits of book 2. We can't share them unless we hear of them. Please send us your success stories.