Where in the World is Martha Root?
PASSPORT
YOU ARE ABOUT TO EMBARK ON AN ADVENTURE!
YOU MUST FIND YOUR WAY THROUGH THE MAZE AND FOLLOW MARTHA ROOT’S FOOTSTEPS THROUGH MANY CONTINENTS AND COUNTRIES WHERE SHE TAUGHT THE BAHA’I FAITH. WHEN YOU GET TO A MILESTONE, YOU MUST PASS TESTS AND UNDERGO TRIALS AS SHE DID. WHEN YOU PASS THE TESTS, YOUR PASSPORT WILL BE STAMPED SO YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT COUNTRY MARTHA ROOT TRAVELED TO, IN ORDER TO GIVE THE GIFT OF THE BAHA’I FAITH TO THE PEOPLE.
YOU WILL BEGIN IN PITTSBURG, PA WHERE SHE FIRST HEARD OF THE BAHA’I FAITH...
IN THE ANDES MOUNTAINS, SHE RODE A MULE ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS TO GO TRAVEL TEACHING IN PANAMA...
“CHINA, CHINA, CHINA, CHINA--WARD THE CAUSE OF BAHA'O'’LLAH MUST MARCH!” –`ABDÚ’L-BAHÁ
THE CHALLENGE IN THIS STATEMENT HAD LONG BEEN A GUIDING ELEMENT IN MARTHA’S LIFE...
IN SWITZERLAND, SHE TAUGHT STATESMEN FROM OVER 50 COUNTRIES....
SHE CROSSED THE AEGEAN SEA FROM TURKEY TO TEACH IN GREECE...
HER FINAL RESTING-PLACE WAS HAWAII. SHOGHI EFFENDI CABLED THE FOLLOWING AT HER DEATH:
“The Pure Leaf, the illustrious teacher, the sign of detachment, the torch of love and affection, the example of courage and faithfulness, the consolation of the people of Bahá, Martha Root has ascended to the summit of eternal habitation. The Concourse on High received her with the shouts: “Welcome O Glory of Teachers! Well done, well done, O Thou who hast sacrificed thine all in thine attraction to the Kingdom of the Lord of manifest signs. Blessed art thou a thousand fold for this shining, exalted, lofty, inaccessible station!”
Above her grave are Shoghi Effendi’s words: “The grave of Martha Root is the brightest spot in the Pacific Ocean. The Supreme Concourse is suspended above that grave waiting to rush to the assistance of any suppliant.”
Set up in a large area, six obstacle courses. Everyone begins at a different one and then rotate in order until done with all stations. A task must be accomplished, or at least attempted to get your Passport stamped. This can be any kind of stamp, a nine-pointed star, a smiley face, whatever your community has.
Station 1. Sign up that says PITTSBURG, PA
Home of Pittsburgh Steelers. Football poster up of Steelers.
Task: Throw a nerf football through a hole cut into a board. You get three tries and only need one to get your passport stamped. If participants can’t do it after three tries, they get a stamped passport for trying and for being in Pittsburgh.
Station 2. Sign up that says ANDES MOUNTAINS. Set up small three step ladder or three large blocks to climb up and down. Must climb with mule stuffed animal on head without dropping it. Three tries, then stamp passport.
Station 3. Sign up that says CHINA. Can have a mural of great wall up or any background. Set up ring toss to catch the hearts and souls of people in China by teaching the Faith. Stamp Passport after 6 tosses, one stamp for every ring. (Or could set up corn hole)
Station 4. Sign up that says SWITZERLAND. Can have poster of Alpes. Put hopscotch on floor and a Lindt chocolate at the end in the last block. Must hopscotch and lean over and pick up to eat and get stamp on passport.
Station 5. Sign up that says AEGEAN SEA, blue paper on floor as large as you can. On one shore sign that says Turkey and on opposite, sign that says Greece. Place numbered circles randomly but within reach of each other, not too close so too easy and not too far so hurt themselves. Then the participant must island jump onto 1, then 2, then 3, then 4, then 5, then 6, then 7, then 8, then 9, and finally onto the shore of Greece. Randomize the islands on the blue paper so it is some forward, some back, not too easy. They must try to stay on the islands and not land in the water. Stamp passport in Greece.
Station 6. Sign up that says HAWAII. Can have up a palm tree, can give out leis, use fun imagination. Participant must hula hoop for 5 seconds before letting it fall to ground. 6 tries, then stamp passport.
When all done host a dinner for the community with food from all these places, Pierogis (Pittsburgh), Tamales or plantains (Panama), yummy Chinese rice and over sauce of choice, more Lindt chocolates for all from Switzerland, Moussaka, Dolma, or Baklava from Greece, and pineapple or pork and coconut water from Hawaii. You can pick your own international menu. Have fun!