The same spirit as 60 years ago.

1989 Ashkhabad Helmut and Huschang at the monument of Machtim Kuli
1989 Ashkhabad Helmut and Huschang at the monument of Machtim Kuli
1989 Ashkhabad with friends at the family Nadjis house
1989 Ashkhabad with friends at the family Nadjis house
1989 Ashkhabad with friends after viewing slides about the Baha'i Faith
1989 Ashkhabad with friends after viewing slides about the Baha'i Faith
1989 Ashkhabad at the old Baha'i cemetery
1989 Ashkhabad at the old Baha'i cemetery
1989 Ashkhabad a visit at the ministery of religious affairs
1989 Ashkhabad a visit at the ministery of religious affairs
1989 Ashkhabad on the way to Dushanbe
1989 Ashkhabad on the way to Dushanbe

On the 12th of March in 1989 Helmut and Huschang Peseschkian flew from Frankfurt, changing in Moscow, to Ashkhabad, the capital city of Turkmenistan.

Every time they took a taxi to the hotel or to the friends' homes Helmut and Huschang talked with the driver about peace, Gorbatshov's efforts and about the Baha'i Faith, shared booklets about the peace message. They used many possibilities to speak with people about peace and religion.

Already at the first evening they went to the Nadji family where later also some friends and relatives arrived. Together we talked about the beloved Faith and watched slides of Ashkhabad where more than 60 years ago the Baha'i community counted a few thousand members, where the first House of Worship stood. We also spoke about the peace message or watched slides of the Baha'i communities of the world.

The days in Ashkhabad were something special. Every evening more and more friends came, elderly people spoke freely about the first years of the Faith and of the time when Hand of the Cause of God Dr. Furutan lived in Ashkhabad. 

It was a sensation of freedom and new courage for the friends.

Every morning at 6 o'clock both of us went to the monument of Machtim Kulies, the place where the House of Worship stood, to pray. Often Huschang chanted Prayers in Arabic and Persian. Many times the KGB followed us. They didn't understand what 2 tourists would do at the monument at that time of day, especially since these tourists stayed at Baha'i friends' homes till late at night.