In Memoriam 1992-1997/Julia Nodada
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JULIA NODADA
1916—1996
ulia Nodada was born in 1916 in JDangwane, a village ninety kilometers north of Umtata (presently Mthatha), Transkei. Her father passed away when she was very young. Julia remembered that her mother was very strict, so much so that as a Child she sometimes doubted if she really was her mother. Later she was grateful to her.
Her grandfather was a kind man with an intense love for the Creator and a strong conviction in the power of prayer. He used to stay with her family and made a deep impression upon her. Julia was proud of him. As a teacher he established the first school in Dangwane.
When she was about fifty years old, a Bahá’í traveling teacher Visited Dangwane. The teacher had been given Julia’s address by Cecilia Nodada,205 a Bahá’í who lived in Umtata working as a nurse there. The traveling teacher stayed a week with Julia, but Julia said that the Bahá’í made no impression on her at the time. Julia was
205 Credited as being the first Bahá’í in northern Transkei. See “In Memoriam,” 7726 Ba/J/i’z’W/or/a’, vol. XVIII, pp. 719—21.
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a staunch Methodist—a secretary for the church hoping for a promotion and greater recognition. When the Bahá’í left Dangwane, Julia’s problems began. Her husband traveled to Cape Town looking for work, and she received no news or financial help from him. The excitement she had found in the church now looked uninteresting. And she had a dream of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that confused her. In the dream ‘Abdu’l-Bahá promised her, “Julia, do not worry. Your station will soon be higher than these people. Be humble and steadfast." Her friends laughed at her dream.
As her situation worsened, she remembered the traveling teacher. She had another dream advising her to borrow money from a certain lady so as to make a trip to Durban. She heeded the dream, borrowed the money, and went to Durban where she met the Bahá’ís. This time the teachings of the Faith and the love and care of the Bahá’ís made an impression on her. She declared and returned to her children in Dangwane.
The Bahá’ís told her that she was expected to teach the Faith. Alone and with no news or contact From anyone, Julia found this to be difficult. A few people from the Assembly of God came to her and wanted to use her house as a prayer center, and she consented. Eventually all of the surrounding neighbors joined the church, except for Julia, who was providing the venue for its growth. The leader of the church tried to convince her, but Julia could not ignore her Faith. She said that her only companion during this time was ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Through her efforts more people in Dangwane accepted the Faith, and a Local Spiritual Assembly was formed. From Dangwane the teachings were taken to neighboring communities, including Essek Farm and Magusheni. In Magusheni the
THE BAHA’I’ WORLD
Bahá’ís were met by stiff opposition, and their lives were threatened; however, today there is a strong Bahá’í community there.
In 1980 the first National Spiritual Assembly of Transkei was formed with its seat in Umtata. Julia was elected to it and served it for twelve years.
She Was asked by the National Assembly to translate the Tablet of Ahmad. During this time she was losing her eyesight, and she begged the Assembly to leave her out ofsuch work. Again she had a dream. This time the dream encouraged her to push on with the task oftranslati011.]ulia wiped the tears flowing from her eyes and continued to work on the translation. When she finished, her eyesight was completely restored. To the end of her life she was able to see perfectly without glasses.
On September 1, 1996, her eightieth birthday was celebrated by a gathering of many friends and family members. That nightm’ Julia died in her sleep in Dangwane—the village in which she had spent her entire life. Some Four hundred people came to pay respects, most ofwhom were non—Bahá’ís. The Bahá’ís had been praying for the completion of their Bahá’í center, Which was accomplished in time for the funeral. Julia, who had often expressed her wish to have Bahá’í prayers said in the center, heard, from the realms above, the first prayers chanted there. Several of the friends referred to her as the “spiritual mother of Transkei.” On September 5, the Universal House ofjustice wrote:
We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of julia Nodada, dearly loved, loyal handmaiden of Bahá’u’lláh. Generations to come will undoubtedly draw inspiration from her historic services as one of
3““ September 2, 1996.
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IN MEMORIAM 1992—1997 331
the first believers ofher region and a founding member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Transkei at a critical period in the evolution of the South African nation. Kindly extend our loving sympathy to the members of her family. Be assured of our ardent prayers in the Holy Shrines for the progress of her soul throughout the divine worlds.
Based on an article which draws upon (1 recording afjulia narrating t/je story a_f/Jer [ifi made by t/ae Lam! Spiritual
Assembly ofUmmta in April 1996