…Sadness overwhelms me every time I think about the fate your family had to endure. This separation —although temporary— tightens my heart; it is one of the most painful I’ve experienced since losing my mother.
I never fully recovered from the moment I received that audio from you explaining her situation. I cry every time I think of her; it’s very hard to accept.
She had an impact on me that I cannot put into words. It is said that when someone has fulfilled their mission in this life, God calls them because their wings can no longer fit in this world and must spread in a greater realm to make use of their spiritual powers. And I feel, with absolute certainty, that she reached that point.
Her beautiful soul —so loving and generous— her sweet smile, her eyes full of tenderness, and her embrace that could restart your life… I will never forget. She is such a deeply special soul.
Drazen inherited the best of her: her eyes. I always remember those big, bright eyes. They didn’t disappear entirely with her physical departure —she left them to us as a gift through her child.
…At this moment, she is surely resting in her final dwelling place, our beloved Hoda. I’m just here, thinking about everything that happened, how it happened, and the emotions it brings. That’s how we were yesterday…
It’s hard. It’s hard to grasp, it seems. It was a shock from the very beginning, from the moment we learned the news —truly. It makes me think a lot about the impact that souls close to the Beloved have on others.
And the spiritual impact she had on me from the moment I met her still surprises me. To me, it feels like a great loss. I lost a sister, it seems, even though we weren’t in close contact.
I don’t know how to explain how I feel. I remember when we participated in an active teaching conference in Buenos Aires. I was assigned to go with her to visit a family. I never forgot that visit. I was very young —probably 21 years old— it was around 2009.
And the impact that moment had on me was… I don’t know… so strong, that I’ve carried her way of doing things into every visit I’ve made since. She arrived, greeted the person —a lady, I remember— sat down and listened to her. She followed the whole conversation as she always did: with such loving, dignified tone.
She gave her space, truly listened. That lady seemed to really need someone to open up to, and Hoda was there. Then, of course, she delivered the message and invited her to a unity gathering that was happening at Sora and Lida’s house.
The lady came with her daughter, and they took a picture that day. That moment, that teaching experience, stayed with me. It always stayed with me.
I’m telling you —it always stayed with me. And the last time we saw each other, in Blanes, I felt again that same care, that same love, that same attention she always gave to people.
You know, in the Faith, we’re taught that sometimes people must leave earlier because soldiers are needed in the Celestial Army… and honestly, I think about that and I say: yes, she needed to be there to help us from beyond, because we still have a long journey ahead here.
I send you a big, heartfelt hug, Marco. I know this is not an easy situation. I deeply regret that Drazen can’t experience his mother’s love in this world, but I’m sure he will feel it from other realms —truly.
And now, it’s up to us to go through this grieving process, which you’ve already been living for some time, being there with her.
I woke up and said prayers for her, for her progress. And I asked Bahá’u’lláh specifically to allow her to intercede in our efforts to continue serving the Cause.
And that’s it for now. I’ll send you more in another moment. May Hoda rest in peace.