This is the account of what I remember and the opportunities I had to share with Hoda.
Well, I met Hoda over the phone, because she was serving on the Institute Board and was the one looking after the material needs of those of us who were serving as coordinators. In our first conversation, she truly seemed like someone from another planet. She was like an angel, a reflection of God’s mercy among us.
She never asked how we were spending resources or demanded reports from us. She was always attentive to our needs, grateful for all our efforts and sacrifices. She was always a support, a person with a pure heart in our conversations, and a trust in others and in her surroundings that was evident in the way she treated us and addressed such delicate matters.
Those were my first interactions with her over the phone. She would always say, “Let’s just talk for five minutes,” and in the end, we would end up talking for an hour. We would speak about our families, about how to apply the principles of the Faith — patience with friends, the blessing of being able to serve, and understanding some of the things Bahá’u’lláh wants us to grasp.
Some time later —I don’t know exactly when, maybe a year and a half or two years— we had the opportunity to meet in person, together with you, Marcos, and little Drazen. I remember we had a long and deep conversation about our children, about how much we worried about them, because they are such special beings. We talked about their sensitivity, the fear of their suffering… about the great responsibility God had entrusted to us with these precious souls.
We spent time at home, and Drazen and Arian connected so well. It also felt like a sign of our own spiritual connection. Then we went to a park, took a walk… I remember Arian and Drazen didn’t separate for a second. Andrés was also there. We had a very comforting time.
That conversation gave me so much hope. It made me realize we were not alone and allowed me to see things from another perspective.
When we said goodbye, it was with the promise to see each other again, to support one another and share more. But we never met again in person.
We kept in touch afterward. She told me they wanted to focus more on family. Of course, she never stopped serving, but she was considering stepping back from serving in institutions and agencies because she felt it was a stage in which she needed to support Drazen, to be there for him. It was as if she knew she had to give her all during that time to lay strong foundations.
After Hoda was no longer serving on the Board, I continued as a coordinator for a while, and then I also stepped back from service because our son Arian fell ill with the same illness Hoda had.
We spent a year surviving, living with joy, trying to do our best — but very much in isolation due to immunosuppression and everything related to that.
On one occasion, talking to Virginia —she had come to visit us wearing a mask and all— she said to me: “Let’s pray for Hoda too, because she’s also been diagnosed with cancer.”
At that moment, I was very sensitive due to everything going on with Arian, and it deeply affected me. I knew it would be a path that would require a lot of strength, a lot of trust in God, a lot of support.
Later, I spoke with Hoda. I called her. Some friends told me: “Don’t be discouraged if she doesn’t answer, maybe she’s not feeling well or is with her family.”
But I was lucky — on one of those occasions, Hoda picked up… and we talked.
She truly surprised me once again and showed what we already knew: her sweetness of soul. She devoted herself to comforting me, to congratulating us for our work, to assuring me of her prayers for our son… and it felt like she was the one serving me.
We also assured her of our prayers.
I clearly remember that her wish was to be with her loved ones — with Marcos and with Drazen. She wanted to be part of her son’s spiritual development.
She told me something I’ll never forget:
“Of course I want to stay. I want to accompany my son on this spiritual path. It’s what I would love the most in this world, what would bring me the greatest joy. But if it’s not God’s will, if God has decided I must go, that it’s my time… well, so be it.”
And then she told me to stay strong, to pray, to understand, to take care of Drazen and Marcos.
That’s what she expressed to me.
That was the only time I was able to speak with her on the phone. Later, we exchanged voice messages and texts, always with hope, always doing her part, trusting in Almighty God — in His power, in His strength, in the fact that nothing is impossible for Him.
And at the same time, she was always ready to accept His will, whatever He chose to do with her.
That is what I can say about Hoda’s presence in my heart.
I’m certain that she is with your family from another realm, with great strength. That she rejoices when she sees you happy, when she sees you in harmony.