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Serving in the Lotus Temple Bahá'í House of Worship has a unifying effect. It is a great teacher. Even the simple beauty of the building has an effect to a people. Some of them notice the amazing atmosphere that is inside of the prayer hall. A few of them know how to use atmosphere for praying and meditation. Lotus Temple has an effect for a visitor who spends only l0 min inside. I did spend there almost three months. This has really deepened me in a spiritual level. Since then, I have understood the meaning of prayer. As a place, Temple attracts for a prayer. Quiet and peaceful atmosphere takes extra thoughts away and praying is easy and natural. When you have learned a few prayers by heart, they will get deeper levels in a Temple. It is completely different than if prayer would have been said at home where there are so many things to disturb. Mr. Sahba's visit did deepen Lotus Temple's significance to the whole world. This temple in India is so unique in its beauty that it has set new standard for construction. It has helped other Bahá’i projects to proceed. India is one those rare places where you can be in contact with very many religions. Hindu's, Moslem's, Buddhist's and Christians who all are welcome to visit the Lotus Temple. This is a rare opportunity for a western person that has used to only one kind of a religion and culture. It is possible for a foreigner to work at the Lotus Temple. One and maybe the only obstacle is language. If you do not know Hindi, you can’t fully work in some of the working areas. It helps a lot when you learn a few simple words of Hindi. If you manage to learn some Hindi, you can do almost anything else except brief visitors about Bahá’í faith. But there are many opportunities for all kinds of work. During my service, I had a chance to do some special jobs, in a line of work that I did not expect. I have had a great honor to be an official photographer in a few occasions. For example, in one Naw-Ruz feast, I had a chance to take pictures from people whom I had never even dreamt to meet. And later Mr. Sahba asked me to take pictures of the newly finished Information Center. I wonder where those pictures will end up. In the area, there is a good chance for studying during service. Deepening’s have conceived conversations also during free time. Especially I want to thank David for leading deepening’s, concerning subjects that we think about every day, but we do not know how to find help from the writings. During service it is possible to get really good friends from all over the place. In fact, there are so many of them that if you really want to know somebody well you deed to concentrate more in a few people. There is not much free time to be with them, only a few hours at night and one free day a week. One thing is sure; when serving you get good tips where to go next and what to do with your life. If you go to serve in wintertime, there are many foreign people from whom you get information about what is happening in the world. During summer months, there is a good chance to discover Indian culture from many Indian friends. For people doing long service, the fact that you often need to change friends is maybe most tiring in this work. People are rarely serving more than two months. So during a three month period of service, the turnover of serving people is high. I have noticed before in one other volunteer and now in my self, that at the end of service you become more serious. When the time to leave comes closer, all the friends who you did learn to know are already gone. In addition, you do not make friends with newcomers so eagerly because you want to protect your self. It is easier to leave when you do not know the people so well who you are saying good-bye. They did say that after serving in the Lotus Temple you would learn many new responsibilities. That is exactly what happened to me. It is maybe because I am now more eager to serve, see and get more opportunities. Serving is the greatest gift that the Lotus Temple gave me. Riku Niemi Volunteer in a Bahá’í House of Worship 2002