June 5, 2003

Today Padayatra office received the first telephone call from the Padayatra leader, Avadhuta Siromani Das. Padayatra has just entered Maryland. For updates on where they are, visit our web site www.padayatraamerica.com. The report follows:

In the first week of Padayatra we had many wonderful experiences, and the most important thing is that Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundar have been very merciful to us.

We passed through many small towns in Pennsylvania and found that the people here were more welcoming and spiritually inclined than in the cities. Several people came up to us and asked us what this was all about. We would explain our mission, and they would patiently listen to us.

Some were captivated by the beauty of Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundar; some were more curious and asked us more questions. The inquisitive ones bought books from us, some just gave laxmi for nothing in return, some gave us water, fruit, dry fruit, and food for the horses, and some gave us words of encouragement.

In one of the towns, a police officer approached us and inquired about the Padayatra. After hearing from us, he offered to escort us through the town. It was a wonderful experience. As we were leaving the town, he wished us good luck.

Now we were again by ourselves. As we continued on our journey, the same policeman drove up to us again. We were clueless as to why he was back. He stepped out of his car, opened the trunk, and took out some hay. Then he walked up to us and said, "This is for your horses." In our minds, we glorified the Lord and saw how He makes wonderful arrangements for all of us.

—Padayatra office

© dipika.org June 11, 2003