Beloved Ones of Allah,

By the grace of God we have experienced a wonderful year of Inspirations Realized and New Beginnings.

Our ever-widening circle of hearts has touched across oceans and continents, presenting Sema in Hawaii, Seattle, Portland, Konya, Istanbul, and California. Lovers of Mevlana has grown to flower and the Seattle Sema Video is in its second printing. Hopefully a new video of Sema in the Tomb of our beloved teacher Pir Mevlana Jelaleddin Rumi in Konya, Turkey will be available soon. The Mevlevi Mitrib has presented glorious music at Semas and Zikrs, and is learning new music this year. Nights of Rumi poetry, dance, and music presentations have opened many new hearts.

The seed has been planted for the school, Hayati Dede Institute of Sufi Studies in Konya, Turkey, holding its first session in the spring of 1999 (which is next year!). This will consist of a month-long Intensive Training at the Tekke in Konya under the Direction of Postneshin Jelaleddin Loras, with guest teachers from the Konya Sufi Community. This is a chance to share with our brothers and sisters in Turkey and gain a deeper understanding of our spiritual heritage, our history, and the indescribable Mystery of Love we are drawn to in the inspiration of our beloved teachers Hayati Sulieman Dede and Hajja Ferishte Loras,mother of the dervishes.

This summer will Inshallah bring us all together as one family at the first Mevlevi Family Summer Camp. This is an opportunity for us all to breathe together with our children and friends. There is a wonderful Mevlevi Practice, which encourages the sharing of wealth, opportunity and love. In that light we have added a small increase ($25.00) in the actual cost of camp to allow children to participate free as the guests of everyone. This will alleviate the cost of travel expenses for participants from far away places like Hawaii, midwest, and east coast. Approximate cost will be $333.00 per adult. June 21-26 we will share in the Zikr, turn in Sema, play, laugh, sing and cook, Alhamdulillah! What a wonderful celebration and opportunity to be together in 1998.

Please send in a confirmation of your intention to participate in the camp by email: Nur Jehan Howson at : annehowson@aol.com or to 3474 Potter Rd, Bear Lake, MI 49614 or phone at 616-889-5479. Please do it today!

We have shared many experiences, with many more to come Inshallah. But best of all, through this wonderful vehicle of work together, we recognize in each other the Beloved's Face with all the attributes of the human personality, playing the music of Life.

May Allah grant us Peace in the coming year, and lift our hearts to where we dwell in the ocean of remembrance.

Much Love,

Nur Jehan Howson

Secretary, Mevlevi Order of America