Do You Have Anything We Can Read?
by Bhaktin Rita
We can touch people’s hearts by talking with them in the temple — even if they originally came to New Vrindaban only as tourists.
For example, on Sunday, a bus from New York visited New Vrindaban. All the guests were from Russia. Although they toured the Palace as a group, they split up afterward. They visited the temple in smaller groups, and I spoke with as many of them as I could. I paid special attention to a 10-year-old girl and her mother.
I was pleasantly surprised at the end of the visit. Although they were in a rush to get to their bus, the mother pointed to the hundi and asked me what it was. I told her that people put donations in the box. She said, “Oh, well then we should make a donation.” She opened her wallet and put some money in the slot.
I walked them to the front lobby. While they were putting on their shoes, the mother asked, “Do you have anything we can read?”
I asked her, “Do you have $10?”
She again opened her wallet and gave me $10. I went into the temple room and brought back KRSNA Book.
Even though she needed to catch the bus, the mother stopped and gave me her contact info. This evening, I e-mailed her and put her in touch with devotees in her local community.
Neither of them had heard of ISKCON or Krishna consciousness before visiting New Vrindaban. But this visit to the holy dham touched their hearts. Their spiritual life has begun. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
