Spreading the word

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Nov 6, 2004 by Phil Anderson Capital-Journal

Two Topekans share their faith around the world

ANN WILLIAMSON/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

Shane Etzenhouser, a native of Topeka, and his wife, Brukty, are Baha'is who live in Ethiopia.

By Phil Anderson

THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

Two graduates of Topeka High School have served as ambassadors of the Baha'i faith, taking the religion's message to people in nations around the world.

Tahira Hamilton, 21, a Washburn University student and 2002 Topeka High School graduate, spent nearly a year in the Central American nation of Belize, where she worked with children in an after-school program.

Meanwhile, Shane Etzenhouser, 33, a 1988 Topeka High School graduate, has been to such far-flung regions as Guyana, the Czech Republic and Ethiopia, where he now lives with his wife, Brukty, 22.

Both Hamilton and Etzenhouser were active in the Baha'i community of Topeka and Shawnee County as they grew up in the Capital City.

When they are working in other nations to teach others about their faith, they are known as Baha'i pioneers.

Committed to telling others about their religion, both said they have found people in other nations who are willing to learn more about the Baha'i faith, which emphasizes the oneness of God, the unity of religions and the equality of races and sexes.

In spite of being in different portions of the world, Hamilton and Etzenhouser said they look for openings to discuss their faith with others, but won't break down any doors to do so.

"In Belize, people love to talk about religion," Hamilton said. "They don't like being in church, interestingly enough, but they love talking about religion."

Hamilton said she was careful to speak about the Baha'i faith only if invited to do so.

If a person resisted talking about the Baha'i religion, Hamilton said, she backed off and didn't bring up the subject again with that individual.

But most people in the heavily Roman Catholic nation were happy to discuss the Baha'i religion, which was founded by Baha'u'llah in mid- 19th Century Persia, an area that is present-day Iran.

Persecution against Baha'is in some regions of the world, particularly in Iran, has been reported.

However, the Baha'i faith --- with an estimated 5 million adherents worldwide, including some 120,000 in the United States --- is considered the globe's second most geographically diverse religion, behind Christianity.

Hamilton said she found a Baha'i community in Belize City. She also located a former Baha'i village in a rural area outside Belize City.

In spite of being away from her family and hometown for an extended period, Hamilton said she was only homesick for about a week. Soon, she regarded Baha'is in Belize as her family.

"As a Baha'i," she said, "I believe the whole world is one family."

Hamilton said she hoped to join the Peace Corps after completing her studies in special education at Washburn.

"I love to travel," she said. "I want to travel anywhere and everywhere I can. I want to work with children --- that's my greatest interest, because I know they're the future. If I can make an impact on them, I can make a mark on the future, which is really important to me."

Etzenhouser lives in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He met his wife last year in the city of 3 million where he now resides.

Both Etzenhouser and his wife visited relatives recently in Topeka.

Etzenhouser said he is working on developing a television program for children that will teach virtues, including some that are a part of the Baha'i faith.

"I want to produce a children's TV show that is in Amharic, which is one of the main languages of Ethiopia," he said. "But there's a chance the show might be in English in part, because everybody's learning English."

At this time, Etzenhouser said, he isn't actively working to propagate the Baha'i religion in Ethiopia, a nation that is roughly 50 percent Christian and 50 percent Muslim. A strong presence of Orthodox Christians is present in Ethiopia.

Still, when opportunities present themselves, Etzenhouser is willing to discuss the Baha'i faith with others in Ethiopia.

"My job as a Baha'i teacher," Etzenhouser said, "is just to let people know the Baha'i faith exists and let them know how to get information --- to facilitate their search at their own pace, and not try to push it on anyone."

To date, he said he has experienced no direct hostility in Ethiopia because of his religion.

"Some of the Christians I met believe it's wrong to mix with people of other religions," he said, "but they're not actively causing any conflict. It's an amazingly peaceful country."

Phil Anderson can be reached at (785)

295-1195 or phil.anderson@cjonline.com.

Tahira Hamilton

is a Washburn University student

B

NOVEMBER 6, 2004