Blanca Mejia
Blanca Victoria Mejia (December 3, 1897 - May 23, 1975) was the first Nicaraguan Bahá’í.
Biography[edit]
Mejia was born in Jinotega in 1897 to well educated parents, her father was from Somoto and her mother was Jinotegan. When she was three she suffered poliomyelitis which left her paralyzed in the left foot and right hand and with a stammer. After graduating high school and university she became a teacher.[1]
Mejia became a Bahá’í while living in Managua on April 21, 1941, after being introduced to the religion by American pioneer Mathew Kaszab.[1] Kaszab was imprisoned for a time due to his Bahá’í activities and Mejia regularly visited him and made attempts to secure his release. In 1944 she was a guest at the celebration of the Centenary of the Bahá’í Faith held in Wilmette, Illinois, in the United States.[2]
In 1972 there was an earthquake in Managua which destroyed Mejia's home and she moved to Leon where she lived with a niece and she helped establish the Local Spiritual Assembly of Leon. In 1975 she suffered a fall and broke her thigh and passed away two days later.[2]
The Universal House of Justice cabled the following after her passing:
SADDENED LEARN PASSING BLANCA MEJIA FIRST RECORDED BELIEVER NICARAGUA HER DEVOTED SERVICE CAUSE FOR OVER THREE DECADES LENDS LUSTRE ANNALS FAITH CENTRAL AMERICA PRAYING HOLY THRESHOLD PROGRESS HER SOUL ABHA KINGDOM[2]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1978). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 16 (1973-1976), Pg(s) 551. View as PDF.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1978). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 16 (1973-1976), Pg(s) 552. View as PDF.
