Lua Getsinger, one of the early Bahá’is of America, tells of an experience she had with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in ‘Akká. She had made the pilgrimage to the prison-city to see “Abdu’l Bahá. She was with Him one day when He said to her that He was too busy that day to call upon a friend of His who was very ill and poor. He wished Lua to go in His place.
“Take him food.” He said, “and care for him as I have been doing.” He told her where this man was to be found, and she went gladly, proud that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá should trust her to do some of His own work.
Lua went, but she returned quickly. “Master,” she exclaimed, “surely you cannot realize to what a terrible place you sent me! I almost fainted from the awful smells. the dirty rooms, the low condition of that man and his house. I ran away before I should catch some terrible dis ease.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá looked at her sadly and like a firm father. “If you want to serve God.” He said,”you must serve your fellow-man, for in him do you see the image and likeness of God.” He then told her to go back to the man’s house. “If the house is dirty”. He said, “you should clean it; if this brother of yours is not clean, bathe him; if he is hungry, feed him. Do not return until this is done. Many times ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has done this for him; cannot you serve him even once?” This is how ‘Abdu’l-Bahá taught Lua to serve her fellow-men.