Finally, after many postponements, a test in faith and courage, came Baba's cable at the end of 1951 that he would definitely come before April end, 1952. Baba did not leave at the end of March as mentioned above, due to his weak condition after coming out of the Manonash seclusion. Many were the cables flying back and forth during this month. We, with Baba, felt so helpless and so often suggested that Baba should cancel his visit until much later when he felt less weak. But while Baba changed the actual date of his coming, he still kept to his original plan of not staying in the States after July end, for Don wrote, “You should know that if Baba flies on April 10th, that is a delay of ten days, he will stay in the U.S. until the end of July and no further. In short, ten days will be bitten out of his four months' stay in the U.S. (Actually another eight days were cut off, for Baba left eventually on the 18th from India. As we all know, Baba did leave America July 31st.)*

"Baba tells me to repeat and repeat that his coming is DEFINITE, not only because of the desire of the people in the west that he should come, but also because of what is destined by God."

It was never certain, until Baba was actually on the plane, that he would come in the spring. One cable said, as late as March 17th, "Baba's condition was getting worse every day, but he still said that 'unless impossible will come because if not this time, then will never come.'"

Then came further complications—Norina's accident in March, to which Rano replied: "Baba is still extremely weak and now we hear of your accident. It seems Maya is quite determined to do her utmost to impede Baba in every way. Baba is determined in spite of everything not to let anything interfere with his plans and regardless of his physical condition is definitely coming . . .Don and dear Elizabeth will see to everything down to the last detail."

Then on March 20th came the cable to Elinorina at Myrtle Beach:"Baba still very weak but definitely flying ninth April stop Must have one month seclusion at Myrtle Beach to recuperate than three months' work America stop. Will see visitors on tenth and seventeenth May at Myrtle Beach stop Have cabled Don to fly as planned. Love stop Cable acknowledgement.― Baba"

This surely seemed fixed and something to work on and plan. "Open Day" could be fixed. Visitors' times could be arranged; special interviews,

*“According to Charmian Duce’s passport (who traveled with Him on the plane), Baba left America July 30th not July 31st. Webmaster-J.K. 9-13-04