Herman Alvarado, 34, heard of Baba in 1950 through his fellow Sufi, Joseph Harb. But Baba's visit to San Francisco was Herman and his family's first opportunity to meet Baba.
In his private interview, Baba looked lovingly at him and said, "I will help you to find what you are craving for."
At an interview the following day, Baba met with Herman and his wife, Helen.
He put their heads together and told them, "God has married you both."
After lunch on the 4th, Baba held a brief meeting with Filis Frederick about The Awakener magazine. He was pleased at her resolve to keep it completely devoted to him and to carry on despite being hard-pressed financially.
He informed her, "After I drop this body, then everything will go — books, pamphlets, magazines. I will help you."
The interviews continued, and Don Stevens read several other short messages. At 4:00 P.M., Baba and the mandali visited the Sufism Reoriented Center at 406 Sutter Street.
Baba seated himself on the head chair, crossed his index fingers in a cross and gestured (which Adi translated), "I am the Christ — no doubt of it. And when I break my silence, all the world will come to know about it."
Ivy began to sob. Baba called her and made her sit beside him. He put his hand on her head in a silent blessing of strength and guidance.
"Now that I have blessed this place," he told her, "try to keep it."
Reminiscing, Baba related an incident in 1926, when he emerged from a year's cramped fast and seclusion in his crypt on Meherabad Hill. He had asked the mandali to try and push him over. About 20 men put their hands together on his back, but they could not budge him. And Baba had been living on nothing but coffee for six months!
Adi added that in the early days Baba used to rise very early in the morning and sing. "He had a rich, 'juicy' voice," he said, meaning it was full of feeling.
Baba then drove back to the hotel and visited Lud in his room. Lud had been diagnosed with pneumonia.
"Aren't you glad you got sick?" Baba asked. "For now Baba has come to see you on a personal visit. Do you realize how fortunate you are that you have fallen ill while I am here and that I have come to visit you?"
Lud smiled helplessly. Baba gave instructions to his wife, Bea, and said he would be well in two days.