Laughter shook the room. "There was an air of tremendous, barely suppressed excitement in his lovers," Age observed. "The Beloved had at last called them to India!"
Baba continued: "Each must pay his or her traveling expenses. Those who can afford to may contribute their amounts after February 15 for the meeting. Contributions will also be invited from the Indian groups. Arrangements for a month's stay will cost a good deal."
Ben Hayman questioned, "Will the meeting be exclusively for men?" Cries of protest rose from the female contingent.
Baba replied, "The Indian women are annoyed with me because it was not possible for them to have my sahavas [as promised]. This meeting will be for men and women. It will be unprecedented in the history of my activities. I will also invite saints, the seven favorites."
"It will be 90 percent women and 10 percent men," Baba teased.
Marion Florsheim asked, "About how much should we try to raise, Baba?"
"Twenty million dollars!" he joked. "And you and Ivy will have to collect it!"
The group dispersed at around 8:00 A.M. to have breakfast. That morning, Baba, the mandali and several others visited the homes of Ivy Duce (at 45 Old La Honda Road in Woodside), Don Stevens (323 Oakwood Place, Menlo Park) and Fred Frey (1325 Marlborough Road, Hillsborough). At Ivy's, Baba walked through the whole house, his fingers working continuously.
En route to Menlo Park, Don Stevens explained that he had selected his house (which he was currently renting out) with Baba group meetings in mind, as it had a very large and lovely living room, which Don felt would be a perfect ambience. Later Don said sardonically: "But Baba taught me never to try to put ideas in the Avatar's mind." As soon as Baba had inspected the house from the outside, he shocked Don completely by wiping his hands in midair and telling him to sell the house as soon as possible!
Everyone had lunch of rice spaghetti and shrimp at the Freys' home. Fred had hired a Filipino serving boy named Robert who, as it turned out, knew about Baba, as did his whole family.
On one occasion, Robert told Fred that "many in the [Philippine] islands know that the Lord is on the Earth."
When Baba returned to the hotel, Margaret's dancers had their long-promised chance to perform for him.