US Ambassador Faucher offering garland to Srila Prabhupada.

On Sunday, June 16, 2024, Mr. Robert Faucher, the United States Ambassador to Suriname, along with his wife, visited the Sunday Feast program at our ISKCON Temple at 459 Kwattaweg, Paramaribo, Suriname.

When Ambassador Faucher began his career in the US Foreign Service in 1985, his first post was Suriname. He returned to serve as the US Ambassador in January 2023. Recently, Faucher contacted the Temple to plan a visit to the Sunday Feast, coordinating the details with Harindu Priya Das, the Chairman of the ISKCON Suriname Foundation.

Before his arrival on Sunday, US Embassy security conducted a safety risk assessment of the Temple property. When the Ambassador and his wife arrived, they were welcomed with garlands and provided special seats in the temple room.

When Mr. Faucher was asked if he would like to honor Srila Prabhupada with a garland, he enthusiastically agreed. He noted that while he had seen Hare Krishnas in the US, this was his first time attending an ISKCON program. He and his wife were impressed by the program and said they would like to visit again. Mr. Faucher, who speaks Dutch and English, shared his contact information and that he is looking forward to an invitation to our Janmashtami celebration on August 26th and Rath Yatra on October 5th.  Following the Sunday program, Temple President Madhurya Lila Devi Dasi gifted the Ambassador and his wife a copy of Bhagavad-gītā As It Is and other books.

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