Just for fun...

Day 4

Today was one of the driving elements for the composition of this particular team. Our team is made up of men, all of whom are experienced leaders. Today, we participated in training the leadership of our host organization's key leaders. These are the rooted leaders who are truly empowered to bring sustainable change in Afghanistan. They are leading the future leaders of this country and are critically important in keeping the country on the right path. In America, we might say "this is where the rubber meets the road." The approach was open ended and designed to engage in conversation between our two teams and it was effective.

Discussion focused on servant leadership and the components that drive its success. We exchanged practical examples in our work environments through the lens of these components, including honesty, integrity, consistency. Topics such as conflict resolution were particularly insightful and the need for translation in all the dialogue was not a roadblock whatsoever. I was encouraged when heads were nodding in agreement from both the Afghan and American teams.

After training, we broke bread over a massive lunch which is likely to ensure skipping dinner.  I'm not used to eating this much food but I sure enjoy the community it creates with the Afghans. I am so very challenged by the hospitality of the Afghan people. Sorry friends, but we din the west don't even come close to the level of community created here. It washes away any sense of being in a war zone. Now I understand why my team leader has often expressed how he never feels unsafe here.

A couple of us revisited our cultural training as a team before coming here and the point made that what we experience here and how we process it is just the tip of the iceberg. In other words, we will return and over time continue learn more deeply what we experienced and how we can provide support to the Afghans and how we can apply that gained knowledge to our own lives. My prayer and hope is that Afghans will share that goal.

Day 3

As I am posting from my phone all week on possibly the world record holder for slowest internet, I am keeping photos on the blog to a minimum. My apologies if you're looking for more.

Today we visited a girls high school for a distribution assignment. We took blankets mostly and, after unloading the truck, spent a great deal of time with the head of school discussing the hope, accomplishments and needs of the students. I was floored by the stats - 12,000 students taught by 200 teachers over three shifts per day. No water, no heat, no air, no fans. The government brings water in twice per week, otherwise the children have no water supply. Outside tents are needed to accommodate those numbers. Desks and chairs are in short supply. And, of course, they could use a ton of school supplies. The redemption is the absolute joy from these children. Just a decade ago, girls couldn't set foot in a school. Now this one school has 12,000 of them, all eager to get an education and enter a world of competitive workforce. I also had the opportunity to demonstrate how the camera on my phone worked to a couple siblings of a student. They were fascinated to see their own faces on this tiny piece of technology. Definitely a little slice of heaven for me.

The head of school was very grateful that the challenges being faced in Afghanistan are being shared in the U.S.  Part of what our short term teams accomplish is raising awareness to those easily capable of helping. We go inside the borders to see and experience those needs so as to better reveal the ways they can be redeemed. It's an eye opening ordeal, and I am excited to return with this perspective and opportunity to share more deeply.

I want to take the opportunity mid trip to once again thank you for supporting all this. None of it gets done without that support. I wish you could be here in such a great country full of history and hope!

Day 2

I have pretty much pocketed my phone so little to no photos. Our resident photographer snapped 800+ shots today so no need for duplication. When the trip concludes, better photos will emerge.

We began the day with group worship on the lawn around 6am reading and discussing Nehemiah from the Bible.  Enjoyed a breakfast of mini fried pancakes, naan and tea. We then took to the streets of Kabul for a quick stop at Chicken Street for chadors (scarves) and some errands before heading off for the Kabul school. This was a real treat spending time with 220 children ages 7-14. The goal of the school is to raise their level to acceptability for public schooling. These children were full of joy and were all smiles, despite most having their one and only meal of the day (rice, beans and naan). One of our team members is an illustrator and won the children over with white board creativity. Laughs and smiles all around. You would not believe the level of respect these children demonstrate d to us and the excitement for school was contagious.

This afternoon we sorted blankets for one of our IDP camps in preparation for a visit later this week. We also got measured for our traditional Afghan outfits, the Shalwar Kameez, which we will wear extensively the rest of the trip.

I am completely off my sleep schedule and by that I mean five hours in the last four days. Apologies for any lack of structure to this post. Maybe tomorrow. Oh by the way...everyone tells me they see those Flatirons stickers everywhere.  Well, the pic below is proof they are, indeed, everywhere, including Afghanistan!

Day 1

We got here safely. What a stunning diversity of scenery. The Afghans are the most hospitable people I have ever encountered. I am humbled. Our hosts met us right outside passport control and basically made our transition a breeze. Travel through the city weighed heavy on my heart (I intentionally kept my camera in my pocket so that I could see it with my own lens). I experienced excitement, nervousness, joy, and pain. Our team lead and I rode in a separate vehicle from the rest of the team and it was great to hear all his delighted commentary on so many changes for the better even since just last summer. There are a lot of positive developments in this city as of late. Examples include sidewalks, cover grates for sewer drains, street lights, newly planted trees. Bear in mind, the degree to which these improvements are in place is limited; however, it's very promising.

I sat in quiet amazement at the stories from our Afghan hosts, who survived incredible challenges in recent years, often not knowing what the next day might bring. They are filled with joy about their country and are grateful for the support of so many teams. It's an honor to serve with them.

Relief vs Development

I struggle to put together the right words when asked "what will you be doing in Afghanistan?" by so many people. It's not a quick and easy answer like rebuilding a school or water well. While those things are happening in the community we'll be serving, it goes much deeper. Our team is focused on development. It's a process of ongoing change that extends to the physical, emotional and spiritual health of both the helped and the helpers. It empowers people to establish a long-term healthy life in all three aspects.

It would be foolish for my team to think we'll walk in and change the environment of the community in one trip. It takes time and tangible evidence may not surface for years. And it's more of a holistic approach and it takes place in iterations.

Our team is simply one piece of a much larger puzzle currently being built. And we don't yet even know what piece that is but are certain it's an important one.

Pic of the Week

Coldest winter in Kabul in 15 years matched with significant snowfall.