Thursday, March 26

My words can not adequately describe the miraculous day we experienced today.  One profound experience was followed by another… and another… and another.  For some of us on the team today meant a return visit to Barek Aub, for others it was their first, but we were all deeply affected by what we saw and experienced.

 “The kids are not as dusty now… now they are shiny!”  That’s the way our host enthusiastically shared his feelings about the kids of Barek Aub.  He wasn’t referring only to their clothing, but to their mood and outlook on life since they’re now able to attend classes in their very own new school building.

After breakfast we made the 1-hour drive to Barek Aub and were allowed to visit all the classes – which started one week ago – one by one and distribute the school supplies we organized yesterday.  We were all amazed at how well behaved all the kids were, patiently waiting their turn to tear into one of the “goodie bags” of pencils, pens, erasers, rulers, colored markers, and notebooks.  Each one had a smile on his or her face.  And our host was right… the kids really are “shiny” now… bright eyed, excited to learn, and looking full of hope.

After touring the school and handing out the supplies, we headed over to the new medical clinic.  Our hosts showed us around the new facility that is currently seeing an average of 50 people each day, down from 90 before the Community Health Education program went into effect only 5 short months ago.  The building is beautiful and new, but is stark and empty – desperately in need of equipment and supplies – but the people of Barek Aub are justifiably proud of one of the centerpieces of their community.

We then took the team up to see the well that Flatirons helped provide and our host explained the plans for the water distribution system that was finally only recently approved by the Afghan government.

As we walked down the hill back toward the school, we were invited into the home of brothers Zahar and Shanwari Khan to visit with their family, share some tea, and hear their stories.  The Khan family lives in a typical Barek Aub home with mud walls, a Russian-made structural tile roof, and… that’s it.  It’s pretty basic in terms of the “homes” we’re used to, but it’s a mansion when compared to the tents and shacks they were living in when Flatirons first got involved at Barek Aub 18 months ago.

We all sat on toshacks that lined the walls of the room as one of the village elders, Abdul Qahar, told how they had lived in Afghanistan all their lives, but fled to Pakistan when the Soviets invaded in the late 70’s.    As one of their sons poured tea for all of us they shared how they returned several years ago, but like so many millions of others, found only devastation and ruin.  They relocated to Barek Aub to rebuild their lives and could not stop expressing their thankfulness for the aid and development brought by Flatirons and our partner organization.  Several of the team were moved to tears as we sat with them as they expressed how they would “give their own head” for anyone from the Flatirons family if we were ever threatened there.

After leaving the Khan’s home, we walked a short distance to the home of Abdul Zahir, the head elder for Barek Aub, and whose home has served as the Community Center until similar facilities at the Clinic are completed.  There we saw the first dozen sewing machines donated so the women of the village can make uniforms for all the school children and hopefully launch a sewing enterprise in the process.  As we walked through the room, we spotted a dream come true – the prototype of the very first school uniform, which one of the village women had already made and which our host “appropriated” so LaNae and Patty could examine at the guest house tonight… something they’re doing as I’m writing this.  We’re hoping to return on Saturday to begin measuring the children so the actual construction of their uniforms can begin soon.

We then headed back to the guest house where Naime had prepared another wonderful lunch of Afghan lasagne and eggplant accompanied by the ubiquitous French fries.

After lunch we all reviewed and shared our personal highlights from the day… from the giggles and squeals of the kids who could not contain their excitement over their school, the new supplies, and their opportunity to learn… to the subtle beauty of a small flower that is now sprouting wild around the camp – to all of us they are a living symbol of the birth of this new community in an area of the world previously overwhelmed by utter desolation, waste, and hopelessness.

And dozens of memorable moments in between… seeing children flying kites made from twigs and the plastic bags we’d given them their school supplies in… the young boy with his face gloriously decorated by a colored marker (hopefully one of the “washable” ones) he’d been given that morning… the children that run to hold your hand as you walk or sit quietly with their arm around you as you share tea with their uncle… recognizing a 6 year old boy in class who 9 months ago eagerly helped the men building his school because it might help him start to learn a day sooner…

Each one of us was touched in a unique and profound way today and we are eager to share our experiences with you when we get to see you again face to face.  I could go on and on about the wonderful and emotional day we shared, but the hour is late and it’s time for us to get some rest.

As usual, our host said something that pretty much summed up our feelings for the day… “Shiny things make your heart happy.”

Today was a very happy day.

 

 

Shiny kids… very shiny.

The team with Latifa and elder Abdul Qahar sharing tea