Barek Aub -->> Fast Forward to Istalif

 

There is color everywhere! That’s what I’ve seen here – a riot of color in an otherwise dreary world. This is my first opportunity to join a team to Afghanistan, and before hearing what wondrous things have been happening here I assumed there this place was only dreary.

 

Today we visited Istalif,  a community of 30-40,000 people where our partner organization first began its transformational work in Afghanistan in 2001. Istalif had been utterly destroyed and burned through years of tyranny and oppression and had been largely abandoned. As people began to return to their homes our partners launched efforts to help.

 

We first visited the health clinic that works hard to heal, prevent, and educate the entire community. The facility treats every sort of critical issue regularly, and helps safely bring an average of 20 babies into the world monthly, babies that would have otherwise been born at risk to mother and child in homes with no care. Immunization services cover a wide range of health threats in the area and provides treatment not only in the clinic, but also through an organized street-by-street coverage to be sure all of the community is well protected. Another key element of the clinic is the work of education. Largely focused on the prevention of common sickness and disease and on women’s health during pregnancy, the clinic has been able to shift the community thinking and awareness from skeptical and disinterested to willing and informed – and the education continues. The community is more healthy as a result.

 

We then drove up the valley to enjoy lunch at The Lodge. A river runs down the valley through a series of mini hydro-electric plants that provide power throughout the community. The four kilometer drive was true four-wheeling over rocky narrow roads, across small streams, and up a beautiful mountain side that looked similar enough to Colorado that it felt like home – and the 4-wheelin was a kick! After the end of the road we hiked for another 20 minutes to The Lodge where enjoyed yet another fantastic Afghanistan meal, high in the mountains. Seeing Istalif, and especially the mountain drive, dramatically showed great beauty in the Afghanistan landscape, even in early Spring. It was a drive to remember!

 

Next was a short drive to the Istalif hotel. Through most of the 20^th century it was the place of choice for wealthy and influential people as well as a treasured vacation spot. Situated at the top of a high slope, the views from the hotel are spectacular. In fact, we could see Barek Aub and momentarily felt a warm closeness to that community clear across the valley.  Unfortunately, the Taliban overtook the facility as a command post and used it to store munitions. Later, the grand resort spot was destroyed as the Taliban fled the area.

 

On the return trip to the guest house we briefly stopped at a bazaar in Istalif and haggled for chadors, pottery, and buzkashi whips.

 

A riot of color in an otherwise dreary world. Color. It helps us feel good and warm inside. It cheers us and we use it to cheer others. It also well describes the spirit of the present and the hope for the future of Afghanistan; of the clinic at Istalif, of all of Berak Aub, in the ability to travel to Jalalabob, in the Latefa school in Kabul. I’ve seen color in smiles, warm welcomes, and shared stories. I’ve seen it in walking hand-in-hand, in the young and in the old, in men and in women. There’s color everywhere, just under the dust.

 

A riot of color in an otherwise dreary world. It’s a line from a movie and also a description of many hopes we share in our God that turns mourning into gladness and sorrow into joy – and we’ve seen it powerfully in many heartfelt ways this week in the color of Afghanistan.

 

Ben