On our last full day in Afghanistan we divided the team in half… the guys went to the second and newest Kabul School for Orphans and Vulnerable Children and the gals went to the original school a few miles away.
The guys got to do some manual labor – somewhat unusual for us here because of our strong desire to not take any work away from an Afghan, but the Kabul Schools rely so much on volunteer labor that our help was more than welcome. Zeke rewired the incoming power so they could convert to a generator whenever the city power went out while the rest of us laid out some brick-lined crushed rock walkways and covered most of the courtyard with crushed rock. It felt good to be able to do some manual labor – something in our “western” comfort zone – and know that we’re helping the kids to go from class to class without trudging around in the mud.
The ladies got a more personal assignment today – visiting the homes of five kids from the Kabul School. They picked up the kids from the school, delivered them home, and also delivered some naan and fruit for each family. They also got to spend time with each family hearing their stories.
These families are extremely poor, often with only one adult guardian, and often feel they must send their kids out on the streets selling anything they can find to help support the family. But they also desperately want their kids to get an education and will make great sacrifices to allow them to attend the Kabul School.
The first stop was at the home of a single mother who used to run a small shop with her husband. Seven years ago terrorists stormed their shop and stole all their merchandise, killed her husband, and beat her so severely that she lost the twins she was carrying. She’s now raising her kids by herself and living with her brother in law. All 12 live in a one-room house. Their lease is up in March and if they can’t find a new place to live, they will have no choice but to move to an IDP (refugee) camp and the kids won’t be able to attend school any more.
Next they stopped at the home of a little girl whose father is paralyzed and is confined to a mat in the corner of their one-room 200 square-foot house with bare walls and floor. Her mother works as a cleaner at school and can barely pay the $80 rent. When the team arrived and set the naan and fruit in the corner, her father began crying and wept softly during their entire visit.
The third stop was at the home of a man who works seven days a week as a street vendor and whose wife knits handmade sweaters that she sells for $10… but she said nobody is buying these days.
The fourth child lives with her single mother whose husband passed away so they are all living with her sister – who also takes care of her own baby and elderly grandmother – so she can earn money by washing clothes for her neighbors.
The last home belonged to a mother and father and their nine children, seven girls and two boys. One daughter – a seven year-old – walks an hour each way to the school every day alone. The mother used to make her living baking bread, but her job was given to someone else and she now can’t find work. Her husband hasn’t been able to find work either.
When they were about to start driving to the house, they noticed the little 7 year-old girl excitedly gesturing and mouthing something to her sister out the window of the van. Our translator quickly realized that she was mouthing the words, “Go home and clean the house… we’re having guests!”
Go home and clean the house? Are you kidding me? This dear little girl is excited about having company over to a tiny one-room house she shares with 10 other family members to offer tea that they surely don’t even have... and she's concerned about it being clean enough? What seven year-old does this? A little Afghan girl… that’s who.
The gals noticed that ALL the kids they visited were happy and ravenous students. When asked what their favorite class was, they routinely replied that ALL their classes were their favorites. Despite their current situations they have ambitions of becoming doctors, engineers, or teachers… just like American kids.
When they asked the children’s parents what they wanted most for their kids, they all said their number one hope was for peace in their homeland followed by a good education for their kids.
When our team reunited back at the guest house, the guys were physically exhausted from their day of heavy labor and the gals were still teary-eyed from their day of sharing in the lives of these five very special little children and their equally special families. We all agreed that our interaction with these amazing people has burned deep within us a desire to do more. Not necessarily to do more FOR them, but to help them do more for themselves – which is what they really want.
We pack up and begin the long trek home tomorrow afternoon even though none of us is ready to leave. I’ll send out one last update when we hit the ground in Denver to let you know we made it home safely… and if anyone on the team ditched us to stay behind. ;)
We covet your prayers… thank you for all your support.
Blessings… Bob
