Nothing monumental to report today. Friday is the Muslim Holy Day (which meant no work was to be done at Barek Aub today) so we took a “day off” and used the opportunity to fellowship and see the sights of Kabul.
The International Church has had to stop meeting in a central location so they now meet in small groups in various homes around the city. We joined a group of about 30 other ex-pat like minded folks in the home of one of the teachers at the International School of Kabul, which Tracee (one of our team members) helped establish nearly 10 years ago. We met some fascinating people from around the world (some who have been serving here for more than 40 years!) and it was a great chance for Tracee to reconnect with some old friends and colleagues.
After another wonderful lunch by Naime, we were blessed with a rare opportunity to just sit and talk for a couple hours with our host (head of our partner organization in Afghanistan) as he regaled us with story after story of his work over the years with Flatirons and other groups. It truly was one of the highlights of our trip so far as this wise and energetic leader intimately shared his views of Afghanistan’s past, candid assessment of its present, and his vision and dreams for its future.
Then we set off in the minivan for a guided tour of the sights, sounds, and traffic of Kabul from Kabul University in the west to the Olympic Stadium in the east and the US Embassy in the north to to the Russian Embassy and ruins of the Darul Aman Palace in the south. There are an estimated 4.5 million people who have relocated to Kabul since 2001 and I think every one of them was on the road and honked at us at least once this afternoon.
Then we headed for Chicken Street and Rauf’s Carpet Store and Ahmad Rashib’s Jewelry Store to pick up some souvenirs and gifts for friends and family back home. At both shops the items purchased were secondary to the negotiations – the thrill of victory and agony of defeat – for participant and spectator alike. We also ran into Amir Khan and Fawad, two boys who served as my Chicken Street “body guards” during my visit last June who I’m happy to say are healthy and still attending school in Kabul.
After leaving Chicken Street we stopped for a quick cup of coffee at the new City Center Market before heading off to the Intercontinental Hotel for a magnificent buffet dinner featuring many traditional Afghan foods. The meal itself was remarkable, but the “entertainment” for the night was really watching our Afghan host and his sidekick fidget and fuss over a famous Afghan recording artist who was seated only two tables away. “Hey, go get your picture with her”… “No YOU go get YOUR picture with her…“ and on it went until she casually finished her dinner and escaped with no pictures being taken (at least not by any of us).
It was a wonderful day of fellowshipping and relaxing together before heading back out to Barek Aub tomorrow. Please pray for our continued health and safety as we return to begin the school uniform project!
--Bob
