I realize it's a little after-the-fact, but now that the cobwebs are beginning to clear from my severely jet-lagged brain I wanted to tell you about our last few hours in Kabul.

 

It’s tough to plan anything too extensive on the day of our departure because schedules need to be kept flexible (even more than usual) in case the situation at and around the airport warrants an earlier departure.  So all we had on the agenda for our last few hours in Afghanistan was some time to visit with our host and some friends living in Kabul and a quick visit at a small school for street kids located near the guest house.

 

As is often the case here, the ladies went one way while we men went another – the ladies spent time with our friends living in Kabul while the men were entertained by our host.  Words cannot express how much I appreciate those rare times that we get some personal time with our host, away from the whirlwind of his other numerous duties, to hear his candid and intimate views on the current conditions in Afghanistan as well as his hopes and dreams for the future.  He’s an exceptionally insightful man and it’s always enlightening to hear his perspective and “the rest of the story” concerning many of the current events that are spun so drastically one way or the other in the general news media back home.

 

By mid-morning the team regathered to visit a local school for street kids.  The students are children of all ages who are often the “bread winners” of the family, frequently living with a single parent or other relative who is often disabled or otherwise unable to work and support their family.  The kids are relegated to working the streets selling whatever they can get their hands on – plastic bags, sticks of gum, etc. – or even just begging to hopefully take home the equivalent of a few pennies to their families.  The public school system has been virtually non-existent for more than a couple generations so most kids go without any formal education their entire lives with little chance of breaking the cycle of illiteracy and overwhelming poverty.

 

This school, with modest private funding from groups in the US, a few basic materials often donated by local military families, and an abundance of love and attention from the staff and teachers, equips these kids for a better life, gives them a nourishing hot meal every day (most likely the only food they get), and offers them hope.  What is most striking as we peek into one of the three tiny, overcrowded classrooms is how incredibly well mannered, patient, and respectful the kids are.  I always begin to wonder, “What’s wrong?  Why are they so quiet?”  But after watching for a while you soon begin to realize that there’s nothing wrong… the kids are just giving the teacher their undivided attention because they are truly eager to actually LEARN something!

 

After their final lesson of the morning, the kids sit cross-legged in remarkably precise rows on the school’s small patio – after scurrying to the well pump to wash their hands! – and wait patiently for us to pass out plates piled high with rice, beans, and naan.  They waste no time devouring the food and not even a single grain of rice that might accidentally get spilled on the floor goes uneaten.

 

Fully half of our team is made up of students, teachers, and others responsible for educating and nurturing children in the US so this visit to the Kabul school for street kids touched us deeply.  Seeing the gleam in these kids’ eyes gave us a renewed sense of hope that – despite the obvious signs of destruction and despair that are everywhere – the future for these kids is brighter than it has been in generations.

 

After waving goodbye to all the new friends we’d just made, we headed back to the guest house for a final bit to eat and a special surprise that our host had prepared for us.  He said he wanted to celebrate someone’s birthday and he surprised us with a HUGE birthday cake with ALL our birthdays spelled out in the frosting! The entire staff joined us for a celebration that included singing “Happy Birthday to All-of-us!” and the sharing of the cake that I’m sure is still supplying leftovers at the guest house even a week later!

 

We then were faced with one of the toughest parts of the week – saying goodbye to the staff who had protected and cared for us so lovingly for the past week.  They repeatedly remind us that in Afghan culture after sharing your 3^rd cup of tea you are family… and by now we had shared dozens.

 

But since we could not bear to say “goodbye” forever, we bid them, “Passan meybenim!” which is Dari for “See you later!”

 

We headed for the airport and, thanks to some intense advance work by a couple of our hosts, we enjoyed a relatively smooth journey through the customs and inspection process and boarded our flight with little of the usual drama.  And other than enduring some minor hassles getting through customs in Dubai and Washington DC, we made it back to Denver on time and with (most of) our luggage intact.

 

One last detail before I sign off….   I don’t ordinarily single out any one team member in these updates for special thanks or recognition... everyone makes a significant contribution to The Team.  But I simply cannot let the contribution of my co-leader, Margaret Kreutzer, go without mention.  Margaret is a nurse by profession, but it’s not just her 9-5 job – she also has an abundance of the “caregiver” gene flooding her DNA.  For whatever reason, nearly every team member was affected by the “Kabul diet” to varying degrees at one time or another during the week.  At the first symptom Margo repeatedly sprang into action at any hour of the day or night tending to each person’s needs, making sure they were as comfortable as possible and had a hydration plan in place, and often staying behind to be sure they followed it.  Thank You, Margaret!  We are all grateful for your eagerness to help us make the most of our week in Kabul.

 

And thank you, too, to all of you who followed our team throughout the week praying for us and sending your good thoughts and well-wishes.  I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating – we could not have made this trip without your encouragement and support.

 

May God continue to bless all of you and the people of Afghanistan.

 

--Bob