***I'm sorry this is a couple days late... access to my email distribution host has been difficult***
 
Tuesday’s agenda started with a much-welcome return to Barek Aub.  The guys headed  back to the clinic to offer a little more help with building repairs and maintenance while the ladies continued their work on the census.
 
Cody, Gary, and I went to work on the patching and painting needed in another area of the clinic.  This time the Afghan men did the high work (no more letting us on their scaffolding ;) and we did anything that we could reach with our feet planted firmly on the ground. Surprisingly we finished in only a couple hours.  Well… we’re still not sure if we actually finished everything we were supposed to do or if the local men were simply eager for us to stop and move on.  They assured us it was the former so we’re gonna go with that. ;) 
 
Patty, Courtney, Jeffri, Abbie, and Caelyn went house to house as they continued their work on the census.  Although the work is emotionally and physically draining, the team was able to complete surveys with eight more households by the end of our day.
 
There are many more homes left to do and the remainder of the census team from our host organization will continue the work until two more teams from FCC arrive in August and September and will help complete it.
 
One of the first things we noticed when we came back to Barek Aub a few days ago was the increase in greenery in people’s yards and around the area.  Many trees and other plants have been planted and are taking hold.  The census team visited the home of a disabled father who was extremely proud of a very young, freshly planted almond tree in his yard which had just borne almonds for the first time.  He was so thankful for the aid and developmental assistance provided by FCC and our host organization, as well as the many teams from FCC that come regularly to visit, that he went outside and picked a handful of fresh, raw almonds, cracked them (no easy task), and offered them to the team.  Jeffri described the wonderful flavor as a mild, sweet vanilla.
 
He was so proud and thankful the team had visited his home, he offered the tree – yes, the entire tree – to the team to take home.  It took some hasty explanation about the limitations of air travel to keep him from digging it up and putting it in our truck.  And his hospitality was not unique…every home they visited invited them to stay for tea or lunch even though it would have meant they would go without for many days afterward.
 
It’s always hard to leave Barek Aub because you never know if or when you’ll be back and many of us have made some really good friendships over the years.  Even the first-timers feel a connection to people there that’s much deeper than a casual connection you might make in the US.  So after some tearful good-byes, mixed with hopes of a return someday, we headed back to the guest house for the rest of the day.
 
Later that afternoon I gathered the team for a mid-week debriefing and processing session.  We talked about things we had seen and done, and how they affected our preconceived thoughts about the Afghan people and life in Afghanistan.  One common thread was that many of us have gross misconceptions about Afghans and Muslims in general.  We have all been surprised by the similarities in our hopes, dreams, and lives which far outweigh our differences.   We also realize that the only way we can change these misperceptions back home is to share our experiences with more people.  So consider yourself warned.  ;)
 
We are really thankful that the “doing” portion of our time here has led to some great conversations.  The more often our teams come back, the stronger our relationships become every time.
 
We’ve got a couple more days on the ground here.  Please pray for health and strength for the team… we want to finish our time here well.  And thank you for all your support!
 
--Bob
 
 
 
Gary and Bob freshening up the clinic.
 
 
The clinic director freshening up Bob's face.
 
 
Census orientation with our team from FCC and local staff.
 
 
Patty, Abbie, and others heading out to conduct the census.