Wednesday, April 29, 2009

We made it!

After more than 10,000 air miles and 10.5 time zones (I still don’t understand that extra half-hour!) we arrived in Kabul under sunny skies and with happy hearts.  We headed to the guest house where we were greeted by old friends Zach, Cindy, Mike, and Jim from Silk Road Development, who are just finishing a week of leadership training in Kabul and Mazar-e Sharif while staying here.  How great to come halfway around the world and run into friends from the states!

After one of Naime’s famous “welcome” lunches of Qabli Pilau, meatballs, spinach, and naan, we spent a couple hours sorting school supplies, clothing, and candy that had been donated by ISAF troops from nearby bases, socks donated by Pearl Izumi, and cookies donated by a Denver area Girl Scout Troop.  We are really looking forward to distributing these goods to the kids at the Barek Aub School!

After sorting everything, and in a desperate effort to stay awake till after dinner, we were treated by our Afghan host to a guided whirlwind tour of Kabul that included the Russian Embassy, CARE Hospital, Kabul University, the Kabul River, Darul Aman Palace, the Afghan National Museum, the Kabul Zoo…all in under 2 hours.  Unfortunately by the time we finished the tour, most of us were little more than dazed bobble-head dolls in the back of the van so we decided to save a visit to Prayer Hill for another day.

We’re scheduled for our first visit to Barek Aub in the morning, so we’re all eager to get a good night’s sleep… starting right now!

Thank you for your continued prayers and support.

--Bob