Bob & Patty's Excellent Afghan Adventure - Day 5

If you received our daily email updates you've seen most of it, but not all. Since our return I've added a few notes and comments which I've put in blue italic type so those of you who don't want to read it all again can pick out the "new stuff." <g> I've also added a couple photos from each day of the trip, which weren't always in the daily updates.

If you'd like to see more photos from the trip, follow the link to the left. I took most of them, but some were taken by other team members Ron Atchley, John Eisel, Gary Goodenow, and Susie Knezel. (John and Susie are pros, so the best ones probably came from them. <g>) If you'd like hi-rez copies of any of them just let me know.

Friday, April 25

This morning we prepared 80 more "goodie bags" full of clothes and shoes for the Community Health Workers in Istalef, which we're hoping to deliver tomorrow. Most of the clothing was donated by families of American, NATO, and ISAF troops stationed at Bagram Air Force Base and Camp Eggers in Kabul. I never cease to be amazed at the genuine care and concern the troops here have for the people of Afghanistan... they truly CARE about their welfare.

We finished up sorting all the clothing and stuffing the bags just before noon and were treated to a wonderful meal cooked entirely by the Guest House Staff (all Muslim) consisting of steamed dumplings with beef and leeks, and stewed okra ­ a very special Afghan meal.

There wasn't a lot to see or do today because Friday is the Muslim holy day so most shops and businesses in Kabul are closed. It is also the day ex-pat believers set aside to worship and this afternoon we got to attend a service at the only Christian church in Kabul ­ an amazing experience.

After church we went to the Kabul Intercontinental Hotel for dinner ­ an Afghan buffet! We got to sample a variety of traditional Afghan foods from pickled veggies and curry chicken to Kabuli Plow and saffron lamb kebobs. And dessert Jello!

We are scheduled to go to Istalef early tomorrow morning to deliver the clothing donated by the military familes. Istalef is another IDP refugee camp like Barek Aub, but was begun about 4 years earlier and is further along in its maturity. We are eager to see the results of the long term support by Sozo and, although comparisons are not entirely fair, possibly get a glimpse of how Barek Aub may look in a few years.

I'm going to take advantage of the strength of the wireless signal I'm getting right now and stop writing so I can send this. I'm also going to try to attach one of my favorite photos from the trip so far it's of Patty with some of the kids at Barek Aub. And another shot of the camp itself and another one of the Royal (Dar-ul-Aman) Palace. I'll have lots more photos and explanations of what's going on at the camp later.

Better get this sent before the server crashes (again).

Thank you again for your prayers and support. Your faith in us and the work over here sustains us.

A-Ron, B-Ron, Nan, and the others prepare bags of clothing donated by families of troops stationed
in Afghanistan that we hope to deliver to the health care workers in Istalif tomorrow.

My FAVORITE photo of the entire trip... Patty with some of the kids of Barek Aub as we were distributing the school supplies.

Kids in Kabul have learned to adapt to their surroundings. These kids were playing soccer on the grounds of the bombed out Dar-ul-Aman Palace just outside Kabul.
As soon as they saw us drive up they picked up their soccer ball and began bouncing it around like a volley ball... and and wasted no time volleying it to us!