Bob & Patty's Excellent Afghan Adventure - Day 6

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.

6:25 pm Sunday

As I wrote earlier this morning ­ we are safe here in Kabul. According to our security team, a small group of Pakistani Taliban attempted to assassinate President Karzai this morning. The attack took place at a public celebration more than 10 miles from our guest house and we were never in any danger. My daily updates for Saturday and Sunday follow and I will write again as soon as I am able. -- BT
..................................

Saturday, April 26

This morning we headed to Istalif which, like Barek Aub, is another IDP refugee settlement that Sozo International is deeply committed to restoring. Unlike Barek Aub, Istalif once had about 50,000 residents and an established and thriving economy. But in 1992 the Taliban destroyed everything of value in the region and everyone fled.

Unlike Barek Aub, Istalif is on the eastern slope of the mountains and benefits from mountain snow runoff almost year-round. Amazing what a difference water makes in this arid part of the world. While Barek Aub will never enjoy this natural water resource due to its location on the valley floor, hopefully judicial distribution of water from their new well (and more in the future) will help assure the ability to raise modest crops, provide ample grazing land, and meet the personal needs of a growing population.

Sozo adopted Istalif in 2002 and has helped restore water distribution and power in the region and has reconstructed the clinic and schools there. More than 30,000 people have returned to the Istalif District since the fall of the Taliban and the region is well on its way to becoming self-sufficient once again. And seeing what Sozo has been able to do in Istalif in just a few short years gives us all hope that the same sort of success is possible in Barek Aub.

Istalif was once renouned for its pottery and many shops in the village are once again displaying stunning examples of their craft. (new photo)

Shortly after arriving in Istalif we were able to assist in a distribution of clothing and other personal items to nearly 80 Community Health Workers ­ core volunteers in the community development program. (Unfortunately I was busy being the video cameraman for the team today and didn't get any still photos of Istalif to send. I'll get some from another team member to post when we return.)

After returning from Istalif we took a brief tour of Chicken Street ­ a row of shops near the guest house showcasing authentic Afghan rugs, Lapis jewelry, Herati glass, and local pottery. After leaving Chicken Street we returned to the guest house for a light dinner and some socializing before retiring.

Unlike Barek Aub, Istalif benefits from virtual year-round snow runoff. How do you turn the desert green? Just add water.

A proud shop owner displaying his world famous pottery. (I'd sure like to know what he just said to Ron!)

Community Health Workers line up to receive the donated clothing we had bagged yesterday. Because the workers are predominately women, only
the women on the team were allowed to assist with th distribution.