A Bumpy Ride

Hello from Afghanistan. It is day #3 and things are going well. I'm actually almost sleeping through the night already. I've figured out that that is one benefit to the crazy sleep schedule that comes along with being a resident - huge time zone changes are easier to deal with.

Today, I saw the real Afghanistan. The morning started out with Pastor Bret going to the airport to retrieve the one bag that didn't arrive with the rest - the one with his 14 year old daughter's clothes in it. Needless to say, it still hasn't arrived. But, Madison is being a trooper about it and they are currently out in search of some jeans and shirts.

Then, we headed to Istalif, a village about "1 hour" north of Kabul where SoZo (another NGO) has a health clinic. We arrived there about 2 hours later. First, after we had gotten out of the city and were on the highway, we hear a loud blast. Don't worry, it wasn't a bomb, but it was our tire blowing. As we looked around, we saw all kind of interested bystanders. Thankfully, we had a spare tire and our Afghan driver along with a couple of the men with us were able to change out the tire. Just as we thought the hard part of our journey was over, we turned off the highway onto a dirt road. To say that it was bumpy would be about the biggest understatement ever. We rocked up and down and side to side for about 45 minutes. Each time we passed a cluster of roadside houses, we though "Great, we're finally there." But no, there was more to go. Then came the windy road up the mountain that was only wide enough for one car with a steep cliff off the side. (See pics below). At long last, we arrived at the clinic. Oh, did I also mention that we had a woman who is 38wks pregnant in the van with us for the whole bumpy ride?
I was very impressed with the clinic. They have special rooms for treatment of tuberculosis and leishmaniasis. They also see kids and adults as well as do prenatal care for women. Also, they do normal deliveries there (5-10/wk). The bed they deliver on is an exam bed like you see in a doctor's office. And, the typical postpartum stay is 6 hours! They were very happy to show us around and you could tell they were proud of the work they are doing there. They keep meticulous records and seem to have a huge emphasis on patient education.
The ride back was much easier, and we even stopped at an American-like coffee shop for a snack (as our lunch had consisted of trail mix and cheese on wheat crackers).
So, that was my day. Along the way, it was like driving through biblical times. There were mud houses surrounded by mud walls everywhere. What a hard life they must live!
So, here are my impressions so far:
- I am amazed by the resilience of this people. Just 5 years ago, major war was going on here and nearly everything was destroyed by bombs and gunfire (evidence of this is still everywhere). But, they have survived and the amount of new construction everywhere is amazing.
- The chinese that are here reaching out the people have amazing conviction and passion. They work tirelessly against much opposition. They truly are an inspiration.
- I have been humbled to see how good the medical care that is being given is. What they lack are supplies and continued education. So far, everything I've seen, as far as medical protocols, have been consistent with American standards. I do think I will end up learning more than I teach.






- Life here is hard - there are no modern conveniences (except internet and cell phones), it is dirty everywhere, your lungs are full of dirt, and most of the work that is available is hard labor, and they continue to live in fear of suicide bombers. But, when you look around, you can see rays of hope - a child smiling, new homes and businesses being built, people serving others. It sure does make you realize that many of the things that we get upset about are meaningless.


Here are some pics:

Bombed out Darulaman Palace

The reward of a grueling drive - a beautiful view