Havens in a Weary Land

Salom, salom alaikum! Peace, peace be upon thee!
Shumaa khub hasteen? Are you well?
Bale, khub asteem, tashakur. Yes, we are well, thank you.

With a moment's notice, we were whisked out of a haven of peace to be planted into a weary land, where peace is a far-off ideal for which they so desperately yearn.

For the coming two or so years, we will be calling this building our office, and the people who go in and out of these doors our colleagues and students. What we will be doing for them remains a bit unclear, and in this, we have some trepidation about being able to contribute meaningfully.

Because of our Maker's kindness, we find ourselves situated in the richest green spot in Kabul, the university campus. Through the years of turmoil, this area was not as heavily bombed, the trees not as clear cut, nor the vegetation as chewed down by wandering flocks of sheep, goats, and cattle.

Kabul University remains a sort of haven in center of Kabul's metropolis. Folks from the neighboring communities come to walk through the campus for a bit of fresh air and shade, not to mention the enjoyment of the more relaxed dress code and ensuing relaxation of one's "guards".

Adjacent to the Faculty of Agriculture lies extensive plots of arable land (a fraction of which is pictured here), technically referred to as the Faculty of Agriculture Farm. Our hope is to work with the faculty to make this farm operational.

To the north and east of the university are hills densely dotted with "squatter's" houses. For the most part, these houses on the hillsides are without running water. To get water, neighbors pool together to hire a water-carrier who treks up and down these slopes daily (talk about a work-out!).

Our living accommodations are very nice, indeed! One room with a desk, double bed, wardrobe and bathroom, is sufficient for most of our needs & purposes (for now :-) ). Actually, we have seen much more of the inside of our room than desired, as the food here has not agreed with us, resulting in fatigue and other unpleasantries. A saving grace is that our room looks out on this rose lined courtyard, from which we can see the mountains on the north and east. Another haven in which we partake!

Step outside, and one sees the real Kabul, hustling and bustling with cars, road-side kiosks selling things such as soda and snacks, to services, such as the repairing of tires of bikes or cars. Currently, we have concern about going out too much, as the city is in a state of heightened security. More next time about Kabul from our perspective!

If you are curious about what our employment is to be, a former colleague documented his stay in a blog http://zaraat.blogspot.com/

Waiting in New York

The Mule, as we affectionately refer to our reliable Subaru, logged 3,800 miles in this return trip, via Purdue and Atlanta, ending in her former parking spot in Middleburgh, NY. She’s covered quite a bit of ground these past few years, and is ready for rest & rejuvenation while enjoying the beautiful vista (pictured).

On June 19th, we finished packing The Mule, and set our bearings eastward. By June 23rd, we were celebrating Ann’s parent’s 40th in Georgia. It was a tremendous blessing for us to be there to partake in this special event, as well as having the time to be with Ann’s family. Over the next couple of days, we took advantage of the flexibility in time to visit other friends and family – long overdue and deeply enjoyed! Our next destination stood 15 hours northward.

Since June 28th, we have been in Middleburgh, New York, sorting, packing, recreating, waiting, and enjoying the opportunity to be with Joern’s folks.

These past few days we have been able to spend some time further preparing ourselves [spirits, hearts, minds, bodies, and belongings] for what lies ahead. God has showered us with kindness and gentleness, giving us peace in the midst of fears, and faith through the weeks of uncertainties. We continue to wait for the final approval of our positions, which has been “any day now” for quite some time. Our goal is now to be in Kabul within two weeks.

Signing off until we get the final word.

Leaving Davis, CA

The hurried procession has begun. After bidding "Adieu", we have taken leave of our home of 32 months, Davis, CA. Our final weeks in Davis were a flurry of activity; so much so that we regret not having paid personal visits to all of the people we were blessed to have gotten to know (we love you all dearly and will miss you). This leg of our sojourning was a rich time of growth for us, spiritually, relationally, and vocationally. The reality that this beautiful stop is now behind us is a sobering realization, as the times are always too short, and the relationships not mined to their fullness. And yet, we must move on.

Sojourners in this Land

"...they confessed that they were strangers and
pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them." Hebrews 11:13b-16.