Well, if you have subscribed to this blog - thanks for sticking around! I haven't posted anything in two years, and yet you're still here. Which means that you're probably related to me, but if not, you are a rockstar!
As you may or may not know, I am headed back to Afghanistan this fall for my fourth (!) trip. It's so hard to believe that it was 5 years ago that I first stepped foot in this amazing country, and I am extremely excited to go back. I am excited not only because I will get to see dear friends that I have made over the last few years, but because the focus of this trip is something that I think will have the ability change Afghanistan, in amazing positive ways, in the years to come.
My past few trips have focused on building relationships, which is one of the greatest values in Afghanistan. I have been able to get to know the SOZO staff very well, have been able to show love and honor to women and have spent countless hours having tea, chatting and laughing. These relationships are the foundation for what SOZO plans for the next few years, and we get to be part of the beginning of that. We will be doing a census! More specifically we will be doing a census of the families of the kids involved in the Kabul Street School that SOZO runs.
The Kabul Street School is specifically for kids who beg on the street for part of the day as a way to support their families. Many of these children have lost at least one parent, and some have lost both and live with extended family, but all of them are counted on by their family to bring home money so that there is some food to eat that day. The only opportunity for these kids to receive an education is through the Kabul School. In addition to an amazing education each kid at the school is fed a meal - quite possibly the only meal that they will eat that day.
Due to the lack of education during the wars of the 80's and 90's many of the caretakers of these children are uneducated and may not be able to read or write, which limits their job possibilities. Many of them have a skill which allows them to bring home a little money, but not much. The census we will be doing will find out not only familial events - deaths, births, children, etc. - we will also be asking about skills and education that they have. This will allow SOZO to develop education and work programs as well as build community among the families - all important things if we want to break the cycle of poverty. The long-term goal is that these families would become more self-sufficient, that the kids in the school would go to college and get good jobs that will allow them to provide for their families and make Afghanistan a prosperous country.
And I am once again inviting you to be part of this journey. Please be in prayer for this trip, my team, the country of Afghanistan and for me. Please read this blog. I plan to post something every week or so until we leave and then hopefully while we are away. And I also need your financial support. The cost of this trip is $3500, and I have been blown away by the support that I have already received, but I still have a ways to go. You can donate online here and be sure to select my name from the drop down menu. If you prefer to pay by mail you can send cash or a check made out to FCC with my name in the memo line to: Flatirons, 355 W. South Boulder Rd., Lafayette, CO 80026.
This opportunity is truly humbling and to have people like you come alongside me makes me stand in awe.
If you have any questions you can always comment or send me an email.
As you may or may not know, I am headed back to Afghanistan this fall for my fourth (!) trip. It's so hard to believe that it was 5 years ago that I first stepped foot in this amazing country, and I am extremely excited to go back. I am excited not only because I will get to see dear friends that I have made over the last few years, but because the focus of this trip is something that I think will have the ability change Afghanistan, in amazing positive ways, in the years to come.
My past few trips have focused on building relationships, which is one of the greatest values in Afghanistan. I have been able to get to know the SOZO staff very well, have been able to show love and honor to women and have spent countless hours having tea, chatting and laughing. These relationships are the foundation for what SOZO plans for the next few years, and we get to be part of the beginning of that. We will be doing a census! More specifically we will be doing a census of the families of the kids involved in the Kabul Street School that SOZO runs.
The Kabul Street School is specifically for kids who beg on the street for part of the day as a way to support their families. Many of these children have lost at least one parent, and some have lost both and live with extended family, but all of them are counted on by their family to bring home money so that there is some food to eat that day. The only opportunity for these kids to receive an education is through the Kabul School. In addition to an amazing education each kid at the school is fed a meal - quite possibly the only meal that they will eat that day.
Due to the lack of education during the wars of the 80's and 90's many of the caretakers of these children are uneducated and may not be able to read or write, which limits their job possibilities. Many of them have a skill which allows them to bring home a little money, but not much. The census we will be doing will find out not only familial events - deaths, births, children, etc. - we will also be asking about skills and education that they have. This will allow SOZO to develop education and work programs as well as build community among the families - all important things if we want to break the cycle of poverty. The long-term goal is that these families would become more self-sufficient, that the kids in the school would go to college and get good jobs that will allow them to provide for their families and make Afghanistan a prosperous country.
And I am once again inviting you to be part of this journey. Please be in prayer for this trip, my team, the country of Afghanistan and for me. Please read this blog. I plan to post something every week or so until we leave and then hopefully while we are away. And I also need your financial support. The cost of this trip is $3500, and I have been blown away by the support that I have already received, but I still have a ways to go. You can donate online here and be sure to select my name from the drop down menu. If you prefer to pay by mail you can send cash or a check made out to FCC with my name in the memo line to: Flatirons, 355 W. South Boulder Rd., Lafayette, CO 80026.
This opportunity is truly humbling and to have people like you come alongside me makes me stand in awe.
If you have any questions you can always comment or send me an email.
