do not give up in freedom what those in oppression fight for

the title for today's posting came from a late evening prayer meeting with two of the long term team members. we discussed the current persecution of afghan believers/seekers and spent time in prayer before the Lord. one of the team members nailed it in their prayer: "forgive us Father for forgetting about the persecuted church and our persecuted brothers and sisters." forgive me Lord. keep them close to my heart.

as you read this blog, please pray for the afghans: their view of themselves before God (they struggle with the concept of sin), forgiveness (that they may know the depths of God's grace and extend it to one another), women (gossip, slander, oppression), dreams (a big way God is active here), and spiritual warfare.

we went out this morning to barek aub, the town an hour outside kabul we have partnered with for a few years. as our host described, a group of several hundred refugees were "loaded up in trucks, driven out into the desolate, dry foothills of the mountains and dumped like trash." they have progressed from aid to development. from receiving food and water to having their own fully functioning clinic, school (for both girls and boys), water pumps, and, finally, true houses instead of tents. i was struck by two things this morning: how much the town has grown since i was out here last summer...there are so many more houses! also, i was surprised by the handful of children i recognized...though they too have grown. :) my heart overflows.

some highlights from today:

"naam-e shoma che est?" (what is your name?)... zakea, nagila, ravinya, malia, ingahla, layla, zakura, sharkil, amira, mushtaba...

• using my broken dari to connect with the women and children
• hearing about the failed attempts to connect barek aub with their mountain neighbors, to share resources and "be friends"...and the hope that remains
• laughing as sharkil refused to shake my left hand after we greeted each other...and my delayed realization of my cultural faux pas (yes, he shook my right hand once i extended it)
• standing out near the mountains holding hands with nagila. she in her mustard colored dress and beautiful, wide, eyes...longing for connection. i in my blue shalwar kameeza and red chador...longing to speak the language.
• learning more about the housing projects for the widows and disabled. how this NGO's project gives them better, bigger homes...even wired for electricity even though the wires may never be used
• [our host, talking about the widow's housing project:] "before, they would live in a tent...alone for the rest of their lives. now, we give them a key...and they get a new life."

after saying "tashakor" and "khoda hafez" many times, we drove away. yet they do not get to drive away. this is their life. everyday. ...and yet, hope is there. we will not walk away. our great God will not abandon them.

the KY team leaves tomorrow; i will be sad to watch them go. we had a wonderful dinner together at a lebanese restaurant here in kabul. the weather was calm and cool after a hot day, the atmosphere was relaxing, and the conversations together heart warming. we even got to watch the netherlands/slovakia world cup game projected on the wall of the restaurant. and yet, all the while, the people of afghanistan are with us. impressed upon our hearts.

as before, some of my heart will remain here...with these people.

"give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. let the whole world know what he has done.

sing to him; yes, sing his praises. tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.

exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord.

search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.

remember the wonders he has performed..."

- psalm 105:1-5a