I have always thought if you want to understand a culture, observe the children. Today we observed the culture at our host's school teaching the grade 4-6 children how to use the Armor of God to feel safe in any circumstance. Despite the challenges that are faced here, God's love can provide a sense of safety for these children.
As we have been learning back home what it means to be a neighbor, I was struck by the incredible neighbors I found in Kabul. I noticed the walls built around the guesthouse and the schools - so different from the walls we build for ourselves in America, built to keep others out and hide from everyone else. But the walls of the guesthouse and the school are very different - they are walls built to create a safe place, to provide shelter and food, to protect loved ones. There is so much love inside the walls of this school.
As I watched the children with their eyes closed, imagining themselves putting on the armor of God, seeing the understanding and the peace wash over their faces, I knew God was here. A good friend told me at the school how these children came from nothing, how on the streets they were constantly told to go away, they are not wanted. But then they came to this school where they are told they are wanted, they are special, they are valuable, they are loved.
When they heard we were coming they asked the teachers, "Do they love us too?" The answer, "Yes, that is why they are coming." Oh, how we love them.
A little girl welcomed us to their class, thanking us for giving them all "the opportunity to become doctors, teachers and engineers." The seriousness in her tone, the look of hope and determination in her eyes showed me that many of them will indeed become doctors, teachers or engineers.
As I said earlier, if you want to understand a culture, observe the children. At this school, I saw a culture of joy, a culture of hope, a culture of love. This is only possible because someone saw a need and created a school where these children who only knew rejection could be shown God's love. Where there is God's love, there is hope, and hope is strong in the heart of Kabul.
As we have been learning back home what it means to be a neighbor, I was struck by the incredible neighbors I found in Kabul. I noticed the walls built around the guesthouse and the schools - so different from the walls we build for ourselves in America, built to keep others out and hide from everyone else. But the walls of the guesthouse and the school are very different - they are walls built to create a safe place, to provide shelter and food, to protect loved ones. There is so much love inside the walls of this school.
As I watched the children with their eyes closed, imagining themselves putting on the armor of God, seeing the understanding and the peace wash over their faces, I knew God was here. A good friend told me at the school how these children came from nothing, how on the streets they were constantly told to go away, they are not wanted. But then they came to this school where they are told they are wanted, they are special, they are valuable, they are loved.
When they heard we were coming they asked the teachers, "Do they love us too?" The answer, "Yes, that is why they are coming." Oh, how we love them.
A little girl welcomed us to their class, thanking us for giving them all "the opportunity to become doctors, teachers and engineers." The seriousness in her tone, the look of hope and determination in her eyes showed me that many of them will indeed become doctors, teachers or engineers.
As I said earlier, if you want to understand a culture, observe the children. At this school, I saw a culture of joy, a culture of hope, a culture of love. This is only possible because someone saw a need and created a school where these children who only knew rejection could be shown God's love. Where there is God's love, there is hope, and hope is strong in the heart of Kabul.