Wednesday, January 26, 2011
What a day! I have to tell you this story.
To some people of high importance or special position a story like this may be old news, but for me it was a new experience that was pretty cool.
My friend and interpreter Hamid has been trying to assist me with getting a very special “all access” badge for the Kabul International Airport. It would be hard to explain all the details of this process, but what I can say is that the process is definitely a “who you know” kind of thing on many levels of bureaucracy. Having the right stamp and the right signature on the right paper on the right day is HUGE at every stop. Hamid has been walking the papers and pictures through the whole time. Having this badge will definitely assist me with moving people and things in and out of Kabul.
Today one more wicket was required. I needed to go to the airport special security office and have my picture taken. All of the most important approvals for the badge have already occurred and it seemed like it may have been one of the final steps. I was thinking that if they take my picture, in addition to the passport photo I already provided, I would surely be good to go.
I mentioned in my last blog that I am in no way an Afghan cultural expert, but I do know enough to understand various customs and courtesies. Today I was fortunate enough to experience one of these customs first hand.
Before I go on I should mention that in a country like this moving in and around an airport is no small task. Hamid puts himself at great risk as did I. If you think security at home is bad…try walking up to the International Airport in Kabul. It aint happening!
So we go into the older of two airport terminals on the Afghanistan held side of the airport. This brought back memories, because more than two years ago this is exactly where I first set foot into the country. Our contact lead us into the office area up several flights of stairs where I sat in a room full of men waiting to get my picture taken. The office was very busy and the entire setting was really interesting! This is where it got pretty cool.
It is custom in Afghanistan to have tea and show hospitality to any person that you would do business with. After we got our pictures taken Hamid indicated that the senior intelligence officer for the airport wanted to have tea with me. Of course I agreed.
After being lead into another office, in a different location, I met another gentleman and the four of us sat and had tea. They also brought out a “sweet treat” similar to peanut brittle, but no peanuts. We sat and talked about all types of work and personal related items for over 40 minutes. I closed our talk by telling them how thankful I was for their assistance and especially their hospitality to me. It was a very cool experience! Hamid mentioned that they would like to have me back for lunch sometime soon. I am definitely in for that.
On a personal note, the entire experience has me thinking about God’s love for ALL people. How Christ is the most important thing in Afghanistan too.
Sometimes it doesn’t seem that way because it’s so easy to just see the Islamic exterior of these people and forget about God’s intent for their interior. What an amazing challenge. What an even more amazing responsibility.
I hope you are experiencing some of this too. I know if you are flying around at all you have to see the villages and the people. It’s really incredible. I don’t mean to sound so enamored with this people. I know that many of you are only seeing the business end of the “not so nice” Afghans. I got that. I have seen the business end myself. However, the fact still remains that the larger majority of these people are for us, and not against us.
Be Blessed!
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Great post! Really enjoyed hearing the whole story too. God has placed you there for such a time as this. We are all praying for you, and for Gods guidance in every situation you're placed in.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing, Matt! Praying for your safety and continued favor with the people there. Keep writing!
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