Ordinary Hero's

Some of the the ordinary hero's that I work with.


A week or so we had a team retreat. This is a bi annual retreat that we have to hear from one another and direction for where we are feeling led as a team. It was a tremendouly encouraging time. Even though hard discussions were had...there were times of true openness amongst our staff. Times when all of our shields were lowered allowing us into each others worlds and hearts. I was reminded again that it's not so much about the accomplishments along journey that is important...but who walks with us on that journey, from above or on this earth. And during that time...I was better able to sense the 'heros' that I serve with out here. Ordinary hero's. People who would and do sacrifice with a joyful heart, even admist their tears and my own as well, ...knowing that they might never see the return of it all on this side of heaven.

There is a quote I heard of recently which I really like: The world knows nothing of it's greatest people - Henry Taylor

I think this is true... I work with some of the worlds greatest people in this place. I am truly blessed.

The meaning of my name

{I love this picture. A picture of Hope. And as 'reality' (the man in the front) stares us in the face...it is hope (the little boys face) that peers through with an intensity that will not give up and believes in what it cannot see yet hopes for. Yes...a picture of hope.}

Today I met with some local friends.  Our conversation was about the importance and meaning of each name.  Aziza means Beloved.  Najeeba, Noble.  And Rahim, kindness.  Five years ago I arrived in Afghanistan without an ounce of Dari and limited understanding of the culture.  I had yet to comprehend the rivers of meaning behind the language, culture, and...the meanings of names.  Before I even headed out the doors of my house, I would sit down each day in conversation (sign language at best!) with a very young woman who we had hired to help us buy groceries, cook, and adjust to life in this oh so foreign land.  Her stay with us was limited, only a couple of months, but during her time I learned valuable things about the rthymes of culture and language that I hold to to this day.  One of them...my Afghan name.  During those first few weeks, my sister (then serving with us for 2 months) and I were given new Dari names.  My name...Tamana.  Hers...Orizo.  Both names meaning 'hope'.  So from that very day forward....I have been known as Tamana.  Few, to this day, even know my English name.  Little did this young woman know that the year prior to that back in America, my sister would often call me 'hope' since I was helping to set up our homefront desk for our current work here in Afghanistan.  Our emerging effort, at that time, was called...Afghan Hope.  And that name 'hope' just stuck with me.  And it still does to this very day.  Hope in what is not seen...yet greatly desired.  If there is one thing that seems to seer through the spirit of these people...it is hope.  So though I came with great hope for this place...I have learned mountains from these people about what it means to hold out hope in light of grave circumstances.

And I still hope.  For this place as well as things in my life yet to come.  Thus the inspiration for the name of this blog:  Tamana's journey.  The journey of Hope.

A Very Sad Evening...

There was not a single person without tears running down their face or hearts tonight. Adults, high school kids, and smaller kids. Hundreds of us gathered in a house to share food, fellowship, and thoughts for the Koreans family that are being asked to leave by the end of the month. There are over a hundred of them serving in more than a half a dozen locations around the country. They have served with a perseverance and hope that is noticeable and quite remarkable. Their service has spanned from a month to over 10 years. They have worked in healthcare, business, agriculture among many other venues. Their hearts are here and for these people as much as ours. Their children share classrooms with afghan and foreign kids alike. This place has become their home. And now because of the current hostage situation with the Koreans...their Embassy is forcing their people to leave the country, possibly never to return.

So as the evening ended and we all gathered around to say goodbye...through silent tears, all I could do was ask God to redeem this whole situation. That because of this, more workers would come to this place. More prayer would be raised on this country's behalf. That the 21 still captured would be released and not harmed. And even though it is hard to believe through it all...I know that He will be faithful to bring about amazing good through it all. For their sake...and His renown. I believe that.

She brought Grace

Lisa enjoying the day...laughing :).

The day after my sister left. My room is quiet as usual. And I am not being asked questions all the time by Lisa trying to remember the last Dari word she heard! I smile...but miss her much. You have enjoyed letter upon letter in her blog about our simple, yet fun (a requirement!), outings and time spent together over the last month. With the intensity that these past months have held and continues to hold with security situation here...what I have loved about this month was the presence of someone, specifically my twin, to bring laughter and joy into days that have been difficult. We tried several times to get out of the city to just enjoy the country a bit...but ended up not being able to travel or even recently leave the city. So...instead of being dissapointed....we planned a evening having dinner at a nice hotel that I have seen the inside only a handful of times or a trip to a foreigner pool to cool off from the hot summer. She constantly brought prespective and fun to my days. And even more than that....she brought grace. Grace to enjoy the things that I would normally not consider doing or at least take the time. A trip to the pool. A nice dinner or trip to a store. Time to watch a movie and laugh. During those days...she would look at me and say 'You, if anyone, deserve this!'.

The month is over and she is now gone. But somehow through her time spend here she brought some grace to this place and my life. Grace to extend not only to the people that I have been sent to but also to myself,.. who is one small vehicle of His grace to people here.

Thanks for bringing some grace Lisa. I will miss you.


Enjoying tea, with loads of smiles!, at a local friends house.

My first blog post

My first blog post. What does one write on a first blog post? I guess I'm starting this to let all my friends, far and wide, know what is happening here in the ever-exciting deserts of Afghanistan. :) It's a blazin' hot summer day, and while I'm all swaddled up in my headscarf and long sleeves, I'm dreaming of the cool ocean breezes on the California coast! My twin sister has been visiting me for the month of July, and her blog has entertained scores of you all by her tales of our everyday adventures living on the flip side of the planet. So, that was the impetuous for the beginning of my own blog - seems that everyone likes to hear about the small everyday stuff as much as the big earth-shattering things happening here in Afghanistan! :)

Today's events are not too unusual - I'm trying to get my work visa renewed. When we presented them with all the proper documents, passport and visa - they refused them all and referred us to yet one more ministry office for mysterious reasons. More runaround because we refuse to pay bribes. These kinds of days, frustration can mount like a monstrous tidal wave - but I'm reminded that God is able and He can make it happen. He can and He will. So, I'll take a breath and focus on the joyful fact that I get coffee cake after dinner tonight. Yum. All is well. :)
















My sister and I having dinner at a friends house here in Kabul - we were wearing twin outfits at the request of the host! :)

Most of my teammates - quality people from around the world!

Here I'm all cozied up in Scotland for a Leadership Development Course April 2007 - look no headscarf! :)