A Grand Miracle

A Grand Miracle

As we flew into Kabul, the sights appeared to me as if I had never left. A wide dusty valley expanse filled with millions of clay and mud homes, cozied in on all sides by majestic mountains. Although before we even boarded the plane in Dubai, I was keenly aware that the land that I was about to enter had changed much. Our plane was filled with local men and much less foreigners than usual. Once we landed, the usual bustle of people in and around the airport was strangely quiet. As I departed the airport property and headed towards the taxi lot, to meet my own taxi driver from years gone by, I was shocked to see the amount of men sitting around just staring at me as I walked by. I kept my head down, hoping that my own taxi driver would somehow recognize me through all of my layers of coverings.

And...he did. :)

One minute he was not besides me...the next minute he was. Head down, voice quiet, hands clasped traditionally behind his back...he softly greeted me while never looking my way. I had to refrain myself from turning in absolute glee to greet him. These are different times and I in no way wanted to compromise his safety by showing the whole world of taxi's waiting that he knew this foreigner. So we walked with few words until we arrived at his car. Once inside his car, and out of site from the rest of the taxi driver population, our conversation hardly rested until I arrived at my destination.

I had finally arrived. Finally. It had been a long year, one full of memories as I often thought of this place and it's people. And wonderings of how my afghan friends and family were doing.

Yesterday, I was invited to join this taxi drivers family for lunch. They have been and are like my own family here. I have known the kids since they were little as I used to live across the path from them. It was wonderful to see them, enjoy a meal together, while being ever-so-thankful to God who is stronger than any cancer diagnosis. Six hours later, I left their house to return another day. And so it has been the last several days. Reunion upon reunion with many locals that thought that I was leaving to die. Faces that show the love of dear friends reunited after a year of uncertainties for us all. And now to return, well and healthy is just a miracle.

Or as one local put it...not just a miracle, but a Grand Miracle.

"Z" looking at pictures from my sisters wedding

A picture of Z and me :) (it is cultural for her not to smile in pictures.  Her smiles in real life are bright and beautiful!)

At sunset...beautiful!