Report: Leadership Afghanistan, September 2007
I left Africa to join the Leadership Afghanistan team in Kabul. We were there for several reasons: conducting the 2nd Leadership Conference for the Class of 2007, the third meeting of Advanced Leadership for 2007, and inaugurating training for business leaders.
Instead of giving a detailed account of the week, I want to hit the high points:
1. Teaching: I can’t say enough about the quality of teaching (I’m not commenting on my times at the podium). I was personally impacted by all the instructors.
2. Security: The #1 question asked most, “Were you safe?” The answer is “Yes!” We were careful, but we were in no way restricted from doing what we went there to do. It is not as bad as reported. I talked to a lady from Mombassa on the flight from Nairobi to Dubai who was convinced that America is too dangerous for her to visit. Believing the news made it impossible to convince her otherwise.
I sat next to an Afghan as I left my first leadership conference in 2005. When he found out what we were doing, he said, “Please don’t stop coming to Afghanistan. We need you!” That need and desire is still there. Please don’t let fear keep your compassion from being expressed if you are considering a humanitarian trip.
3. Relationships: The highlight of this visit was the depth of relationships and personal conversations we experienced. We heard unbelievable stories of survival, bravery, loss, changed-life, near-death experiences, and protection as we listened to the history and hearts of these wonderful people. The Afghans hold to a Persian proverb that says: “The first time we meet we are friends. The second time we meet we are brothers.” Since everyone on the team had been multiple times, we experienced deep appreciation in the connections that were made.
I’ll limit the rest to these comments:
The best relationship building activity is food–relationships were built at an Iranian Restaurant, the Intercontinental Hotel, an Indian Restaurant in a Mall, The Serena Hotel, home-cooking with friends (twice), steak and shrimp on the base, Pizza delivery with a box labeled “Probably the Best Pizza in the Whole World in Kabul”, peach cobbler at a friend’s home, and the guesthouse food was wonderful.
I can’t say enough about how much I love these people, how much I enjoy what I am doing, and how I feel at home in Kabul and I miss it when I’m away.
And to the many friends who live in Afghanistan–they are my heroes.
