Erika Schmidt - Afghanistan

APRIL NEWSLETTER

Thank you for praying for me this last month.
 

SECURITY

God has kept the situation relatively quiet this last month as far as Suicide bombers are concerned. Although we have heard that the Taliban has taken over just outside of Ghazni, which is two hours south of Kabul. Please continue to pray that God’s light and love will win out against the darkness and destruction that threatens to push this country back hundreds of years.
 

ACCOMMODATION – ASET GUESTHOUSE

Thank God that I was able to get the job as Guesthouse Manager. The Guesthouse has only 4 bedrooms, so it is a small operation. It is basically designed for ASET staff who are living in the Provinces of Afghanistan. They need a place to stay for the night before and after taking flights out of Kabul. It is a very part-time job, overseeing the Guesthouse management. I have help washing and changing the sheets. Aside from breakfast which guests usually get by themselves, most guests have other arrangements for lunch and dinner.
 
Now you are all invited to come and visit me in Kabul.
 
Consequently my main work with the women and children in the Self Help Groups is continuing and hopefully expanding this coming year.
 

TWO DAY BUSINESS AGRICULTURAL PARTNERSHIP EXHIBITION

Recently USAID sponsored an agricultural Exhibition week-end. Those involved in some sort of agriculture could rent booths and share what they are doing in Afghanistan. These Projects were mainly run by Afghans themselves.
 
I met a wonderful farmer from the Jalabad area who was growing mushrooms and also was producing snacks made from fast-dried carrots and other vegetables or fruit. Both these items would be ideal for widows and poor women to produce. Mushroom growing is easy and lucrative.
 
I have started talks with USAID to see if they would be interested to help us initiate these programs for our Women in the Self Help Groups.  So far these talks have been very positive. USAID will help us form Women Associations from our Cluster Level Associations and then work with them in training and financial support for various business ideas. Please pray for God’s wisdom that all these negotiations will move forward quickly.
 

WOMAN AND CHILDREN’S CENTRE 

If we can raise some funds for this centre, one section could be a little production area where mushrooms and dried vegetables and fruits could be made.
 
Another area would be for literacy and a library. These poor children and families have no book, no pencils, no paper in their houses.
 

DARI LESSONS 

This month we have started daily to read the Bible in Dari. This is on top of my regular 2 hour lessons in Dari. Pleasse continue to pray for me, particularly that I won’t forget everything during the time I’m back in the West.
 

MY TRIP TO CANADA 

I am now starting to make my Program for my time in Canada. If you would like me to come and speak in your area, please let me know. We can schedule that in now. My nephew’s wedding in Toronto is on June 9th. I shall be in the Toronto area until the middle of July.
 

NEED MORE PERSONNEL 

I’m really hoping and praying that we can find some more people that would be interested to serve in Afghanistan. To start with we can use another person in the Guesthouse. Also, if we get funding from USAID, we will definitely need some more people to help oversee the various projects that could be started.
 
I really have a desire to see more work among women get started out in the provinces.
 

PICTURES 

While I’m in the Toronto area, I will have a lot of pictures and slides. Also I hope to get the sending of pictures via e-mail worked out. Sorry that this has taken some time. I’m not computer literate.

 
Blessings on all of you and I hope to see you soon.
 
Erika