In the fall, a year after 9/11, I boarded a plane to Kabul, Afghanistan. I traveled with a small group of architects and engineers invited by the Afghan government to help with the rebuilding of this war-torn country. My purpose was to serve as a photojournalist. Take as many photos as possible, document the trip, and write about whatever else stirred my thoughts. Just before leaving, I also purchased a video camera.
My camera and my words would circle around the harsh realities of the Afghan women.
I soon realized upon arriving in Kabul why God had me on this trip. My camera and my words would circle around the harsh realities of the Afghan women. Prior to leaving, a 60 Minutes special claimed that the burkas in Afghanistan were flying off! Not true. Almost every woman on the streets of Kabul wore a burka. Behind the walls, women wore a hijab (head covering) and often a niqab (face covering, minus the eyes).
These photos show a program where the women made rough-sewn quilted blankets. They received $2.00 a blanket for their intense labor. Then, they gave the blankets to others in need.
One day we traveled a couple of hours outside of Kabul to a “small” village of about a hundred thousand. We walked along the busy, crowded main street. During our four-hour visit, I didn’t see another woman, bringing new meaning to “a woman’s place is in the home.” Marriage provided financial support to women. However, Afghanistan, because of years of conflict, had a higher number of widows than any other country. With the absence of women in the workforce, the responsibility went to young boys to earn money for the family. Some widows simply became street beggars.
Afghanistan also held the record for the most land-mined nation. Everywhere you went, you witnessed the maimed from landmines. The Soviets placed most between 1979 and 1992 during the Soviet occupation. The slow process of demining Afghanistan’s millions of mines can take decades.
Yes, young girls and women were experiencing new freedoms, no longer under the rule of the Taliban. Fifteen-year-old girls were back in school, sitting across from third-grade boys. A visual reminder of the many years girls could not attend school. In addition, professional women were just beginning to return to the workforce in Kabul.
The end of Taliban rule began a welcoming start for women. NGOs (non-governmental organizations) flooding into the country and the U.S. military presence after 9/11 were highly instrumental in the many years that followed in rebuilding Afghanistan. And in restoring dignity and humanitarian rights to Afghan women.
As we all know, that came to a screaming halt when the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan, allowing Taliban control to return. The decision broke my heart. I knew what that meant for the women of Afghanistan. And I want you to know, too.
It’s so easy to turn away from the things that God wants us to turn towards. What better way, though, can we connect to the heart of God? To acquire his love and compassion for those suffering persecution and injustice.
It’s been four years since the Taliban regained power. Recently, I came across an article describing the stoning, public floggings, and encasement of women within walls accused of adultery. The Taliban continues to pursue the near-total erasure of women from public life. Girls cannot exceed a sixth-grade education. The UN under Taliban rule states over 90 edicts suppressing the rights of women and girls.
Try to imagine whatever injustices an extreme Islamic regime might force upon you. While knowing every cry for help goes unheard, except by God. For our God not only hears but sees. “So Hagar named the Lord who spoke to her, ‘You are the God who sees me,’” for she said, ‘Here I have seen one who sees me!’” (Genesis 16:13). We must continue to pray that the women and men of Afghanistan will see the one true God and Savior.
Our God values each life made in his image. He despises the world’s evil, and someday he’ll correct everything! What action can we take until that day comes?
Some of you who read this are ministry leaders in your church. Pray about how this blog challenges you. What greater global awareness can you bring to your church? How is your church educating others in compassion ministries? How can you help with the injustices and sufferings of women you will probably never meet?
If you’re not in a leadership role, how can you develop a heart of compassion for others?
Let me share a few ideas to implement in your church or women’s ministry. Or, to tweak and pursue in your personal life.
- When you have corporate prayer, don’t just pray for the group’s needs. Mention another country or two. Include a summary of the needs of women in those countries.
- Is there someone in leadership who assumes the role of global educator, keeps up to date on current events, and provides materials to your group or church?
- Educate others about the multiple challenges faced by women worldwide. Provide a simple handout when you meet for prayer or Bible study highlighting some of these challenges.
- Consider taking an offering once a month to help women less fortunate in other countries.
- Encourage the women and men in your church to take a short-term mission trip to serve women in a developing country.
- Present various international ministries for others to get involved with. Here are just two well-known ones.
Christar: https://www.christar.org/
The Voice of the Martyrs: https://www.persecution.com/
There are also some wonderful smaller ministries helping women and families.
One of my favorites is Among the Least at: https://www.amongtheleast.org/
This writing has highlighted just one country among many that experience horrible injustices towards women. Will you join me in praying for the girls and women of Afghanistan? Will you pray about how God might use you to help women suffering injustice and religious persecution?