# 7 - Pakistan.... Visits to the Schools...

Hi Folks!

In one of my past emails, I mentioned one of the big "take away" points for me.. but I wanted to add a bit more to that. I believe the work that Forman Christian College and the Presbyterian Educational Board are doing is critical to peace in the Middle East.. now that might seem like a mighty big statement but if you consider they provide education for both Christian and Muslim students and in a co-educational setting, this is often the only time that Christians and Muslims have to get to know each other on a personal level.. as school mates. You'll remember some of your dearest life long friends are those you made in college or high school or perhaps you had a professor who was instrumental in your life... now what if those school friends or mentor teachers were of a different belief system? I'm just thinking you'd be a lot less willing to blow someone like them up. Also Forman is a prestigious university here (considered to be the Harvard of the sub-continent).. many of the alumni become the movers and shakers in the business and political world..... so the tolerance that they're taught in these educational settings will continue to flow.

Now, I've also said that I've not been afraid and I've really not been afraid.. but yesterday, I was a touch nervous when we were driving out to the schools in the country side.... We had an armed escort.. So imagine two vans with us and the educators from the Presbyterian Educational Board.. then in front is a jeep with a canvas top with probably six guys in tough looking black police uniforms with AK-47's and in the back was another jeep with six guys with tough looking black SWAT team uniforms with AK- 47's... when I asked Veeda (who is the astoundingly wonderful person who is the heart and soul of the PEB) about it, she brushed it aside and said, "oh it's just protocol, they're honored that you're coming".... Yes, part of what she said was true.. the communities where these village schools are located were very honored and so welcoming and gracious (have you noticed that I've used the word "gracious" about a zillion times in regards to the Pakistani people).. but there was a underlying element of tension. Nothing happened, we're all just fine but it's pretty freaky when you swing into this remote village in the middle of nowhere with your own personal 12 man SWAT team complete with AK-47's.... On the drive back, the jeeps of police would switch off as we drove through various districts so in addition to our front and back guards, another jeep would pull along side and while another peeled off.. they were merely changing position but it just felt a bit like something out a movie... at one point the front jeep stopped and one of the SWAT guys who was dressed head to toe in black with his face completely covered, got out of the jeep and with his assault rifle lifted, he looked up and down the dirt road.. don't know what he was looked for but it was unnerving all the same...

BUT THE SCHOOLS WERE JUST FABULOUS!!! We were treated like visiting royalty or perhaps like rock stars!!! As we pulled up to each school (we visited three).. the children were lining the way into the school.. all dressed neatly in uniform and they tossed rose petals upon us and played musical instruments! We were given these beautiful lei's made of real roses or sparkly tinselly stuff.. the children put them around our necks and we paraded along the line of the children while they clapped, threw rose petals, played instruments and generally made us feel like queens and kings!! It was just precious and so deeply appreciated! Each school was so touching to see how they make do with such difficult facilities.. one school at Martinpur has an ancient building that they want to rebuild... the walls are cracking.. These properties are owned by the Presbyterian Church USA and administered through the Presbyterian Educational Board. And what a phenomenal job the Pakistani staff does! They are miracle workers with doing so much with so little! Another important point is that they are working on ways to sustain what they have accomplished... for example, one school in Lahore (the major city) is for more middle and upper middle class students who can pay fees.. these fees do help to fund the poorer village schools even though it's not nearly enough to completely run them. Today we also went to one of those schools in Lahore, Kinnaid Academy... it was their field day and what fun they were having! First they did the visiting royalty thing for all of us and we were seated in a prime position to view the foot races, tug of war, etc. We had a wonderful tour of the school... they have some beautiful newly outfitted rooms for science and computers that have been donated by people in the US.

Another project of the PEB is the "SHE project" which is a program for at-risk women and their children... they provide temporary shelter and meals (similar to The Spring in Plant City), vocational training, their children attend the school and are provided with uniforms. What a wonderful project! One of their vocational projects involves making GORGEOUS beaded and embroidered shawls! WOW! We had so much fun choosing shawls to bring home!

I've got to stop now... we're headed out to our final dinner with Peter Armacost (Pres of Forman) and his wife, Mary Linda.. going to a special restaurant that I've been told once housed a brothel but now is a fun place to eat high up on the roof and over look the beautiful Mosque that is lit up at night.. that is if the electricity stays on!! I don't remember if I told you but the electricity goes out several times a day and sometimes for several hours at a time.. doesn't seem to bother us much..

We leave for Dubai in the morning! What a pleasure it's been to know the people of Pakistan!

Love,
Jean