Dear Washington

Dear Friends who sent toys "With Love From Washington,"

Thanks again for the donations of toys and school supplies.  In the middle of November, the stuffed animals and coloring books went to Ghazni City Orphanage in eastern Afghanistan.  They were given to the children by the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), made up of Army, Navy, and Air Force military members.  Their mission is to build roads, schools, waterways and other important projects for Afghanistan.

  The Texas Agribusiness Development Team (ADT) also joined in.  They help teach Afghan farmers how to use water efficiently, develop soil, and care for food crops.  They even planted a small garden at the orphanage.

  Afghanistan has a lot of orphans because of all the years of fighting here.  It is still a very dangerous palce.  Even the orphanage has to be surrounded by barbed wire to keep the children safe.

 These buildings are their home as well as their school.

  Part of the reason behind these missions is to show the children that Americans are not the enemy, and that we want them to have a better future.

  For me, the best reason is just to see kids with happy looks on their faces.

  The orphanage director wants to thank everyone in Washington who sent items to Ghazni.  She is very grateful for all that you have sent!

There even more photos of the kids online on PicasaWeb, available to everyone:
https://picasaweb.google.com/101354529361885204071/GhazniCityOrphanageMission16nov2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCNGNktOO8pPGaA#

If you want to read more about PRT and their projects, visit:
http://prtghazni.blogspot.com/
http://blogs.usda.gov/2010/12/23/playground-brings-smiles-to-afghan-orphans/
http://www.rc-east.com/regional-command-east-news-mainmenu-401/2504-launch-of-ghazni-city-hospital-and-orphanage-brings-hope-to-afghans.html