Generous Donations Still Coming In ...

Today we received a generous donation from a Relief Society womens group here in St. George, Utah. This all came in from the branch that Mark's parents go to over off of Mall Drive. Here is a summary of what we received today:

5 Dental Floss
29 Boxes of toothpaste
50 Glue Sticks
3 Glue Bottles
25 Childrens Scissors
1 Storage Caddy
30 Bandaids
1 Box of Flash Cards
9 Hi-Liters
182 Erasers
1 Large Screw-In Sharpener
61 Pencil Sharpeners
80 Pieces of Graph Paper
22 Tooth Brushes
847 Pencils
67 Markers
24 Rulers
3 Marker & Watercolor Pads
1 Water color paint set
164 Pens
24 Pieces of chalk
15 Folders
1 Coloring book
7 Sets of Alphabet Letter Stickers
2 Stationary Envelopes
7 Stationary Paper Boxes
44 Notebooks
17 Note Pads
4 Legal Pads
1025 Pieces of Construction Paper
3200 Loose Paper
1000 Sheets of Copy Paper
18 Helmet Liners
And .... a HUGE Cash donation which will be used to help ship everything over!

One additional donation for 144 Pencil Sharpeners came in this week as well! WOW! Great week for the kids in Afghanistan!!! THANK YOU!!!

Beauty in Afghanistan

Today Mark forwarded pictures taken by a professional photographer of the City of Qalat. The first two are of the bluff and the third is of Alexander the Great Fortress. Beautiful pictures ... it looks so peaceful. Unfortunately, spring has sprung and with the warm weather the bad guys are coming out in full force. Please say an extra prayer for the both the civilians and the armed forces who are there just trying to help the innocent improve their lives.

Latest in Totals ....

I thought I would update everyone on the latest totals of what we have sent. While our focus has been on school supplies, we have not turned down donations in other areas and all that we have received has been sent and of course appreciated! Thank you SO MUCH for all your support!

Alphabet Border 1
Chalk 80 pieces
Colored Pencils 1146
Construction Paper 336 pieces
Crayons 5004 WOW!!
Dental Floss 3
Dry Board Erasers 2
Dry Erase Markers 50
Envelopes 389
Expandable File 1
Glue Bottles 5
Glue Sticks 57
Handitak 1
Hanging File Folders 32
Learning Cards 6 boxes
Hi-Liters 234
Markers 269
Notebooks 185
Paper (Loose) 14010 sheets WOW!!
Paper Clips 800
Pencils 1960 WOW!!
Pencil Erasers 1002
Pencil Sharpeners 107
Pens 2958 WOW!!
Pocket Folders 164
Rulers 48
Scissors 8
Stickers 2000
Tape 2 boxes
Toothbrushes 125
Toothpaste 162 tubes
Tracing Strips 14
Water Color Paints 5
Wet Erase Markers 47
Zip Lock Bags 450

Distribution Pictures

Here are the pictures that Mark sent to me from the first distribution of supplies in the city of Qalat. The ceremony had many of the local officials and General Walsh also attended the event. Mark was very much in the background of this ceremony and when the ceremony was over there was not a lot of time. The troops had to move out and therefore Mark did as well. Congratulations to everyone for helping to make this event happen! We hope for another distribution during the month of March!

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony - Qalats prison is in the background

where known Taliban is housed. New perimeter wall around prison.

School Supply donation tables

Armed Forces Network covered the event. Provincial Governor is being interviewed.

Sorry about layout ... I could not change this.

General Walsh with interpretor.

PRT Security Forces and ANP security handled the perimeter.