Champa Rai and I visited for a long time with Rati Gurung, who is a widow with four children. Very sad situation as she has no english skills, no understanding of her appliances, hygiene, cleaning supplies, dangers of leaving food out to spoil, and on and on. Champa did some intense interpreting for me as we instructed on how to clean the bathroom, kitchen, floors, fridge...everything. Tried to explain the fridge/freezer concepts. They have no meat at all, don't really know how to shop. Had meat upon arrival, but it was in the freezer and they didn't know why it got hard and didn't know what to do with it when it was hard. I guess they threw it out. Sink was full of dirty dishes with lots of food mixed in, bucket of black water and a mop was stashed in a closet. They have two towels between them and two washrags. Tried to explain food poisoning in our hot climate. Gave her lots of soaps and cleansers, five washcloths, Helen B. is delivering towels on Tuesday. Rati has not been food shopping....she sends eldest son. She agreed to learn on Sunday after church with Champa and me. Like many others, they had trashed computer parts the boys had found in the "dust bin"/ dumpster. A lot of our friends regularly dumpster dive. So sad.

The Thomas apartments are the worst I've seen for our friends. Pray that Catholic Social Services will move this sweet family to a better location. This mom needs a mentor with lots of time. Any ideas?

Carla