Meet Our New Neighbors - Part II

As noted in the prior bulletin about our new Afghan neighbors, the three families recently settled in Peterson Park.  They are beginning to adapt to Chicago life, including taking the CTA buses.  Generous donors recently provided them cellphones, which has allowed them to call their relatives in Afghanistan and learn about news of their extended families. Before this donation, they had been using a borrowed cellphone from a friend.  

The mother Ziba and her daughter Mawra who came from Kabul have a particularly difficult story.  Before the Taliban took charge, their family had built a new home and furnished it, their first home that was not a rental.  They spent just one night in the home before having to flee Kabul.  Mawra brought a suitcase of some of her belongings and clothes to the airport, but found that given the number of persons on the military aircraft, the suitcase would have taken up space on the floor where someone could actually sit.  So the suitcase was left behind, never to be seen again.  They now wait for the father/husband to leave Turkey and join them, as soon as the paperwork is processed.  No timetable has been set. 

QAS parishioners who are interested in helping to mentor or sponsor these families should continue to watch this space.  Thank you to the QAS grade school classes that have collected so many wonderful books and other household supplies for our neighbors.