Nazareth House Apostolate appreciates its singing neighbors…

Below is written some words from James of St. Laurence House, Freetown, Sierra Leone. They describe his encounter with some neighbors (some of them, Muslim) who dropped by our rented house in Freetown, wishing to show their love and appreciation of Nazareth House Apostolate. They are poor, they have nothing, but they could sing and they thought that Christmas Carols would be a nice gesture. Indeed it was, a beautiful gesture, one that meant more to us at St. Laurence House than anything silver or gold or money could buy. The best gifts are from the heart.


By: James Mansaray: Freetown, Sierra Leone

Christmas is here and Carol singing is mostly heard on one or two local radio stations, never the less few people do organize singing groups knocking at few doors if only they are welcomed to sing. Some sing and sing with the hope of getting something, but at the end of it all nothing to grab but a bite while on their way home.

Surprisingly for us at St. Laurence House a handful of kids trying to imitate what the grown ups are doing sang deliciously with their humming solos taking the best part of the “long time ago in Bethlehem”. We were all laughing by the strange soulful howling offerings from gentle Simba (our wild “dingo – as mama vicki calls him” dog), as he chimed in with the children.

Although these children only wanted to entertain us and expected nothing, Lucy welcomed them inside St. Laurence House and slipped them a few notes of Leones (Sierra Leone currency) to help them buy a piece of candy or something for themselves for Christmas. Then she and Ann Marie looked at the children’s feet and noticed some without shoes and the ones who had shoes were not in good shape. Soon the gift of small leones was quickly followed by a gift of shoes from the few we had left from the “We Got Feet” campaign.

We had saved shoes for Kamasorrie Village, but thought it fitting to put shoes on these singing feet.

The children quickly search for shoes to fit them.



It was a very enjoyable evening


and they were all so happy

and surprised to receive shoes.

Excited they go about trying on the shoes…

Notice the shirt (provided by Maria Stianchie) that Ann Marie is wearing? “It’s all about the shoes”

one by one they find a fit. See what you are doing through Nazareth House? Bit by bit, shoe by shoe, person by person. You are making such a big difference. And to think that all of these feet that didn’t have shoes, that now do… all this got started by a classroom of children at Penn/Kidder School in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania who asked?

“What can we do to help the children in Sierra Leone, what do they need?”. An answer came “they need shoes” and the Penn/Kidder kids through One Love teamed with Nazareth House and the story ends with shoes on many, many children’s (and adult’s) feet. Thank you all, what a great campaign. Now its time to move on to the next work… lets get this compound thing accomplished…. Love to you all! James.



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Nazareth House Apostolate appreciates its singing neighbors…

Below is written some words from James of St. Laurence House, Freetown, Sierra Leone. They describe his encounter with some neighbors (some of them, Muslim) who dropped by our rented house in Freetown, wishing to show their love and appreciation of Nazareth House Apostolate. They are poor, they have nothing, but they could sing and they thought that Christmas Carols would be a nice gesture. Indeed it was, a beautiful gesture, one that meant more to us at St. Laurence House than anything silver or gold or money could buy. The best gifts are from the heart.


By: James Mansaray: Freetown, Sierra Leone

Christmas is here and Carol singing is mostly heard on one or two local radio stations, never the less few people do organize singing groups knocking at few doors if only they are welcomed to sing. Some sing and sing with the hope of getting something, but at the end of it all nothing to grab but a bite while on their way home.

Surprisingly for us at St. Laurence House a handful of kids trying to imitate what the grown ups are doing sang deliciously with their humming solos taking the best part of the “long time ago in Bethlehem”. We were all laughing by the strange soulful howling offerings from gentle Simba (our wild “dingo – as mama vicki calls him” dog), as he chimed in with the children.

Although these children only wanted to entertain us and expected nothing, Lucy welcomed them inside St. Laurence House and slipped them a few notes of Leones (Sierra Leone currency) to help them buy a piece of candy or something for themselves for Christmas. Then she and Ann Marie looked at the children’s feet and noticed some without shoes and the ones who had shoes were not in good shape. Soon the gift of small leones was quickly followed by a gift of shoes from the few we had left from the “We Got Feet” campaign.

We had saved shoes for Kamasorrie Village, but thought it fitting to put shoes on these singing feet.

The children quickly search for shoes to fit them.



It was a very enjoyable evening


and they were all so happy

and surprised to receive shoes.

Excited they go about trying on the shoes…

Notice the shirt (provided by Maria Stianchie) that Ann Marie is wearing? “It’s all about the shoes”

one by one they find a fit. See what you are doing through Nazareth House? Bit by bit, shoe by shoe, person by person. You are making such a big difference. And to think that all of these feet that didn’t have shoes, that now do… all this got started by a classroom of children at Penn/Kidder School in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania who asked?

“What can we do to help the children in Sierra Leone, what do they need?”. An answer came “they need shoes” and the Penn/Kidder kids through One Love teamed with Nazareth House and the story ends with shoes on many, many children’s (and adult’s) feet. Thank you all, what a great campaign. Now its time to move on to the next work… lets get this compound thing accomplished…. Love to you all! James.



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GoodSearch helps Nazareth House Apostolate

Help Nazareth House out for free! Use Goodsearch before each internet purchase. Now is the time to help us out while you are doing your Christmas Shopping. Click here to learn more about Goodsearch Shopping.

Grace Church Missions gives 100% of money raised from Goodsearch to Nazareth House Apostolate for its mission/humanitarian work.
There are many stores, Amazon, Ebay, Coldwater Creek, Lands End, LL Bean, Apple, Dell, you name it… it participates in helping us through Good Search.
Help us help them …for FREE!
Using Goodsearch as a search engine also brings us about a penny per each search. Thanks for pitching in to make a difference.

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GoodSearch helps Nazareth House Apostolate

Help Nazareth House out for free! Use Goodsearch before each internet purchase. Now is the time to help us out while you are doing your Christmas Shopping. Click here to learn more about Goodsearch Shopping.

Grace Church Missions gives 100% of money raised from Goodsearch to Nazareth House Apostolate for its mission/humanitarian work.
There are many stores, Amazon, Ebay, Coldwater Creek, Lands End, LL Bean, Apple, Dell, you name it… it participates in helping us through Good Search.
Help us help them …for FREE!
Using Goodsearch as a search engine also brings us about a penny per each search. Thanks for pitching in to make a difference.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

GoodSearch helps Nazareth House Apostolate

Help Nazareth House out for free! Use Goodsearch before each internet purchase. Now is the time to help us out while you are doing your Christmas Shopping. Click here to learn more about Goodsearch Shopping.

Grace Church Missions gives 100% of money raised from Goodsearch to Nazareth House Apostolate for its mission/humanitarian work.
There are many stores, Amazon, Ebay, Coldwater Creek, Lands End, LL Bean, Apple, Dell, you name it… it participates in helping us through Good Search.
Help us help them …for FREE!
Using Goodsearch as a search engine also brings us about a penny per each search. Thanks for pitching in to make a difference.

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Latest News Report on Sierra Leone & Malaria


As I type this, Roo is down with another fever and what looks like another bout of malaria. So sad that so many needlessly suffer this disease.

I remember a few mission trips ago when together with One Love and Penn Kidder’s Class we purchased bednets in Sierra Leone. As we distributed them we found that they had been gifts from other global outreach organizations. Clearly written on the bag it said “Not for resale, a gift from “_____” ” Meaning that they were given for malaria prevention for free, but not distributed, instead they were sold. Because the general population cannot afford to purchase a bednet, this inhibits the preventative process tremendously. Thankfully, Nazareth House was the ones who bought them and we individually distributed them. Not only that, once we gave them away, Pa Foday and the teachers have kept an ongoing watch in Kabala – visiting the children’s home to make sure the bednets are in use and properly placed over the bed. James has done the same in Freetown.
Even with the bednets, Roo continues to suffer this terrible disease.
Read this article to understand the severity of malaria and the consequences from having it
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Latest News Report on Sierra Leone & Malaria


As I type this, Roo is down with another fever and what looks like another bout of malaria. So sad that so many needlessly suffer this disease.

I remember a few mission trips ago when together with One Love and Penn Kidder’s Class we purchased bednets in Sierra Leone. As we distributed them we found that they had been gifts from other global outreach organizations. Clearly written on the bag it said “Not for resale, a gift from “_____” ” Meaning that they were given for malaria prevention for free, but not distributed, instead they were sold. Because the general population cannot afford to purchase a bednet, this inhibits the preventative process tremendously. Thankfully, Nazareth House was the ones who bought them and we individually distributed them. Not only that, once we gave them away, Pa Foday and the teachers have kept an ongoing watch in Kabala – visiting the children’s home to make sure the bednets are in use and properly placed over the bed. James has done the same in Freetown.
Even with the bednets, Roo continues to suffer this terrible disease.
Read this article to understand the severity of malaria and the consequences from having it
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Latest News Report on Sierra Leone & Malaria


As I type this, Roo is down with another fever and what looks like another bout of malaria. So sad that so many needlessly suffer this disease.

I remember a few mission trips ago when together with One Love and Penn Kidder’s Class we purchased bednets in Sierra Leone. As we distributed them we found that they had been gifts from other global outreach organizations. Clearly written on the bag it said “Not for resale, a gift from “_____” ” Meaning that they were given for malaria prevention for free, but not distributed, instead they were sold. Because the general population cannot afford to purchase a bednet, this inhibits the preventative process tremendously. Thankfully, Nazareth House was the ones who bought them and we individually distributed them. Not only that, once we gave them away, Pa Foday and the teachers have kept an ongoing watch in Kabala – visiting the children’s home to make sure the bednets are in use and properly placed over the bed. James has done the same in Freetown.
Even with the bednets, Roo continues to suffer this terrible disease.
Read this article to understand the severity of malaria and the consequences from having it
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Lucy is awarded for great accomplishments at Year End School Awards Ceremony

Nazareth House Apostolate, Fr. Seraphim and I wish to extend a proud Congratulations to Lucy Jamestina Mansaray of St. Laurence House, Freetown, Sierra Leone.

The Mansaray St. Laurence House Household:
James, Kadijah with Roo, Ann Marie & Lucy

The following photos were taken by Lucy’s very proud papa, James Mansaray,beginning ceremony before awards distributed.

to document and share this wonderful accomplishment with all of us.Lucy and her classmates wait to receive awards.

Words from James: Here are pictures of Lucy’s prize for Proficiency and Excellent performance Lucy is presented with her outstanding award.

in all of her study subjects this academic year. Thanks to you all for helping us with all the school fees and moral support.The class lines up to receive awards

Wish I could mention the names of all those who are making this possible for her education, but you all know yourselves and the good God knows also. …….I am so worn out that I can’t say much. We are all so happy and thankful for all those supporting the work of Nazareth House Apostolate. Look how you are changing lives!
And more words from James from an email to Mama Vicki:

“Hey Mama,
Good morning. We woke up late this morning but it was a wonderful night rest. The event yesterday at Lucy’s school went well and we had lots of fun and joy seeing the girls doing well. Thank you very, very much for making all this possible. Had I been told fifteen years back that my daughter will go this far, I would have doubted it but with God, You and all around Nazareth House Apostolate, things are turning up fine for them and all we encounter. What a difference you guys are making, giving people a chance, giving hope… I thank God so much for that first meeting of Father Seraphim, thinking of that day he came here to pray in this sad shape Sierra Leone ……… so long ago, so much has happened.
Thank you all for acknowledging God’s nudge and reacting. He is working through you in this… it shows. God bless you all. – James.

Lucy attends the Lebanese International School in Freetown, where she is studying accounting.

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Lucy is awarded for great accomplishments at Year End School Awards Ceremony

Nazareth House Apostolate, Fr. Seraphim and I wish to extend a proud Congratulations to Lucy Jamestina Mansaray of St. Laurence House, Freetown, Sierra Leone.

The Mansaray St. Laurence House Household:
James, Kadijah with Roo, Ann Marie & Lucy

The following photos were taken by Lucy’s very proud papa, James Mansaray,beginning ceremony before awards distributed.

to document and share this wonderful accomplishment with all of us.Lucy and her classmates wait to receive awards.

Words from James: Here are pictures of Lucy’s prize for Proficiency and Excellent performance Lucy is presented with her outstanding award.

in all of her study subjects this academic year. Thanks to you all for helping us with all the school fees and moral support.The class lines up to receive awards

Wish I could mention the names of all those who are making this possible for her education, but you all know yourselves and the good God knows also. …….I am so worn out that I can’t say much. We are all so happy and thankful for all those supporting the work of Nazareth House Apostolate. Look how you are changing lives!
And more words from James from an email to Mama Vicki:

“Hey Mama,
Good morning. We woke up late this morning but it was a wonderful night rest. The event yesterday at Lucy’s school went well and we had lots of fun and joy seeing the girls doing well. Thank you very, very much for making all this possible. Had I been told fifteen years back that my daughter will go this far, I would have doubted it but with God, You and all around Nazareth House Apostolate, things are turning up fine for them and all we encounter. What a difference you guys are making, giving people a chance, giving hope… I thank God so much for that first meeting of Father Seraphim, thinking of that day he came here to pray in this sad shape Sierra Leone ……… so long ago, so much has happened.
Thank you all for acknowledging God’s nudge and reacting. He is working through you in this… it shows. God bless you all. – James.

Lucy attends the Lebanese International School in Freetown, where she is studying accounting.

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