Nazareth House Apostolate

After over twenty-six hours of landing and take-offs, flying in air, airports & layovers, we finally touch down in Lungi. If you have ever been through the Sierra Leone Lungi Airport, you know the craziness just begins upon deplaning.

It is always the part of the adventure that we dread the most FNA – Freetown National Airport, Lungi, Sierra Leone. As the plane taxied to the “gate” (what gate?), I called James who should have been waiting for us outside the airport. It turned out that James was just arriving from the Ferry that crosses the bay from Freetown to Lungi. He had been waiting (car loaded) for the Ferry to take off since 11 AM that morning, finally some 8 hours later, it made its journey just as we were landing. Still having to drive from the Ferry to the airport, James quickly called his cousin, Captain Brima Koroma to meet us. As we enter the line to go through customs, Captain Brima yells “Mama Vicki” and quickly takes charge to expedite our entry into Sierra Leone. Stunned by the speedy process we’ve just encountered, we find ourselves standing in the parking lot, baggage in tow, waiting for James to arrive from the Ferry. It was unbelievable to breeze through FNA in a matter of 15 minutes.

Thank you Captain Brima! Fr. Seraphim and I will always be in awe of your professional, commanding spirit and tremendous capabilities. We love you and miss you! Our prayers will be always with you as you serve your country.

The next day after Brima escorted us through the Airport, James received a call from him informing us he had just been promoted to Captain! Congratulations, Captain Brima. His post now places him in charge over the recent problem of “night carpenters” aka armed robberies that have plaqued Freetown in recent months.

Soon we see James in the little red car we are so thankful to rent from Sanu. Loaded up and ready to depart the airport, our next challenge is Freetown. It didn’t seem the helicopter was flying anytime soon and the thought of taking the Ferry at night was too frightening. We considered grabbing a hotel room in Lungi and making the journey in the morning, but James insisted that after waiting all day to take the Ferry he was not in the mood to waste another day waiting for the ferry to go the next day. Therefore, we decided to cross at night.

Having had a ferry full of people recently sink in Sierra Leone with no rescue operations per se in planning… I was very leery! Father Seraphim was willing to go for it, “You can’t scare me with heaven…”; James was more than ready to try it, so I consented.

You see, even in the daytime, the looks of the Ferry tend to raise the hair on your back, but a night time voyage… Oh my….A little wait in line to board the ferry and we finally drive onto it. Here we go. Immediately, as Fr. Seraphim takes a seat up on the upper deck, people begin to question him about his prayer beads. As he explains, more and more are interested. As we arrive at the port, I look out at a anchored boat, floating nearby…it is my first sight in Freetown… Written on the boat are the words,

“BELIEVE IN GOD”, what a beautiful welcome! Hello Freetown! The journey begins…

After over twenty-six hours of landing and take-offs, flying in air, airports & layovers, we finally touch down in Lungi. If you have ever been through the Sierra Leone Lungi Airport, you know the craziness just begins upon deplaning.

It is always the part of the adventure that we dread the most FNA – Freetown National Airport, Lungi, Sierra Leone. As the plane taxied to the “gate” (what gate?), I called James who should have been waiting for us outside the airport. It turned out that James was just arriving from the Ferry that crosses the bay from Freetown to Lungi. He had been waiting (car loaded) for the Ferry to take off since 11 AM that morning, finally some 8 hours later, it made its journey just as we were landing. Still having to drive from the Ferry to the airport, James quickly called his cousin, Captain Brima Koroma to meet us. As we enter the line to go through customs, Captain Brima yells “Mama Vicki” and quickly takes charge to expedite our entry into Sierra Leone. Stunned by the speedy process we’ve just encountered, we find ourselves standing in the parking lot, baggage in tow, waiting for James to arrive from the Ferry. It was unbelievable to breeze through FNA in a matter of 15 minutes.

Thank you Captain Brima! Fr. Seraphim and I will always be in awe of your professional, commanding spirit and tremendous capabilities. We love you and miss you! Our prayers will be always with you as you serve your country.

The next day after Brima escorted us through the Airport, James received a call from him informing us he had just been promoted to Captain! Congratulations, Captain Brima. His post now places him in charge over the recent problem of “night carpenters” aka armed robberies that have plaqued Freetown in recent months.

Soon we see James in the little red car we are so thankful to rent from Sanu. Loaded up and ready to depart the airport, our next challenge is Freetown. It didn’t seem the helicopter was flying anytime soon and the thought of taking the Ferry at night was too frightening. We considered grabbing a hotel room in Lungi and making the journey in the morning, but James insisted that after waiting all day to take the Ferry he was not in the mood to waste another day waiting for the ferry to go the next day. Therefore, we decided to cross at night.

Having had a ferry full of people recently sink in Sierra Leone with no rescue operations per se in planning… I was very leery! Father Seraphim was willing to go for it, “You can’t scare me with heaven…”; James was more than ready to try it, so I consented.

You see, even in the daytime, the looks of the Ferry tend to raise the hair on your back, but a night time voyage… Oh my….A little wait in line to board the ferry and we finally drive onto it. Here we go. Immediately, as Fr. Seraphim takes a seat up on the upper deck, people begin to question him about his prayer beads. As he explains, more and more are interested. As we arrive at the port, I look out at a anchored boat, floating nearby…it is my first sight in Freetown… Written on the boat are the words,

“BELIEVE IN GOD”, what a beautiful welcome! Hello Freetown! The journey begins…

After over twenty-six hours of landing and take-offs, flying in air, airports & layovers, we finally touch down in Lungi. If you have ever been through the Sierra Leone Lungi Airport, you know the craziness just begins upon deplaning.

It is always the part of the adventure that we dread the most FNA – Freetown National Airport, Lungi, Sierra Leone. As the plane taxied to the “gate” (what gate?), I called James who should have been waiting for us outside the airport. It turned out that James was just arriving from the Ferry that crosses the bay from Freetown to Lungi. He had been waiting (car loaded) for the Ferry to take off since 11 AM that morning, finally some 8 hours later, it made its journey just as we were landing. Still having to drive from the Ferry to the airport, James quickly called his cousin, Captain Brima Koroma to meet us. As we enter the line to go through customs, Captain Brima yells “Mama Vicki” and quickly takes charge to expedite our entry into Sierra Leone. Stunned by the speedy process we’ve just encountered, we find ourselves standing in the parking lot, baggage in tow, waiting for James to arrive from the Ferry. It was unbelievable to breeze through FNA in a matter of 15 minutes.

Thank you Captain Brima! Fr. Seraphim and I will always be in awe of your professional, commanding spirit and tremendous capabilities. We love you and miss you! Our prayers will be always with you as you serve your country.

The next day after Brima escorted us through the Airport, James received a call from him informing us he had just been promoted to Captain! Congratulations, Captain Brima. His post now places him in charge over the recent problem of “night carpenters” aka armed robberies that have plaqued Freetown in recent months.

Soon we see James in the little red car we are so thankful to rent from Sanu. Loaded up and ready to depart the airport, our next challenge is Freetown. It didn’t seem the helicopter was flying anytime soon and the thought of taking the Ferry at night was too frightening. We considered grabbing a hotel room in Lungi and making the journey in the morning, but James insisted that after waiting all day to take the Ferry he was not in the mood to waste another day waiting for the ferry to go the next day. Therefore, we decided to cross at night.

Having had a ferry full of people recently sink in Sierra Leone with no rescue operations per se in planning… I was very leery! Father Seraphim was willing to go for it, “You can’t scare me with heaven…”; James was more than ready to try it, so I consented.

You see, even in the daytime, the looks of the Ferry tend to raise the hair on your back, but a night time voyage… Oh my….A little wait in line to board the ferry and we finally drive onto it. Here we go. Immediately, as Fr. Seraphim takes a seat up on the upper deck, people begin to question him about his prayer beads. As he explains, more and more are interested. As we arrive at the port, I look out at a anchored boat, floating nearby…it is my first sight in Freetown… Written on the boat are the words,

“BELIEVE IN GOD”, what a beautiful welcome! Hello Freetown! The journey begins…

Geez, its hard to believe we’ve been back in the States now for six days. Seems a bit more difficult this time to “re-enter” into the life around me here. Fr. Seraphim is battling malaria, we are both battling missing everyone in Salone. Our time there always goes so quick, so many to see, so much to do, so little time.

This trip began as usual with us lugging 4 suitcases crammed full of supplies & medications to the airport plus our carry on luggage. Flying over there always has some degree of frustrations, but I have to say that this year, the struggle was at a minimum. Upon arriving at the airport, we were offered an earlier flight to Chicago and in no time at all, we were up in air, on our way. The journey had begun. All of our bags weighed in under limit and were checked all the way to Freetown. No hassles, no over limit fees!

The flights are long and tiring. At one point, I fell asleep with my banana laying on my seat tray. As I wake up I see that the banana has a face and greets me. (Bananas are my favorite because they have appeal and they are boneless).

I love traveling with Fr. Seraphim, it makes the task, whatever it might be, bearable.

It is a comfort to know that the beads are always clicking, prayer after prayer …

Knowing of Fr. Seraphim’s deep desire to return to the desert, I noticed the intensity in which he peered out over the Sahara Desert as we flew over.

click, click, click…

During long spans of time on a plane, you find its the little things that make it better…

I spread my “little things” on my seat tray for easy access, they comfort me…fill in the time… Mr. Bean on an ipod, a Bloody Mary, a notebook…

…and then I look over on Fr. Seraphim’s flight tray and see his little things….

A copy of the Gospels, his prayer beads, and journal…

….its the little things that make all the difference. This trip proved its all about the little things. Little smiles, little hugs, loving little by little, village by village, life by life. God does BIG with little. Thank you all for the success of this mission. Stay tuned to this blog often… you’ll see the little things, the little things that are the reason for Nazareth House – our journey – yours, mine, it belongs to us all.

Geez, its hard to believe we’ve been back in the States now for six days. Seems a bit more difficult this time to “re-enter” into the life around me here. Fr. Seraphim is battling malaria, we are both battling missing everyone in Salone. Our time there always goes so quick, so many to see, so much to do, so little time.

This trip began as usual with us lugging 4 suitcases crammed full of supplies & medications to the airport plus our carry on luggage. Flying over there always has some degree of frustrations, but I have to say that this year, the struggle was at a minimum. Upon arriving at the airport, we were offered an earlier flight to Chicago and in no time at all, we were up in air, on our way. The journey had begun. All of our bags weighed in under limit and were checked all the way to Freetown. No hassles, no over limit fees!

The flights are long and tiring. At one point, I fell asleep with my banana laying on my seat tray. As I wake up I see that the banana has a face and greets me. (Bananas are my favorite because they have appeal and they are boneless).

I love traveling with Fr. Seraphim, it makes the task, whatever it might be, bearable.

It is a comfort to know that the beads are always clicking, prayer after prayer …

Knowing of Fr. Seraphim’s deep desire to return to the desert, I noticed the intensity in which he peered out over the Sahara Desert as we flew over.

click, click, click…

During long spans of time on a plane, you find its the little things that make it better…

I spread my “little things” on my seat tray for easy access, they comfort me…fill in the time… Mr. Bean on an ipod, a Bloody Mary, a notebook…

…and then I look over on Fr. Seraphim’s flight tray and see his little things….

A copy of the Gospels, his prayer beads, and journal…

….its the little things that make all the difference. This trip proved its all about the little things. Little smiles, little hugs, loving little by little, village by village, life by life. God does BIG with little. Thank you all for the success of this mission. Stay tuned to this blog often… you’ll see the little things, the little things that are the reason for Nazareth House – our journey – yours, mine, it belongs to us all.

Geez, its hard to believe we’ve been back in the States now for six days. Seems a bit more difficult this time to “re-enter” into the life around me here. Fr. Seraphim is battling malaria, we are both battling missing everyone in Salone. Our time there always goes so quick, so many to see, so much to do, so little time.

This trip began as usual with us lugging 4 suitcases crammed full of supplies & medications to the airport plus our carry on luggage. Flying over there always has some degree of frustrations, but I have to say that this year, the struggle was at a minimum. Upon arriving at the airport, we were offered an earlier flight to Chicago and in no time at all, we were up in air, on our way. The journey had begun. All of our bags weighed in under limit and were checked all the way to Freetown. No hassles, no over limit fees!

The flights are long and tiring. At one point, I fell asleep with my banana laying on my seat tray. As I wake up I see that the banana has a face and greets me. (Bananas are my favorite because they have appeal and they are boneless).

I love traveling with Fr. Seraphim, it makes the task, whatever it might be, bearable.

It is a comfort to know that the beads are always clicking, prayer after prayer …

Knowing of Fr. Seraphim’s deep desire to return to the desert, I noticed the intensity in which he peered out over the Sahara Desert as we flew over.

click, click, click…

During long spans of time on a plane, you find its the little things that make it better…

I spread my “little things” on my seat tray for easy access, they comfort me…fill in the time… Mr. Bean on an ipod, a Bloody Mary, a notebook…

…and then I look over on Fr. Seraphim’s flight tray and see his little things….

A copy of the Gospels, his prayer beads, and journal…

….its the little things that make all the difference. This trip proved its all about the little things. Little smiles, little hugs, loving little by little, village by village, life by life. God does BIG with little. Thank you all for the success of this mission. Stay tuned to this blog often… you’ll see the little things, the little things that are the reason for Nazareth House – our journey – yours, mine, it belongs to us all.

Nurse Adama and her staff were very happy at the Kroo Bay Clinic to receive our much needed supplies. I still can't understand with all the publicity Kroo Bay's plight gets, why they continue to inform us that we are the only ones bringing in the medical supplies most needed. They again said. "We need everything". From my investigation of the place, they most certainly do!

Nurse Adama and her staff were very happy at the Kroo Bay Clinic to receive our much needed supplies. I still can't understand with all the publicity Kroo Bay's plight gets, why they continue to inform us that we are the only ones bringing in the medical supplies most needed. They again said. "We need everything". From my investigation of the place, they most certainly do!

Nurse Adama and her staff were very happy at the Kroo Bay Clinic to receive our much needed supplies. I still can't understand with all the publicity Kroo Bay's plight gets, why they continue to inform us that we are the only ones bringing in the medical supplies most needed. They again said. "We need everything". From my investigation of the place, they most certainly do!

We beginning a new day in Freetown. Rained all night but seems to have stopped for morning rush. Girls & Roo preparing for school. We are loading supplies for Kroo Bay.