Nazareth House Apostolate

A few months back, James called me to tell me that our students’ parents were very concerned about our uniforms at the NHA School.

The original NHA Kabala School Uniforms.

As adorable as they were, they were not practical and were causing some problems to the families.

James and Kadijah tye-dying the original NHA Kabala School Uniforms.

The tye-dye was a unique and cute idea, but not wash and wear. The uniforms required ironing and at every laundry the uniforms bled more and more. When the students sweated, the dye ran. In washing, the dye ran. The uniforms quickly became tattered, faded and not up to the standards of our school. Because NHA provides the uniforms at no expense to the parents, being dressed neat and properly is one of the requirements. The children have been wearing them now for a few year.

Considering the expense of our upcoming mission trip to Sierra Leone, the worm medication and other needs, I explained to James that at this time, there is nothing we can do. It is difficult to collect for the trip right now, “there is no way to raise money for uniforms, too.” This I said a few months ago.

James went to Kadijah and voiced his concern over the uniforms. He knows well the struggles NHA has in making our monthly budget, let alone additional needs such as uniforms. Kadijah and James discussed it and decided that they would cut back on their expenses (which are bare bones to begin with) by fasting and eating less, cutting corners wherever they found a corner to cut. And James began taking on more and more photography jobs as Kadijah filled in on the humanitarian aid distribution while James was working.James was lucky. It is not easy to make money as a photographer. Most people have little to pay you and those that have money can be stingy and pay you very little. So James simply took on an overload of work. Timing was perfect, he was able to raise a little money, enough to buy the material for the uniforms.

Together with the savings from the sacrifices they made and with James picture money they raised enough to see the children at the NHA Kabala School start the new school year in new uniforms. (I want to clarify, James and Kadijah have a very trim budget in which they manage. They operate St. Laurence House for a month on less than an American making minimum wage makes in ONE day!)

They did all of this without telling me. They knew that I would insist that they must eat properly so that they are fit to do the work – Work that demands very much out of them, including the risks of being around disease.

To my surprise I find the following photographs in my inbox. I ask James “where did you get the money?” …and then he confessed.

I have expressed to many of you that I have been concerned that James looks thinner and I have been worried. This noble sacrifice for the students is so typical of the Mansaray family! I am very appreciative, but I am publicly announcing to James “Eat, son EAT!” The uniforms are done, you did well. NOW take care of yourself and your family. Without you guys, Nazareth House has no one to be there in the midst of the poorest of the poor in Sierra Leone.

Seeing the sacrifices of James and his family, they literally gave up food and everything to provide for those without.

By American standards, James and Kadijah are themselves, way below poverty level. What they have done for the students of Kabala is indeed remarkable.

I hope this extreme sacrifice will not go in vain, I hope it stimulates those of us who have so much more to give to those with so little. We don’t have to give up meals and take on extra jobs (although it wouldn’t be the end of us if we did) like the Mansaray’s did, but we can scrape a few extra dollars and send it to NHA so that we might at least provide one meal for someone who has none.

A few months back, James called me to tell me that our students’ parents were very concerned about our uniforms at the NHA School.

The original NHA Kabala School Uniforms.

As adorable as they were, they were not practical and were causing some problems to the families.

James and Kadijah tye-dying the original NHA Kabala School Uniforms.

The tye-dye was a unique and cute idea, but not wash and wear. The uniforms required ironing and at every laundry the uniforms bled more and more. When the students sweated, the dye ran. In washing, the dye ran. The uniforms quickly became tattered, faded and not up to the standards of our school. Because NHA provides the uniforms at no expense to the parents, being dressed neat and properly is one of the requirements. The children have been wearing them now for a few year.

Considering the expense of our upcoming mission trip to Sierra Leone, the worm medication and other needs, I explained to James that at this time, there is nothing we can do. It is difficult to collect for the trip right now, “there is no way to raise money for uniforms, too.” This I said a few months ago.

James went to Kadijah and voiced his concern over the uniforms. He knows well the struggles NHA has in making our monthly budget, let alone additional needs such as uniforms. Kadijah and James discussed it and decided that they would cut back on their expenses (which are bare bones to begin with) by fasting and eating less, cutting corners wherever they found a corner to cut. And James began taking on more and more photography jobs as Kadijah filled in on the humanitarian aid distribution while James was working.James was lucky. It is not easy to make money as a photographer. Most people have little to pay you and those that have money can be stingy and pay you very little. So James simply took on an overload of work. Timing was perfect, he was able to raise a little money, enough to buy the material for the uniforms.

Together with the savings from the sacrifices they made and with James picture money they raised enough to see the children at the NHA Kabala School start the new school year in new uniforms. (I want to clarify, James and Kadijah have a very trim budget in which they manage. They operate St. Laurence House for a month on less than an American making minimum wage makes in ONE day!)

They did all of this without telling me. They knew that I would insist that they must eat properly so that they are fit to do the work – Work that demands very much out of them, including the risks of being around disease.

To my surprise I find the following photographs in my inbox. I ask James “where did you get the money?” …and then he confessed.

I have expressed to many of you that I have been concerned that James looks thinner and I have been worried. This noble sacrifice for the students is so typical of the Mansaray family! I am very appreciative, but I am publicly announcing to James “Eat, son EAT!” The uniforms are done, you did well. NOW take care of yourself and your family. Without you guys, Nazareth House has no one to be there in the midst of the poorest of the poor in Sierra Leone.

Seeing the sacrifices of James and his family, they literally gave up food and everything to provide for those without.

By American standards, James and Kadijah are themselves, way below poverty level. What they have done for the students of Kabala is indeed remarkable.

I hope this extreme sacrifice will not go in vain, I hope it stimulates those of us who have so much more to give to those with so little. We don’t have to give up meals and take on extra jobs (although it wouldn’t be the end of us if we did) like the Mansaray’s did, but we can scrape a few extra dollars and send it to NHA so that we might at least provide one meal for someone who has none.

A few months back, James called me to tell me that our students’ parents were very concerned about our uniforms at the NHA School.

The original NHA Kabala School Uniforms.

As adorable as they were, they were not practical and were causing some problems to the families.

James and Kadijah tye-dying the original NHA Kabala School Uniforms.

The tye-dye was a unique and cute idea, but not wash and wear. The uniforms required ironing and at every laundry the uniforms bled more and more. When the students sweated, the dye ran. In washing, the dye ran. The uniforms quickly became tattered, faded and not up to the standards of our school. Because NHA provides the uniforms at no expense to the parents, being dressed neat and properly is one of the requirements. The children have been wearing them now for a few year.

Considering the expense of our upcoming mission trip to Sierra Leone, the worm medication and other needs, I explained to James that at this time, there is nothing we can do. It is difficult to collect for the trip right now, “there is no way to raise money for uniforms, too.” This I said a few months ago.

James went to Kadijah and voiced his concern over the uniforms. He knows well the struggles NHA has in making our monthly budget, let alone additional needs such as uniforms. Kadijah and James discussed it and decided that they would cut back on their expenses (which are bare bones to begin with) by fasting and eating less, cutting corners wherever they found a corner to cut. And James began taking on more and more photography jobs as Kadijah filled in on the humanitarian aid distribution while James was working.James was lucky. It is not easy to make money as a photographer. Most people have little to pay you and those that have money can be stingy and pay you very little. So James simply took on an overload of work. Timing was perfect, he was able to raise a little money, enough to buy the material for the uniforms.

Together with the savings from the sacrifices they made and with James picture money they raised enough to see the children at the NHA Kabala School start the new school year in new uniforms. (I want to clarify, James and Kadijah have a very trim budget in which they manage. They operate St. Laurence House for a month on less than an American making minimum wage makes in ONE day!)

They did all of this without telling me. They knew that I would insist that they must eat properly so that they are fit to do the work – Work that demands very much out of them, including the risks of being around disease.

To my surprise I find the following photographs in my inbox. I ask James “where did you get the money?” …and then he confessed.

I have expressed to many of you that I have been concerned that James looks thinner and I have been worried. This noble sacrifice for the students is so typical of the Mansaray family! I am very appreciative, but I am publicly announcing to James “Eat, son EAT!” The uniforms are done, you did well. NOW take care of yourself and your family. Without you guys, Nazareth House has no one to be there in the midst of the poorest of the poor in Sierra Leone.

Seeing the sacrifices of James and his family, they literally gave up food and everything to provide for those without.

By American standards, James and Kadijah are themselves, way below poverty level. What they have done for the students of Kabala is indeed remarkable.

I hope this extreme sacrifice will not go in vain, I hope it stimulates those of us who have so much more to give to those with so little. We don’t have to give up meals and take on extra jobs (although it wouldn’t be the end of us if we did) like the Mansaray’s did, but we can scrape a few extra dollars and send it to NHA so that we might at least provide one meal for someone who has none.

Last year the October 12th post on this blog read: “Sad news, another child lost…“. Salu and Kadiatu had experience yet another loss of a child. A few short years before, they lost Isha, their oldest daughter. Then last year they lost their daughter in the womb because a c-section wasn’t performed in time.A year later, Nazareth House is ecstatically happy to announce the successful birth of BABY GIRL Bangura. Praise be to God! What a beautiful event and the smile on the proud mama’s face says it all. Well done, Kadiatu, Congratulations. We love you!James and Kadijah went immediately to the hospital.Kadijah happily tending to the baby as Kadiatu recovers from labor.Big Sister, Salma has been praying so hard for baby to arrive alright!It is so wonderful to see Salu and the whole family smiling on this joyous day.On behalf of Salu, Kadiatu, Salma and baby Bangura – as well as all of us at Nazareth House Apostolate, thank you for your prayers. Thanks be to God.

Last year the October 12th post on this blog read: “Sad news, another child lost…“. Salu and Kadiatu had experience yet another loss of a child. A few short years before, they lost Isha, their oldest daughter. Then last year they lost their daughter in the womb because a c-section wasn’t performed in time.

A year later, Nazareth House is ecstatically happy to announce the successful birth of BABY GIRL Bangura. Praise be to God!
What a beautiful event and the smile on the proud mama’s face says it all.
Well done, Kadiatu, Congratulations. We love you!

James and Kadijah went immediately to the hospital.

Kadijah happily tending to the baby as Kadiatu recovers from labor.

Big Sister, Salma has been praying so hard for baby to arrive alright!

It is so wonderful to see Salu and the whole family smiling on this joyous day.

On behalf of Salu, Kadiatu, Salma and baby Bangura – as well as all of us at Nazareth House Apostolate, thank you for your prayers. Thanks be to God.

Last year the October 12th post on this blog read: “Sad news, another child lost…“. Salu and Kadiatu had experience yet another loss of a child. A few short years before, they lost Isha, their oldest daughter. Then last year they lost their daughter in the womb because a c-section wasn’t performed in time.

A year later, Nazareth House is ecstatically happy to announce the successful birth of BABY GIRL Bangura. Praise be to God!
What a beautiful event and the smile on the proud mama’s face says it all.
Well done, Kadiatu, Congratulations. We love you!

James and Kadijah went immediately to the hospital.

Kadijah happily tending to the baby as Kadiatu recovers from labor.

Big Sister, Salma has been praying so hard for baby to arrive alright!

It is so wonderful to see Salu and the whole family smiling on this joyous day.

On behalf of Salu, Kadiatu, Salma and baby Bangura – as well as all of us at Nazareth House Apostolate, thank you for your prayers. Thanks be to God.

Last year the October 12th post on this blog read: “Sad news, another child lost…“. Salu and Kadiatu had experience yet another loss of a child. A few short years before, they lost Isha, their oldest daughter. Then last year they lost their daughter in the womb because a c-section wasn’t performed in time.

A year later, Nazareth House is ecstatically happy to announce the successful birth of BABY GIRL Bangura. Praise be to God!
What a beautiful event and the smile on the proud mama’s face says it all.
Well done, Kadiatu, Congratulations. We love you!

James and Kadijah went immediately to the hospital.

Kadijah happily tending to the baby as Kadiatu recovers from labor.

Big Sister, Salma has been praying so hard for baby to arrive alright!

It is so wonderful to see Salu and the whole family smiling on this joyous day.

On behalf of Salu, Kadiatu, Salma and baby Bangura – as well as all of us at Nazareth House Apostolate, thank you for your prayers. Thanks be to God.

Remember a few blog posts past, when Roo, in the above photo, showed us the supplies that he and his dad, James, bought for our school in Kabala?

WELL…

All of those items have now been successfully delivered. James and Kadijah with the whole St. Laurence Family from Freetown journeyed to Kabala last weekend to deliver the school supplies.They were received by Mako, Pastor Foday and the teachers. Roo is extremely excited to be able to present the gifts. Kadijah helps sort the items out on the table. We are very grateful to James and Kadijah and the whole family for tirelessly doing the work of Nazareth House. It is one thing for us to raise the money, get supplies and get it to James. Its another story once it leaves our hands. After it arrives in Freetown, this family does all the work. Buying the rice, the supplies, paying the medical fees, paying the school fees, tending to the sick, traveling on the regular trips to bring the the needs and supplies from Freetown to Kabala (a long tedious journey), distributing rice and needs to the villagers along the way, plus all the other work they do daily for us.You work very hard Mansaray Family and NHA appreciates it very much. Thank you.

Nazareth House loves you all!James, KadijahLucy & Ann Marieand of course,lil ROOGod bless you and thank you!

Remember a few blog posts past, when Roo, in the above photo, showed us the supplies that he and his dad, James, bought for our school in Kabala?

Remember a few blog posts past, when Roo, in the above photo, showed us the supplies that he and his dad, James, bought for our school in Kabala?