Kabala Report from James in Freetown, Sierra Leone





Report James Mansaray: NHA Media: 28 May: Having spent four good days in the provinces, i am happy to report it all to you.
This time it was on a late Friday evening when i got a comfortable ride to Kabala. Phone lines were out so it was very difficult for me to inform Mama Vicki earlier but she finally got hold of me and we got little time texting back and forth.
I did took along few medications, some rice and building supplies to help push the school Construction. With the little money sent by Mama Vicki just a day before i left, there was enough to do all of the wall plastering and white washing as you can see on the pictures. Day by day the workers are doing their best and i guess it wont be too long to see it all done.
Saturday morning was kind of hectic. I was busy moving back and forth buying more concrete whilst Pa Foday was painting and the rest of the workers doing their part. Lunch time was the only break we had and at the end of the day, a whole portion of work was done.
Sunday they rested but i took time to do medications in some very poor and needy areas. With a blink of an eye a box full of kids pain and fever medication was all gone. I felt so guilty for not meeting all their needs so i promised the rest that more will come later. At the other end of this small village a group of kids were struggling over a little pot of left over rice in a small pot. One of them almost ate the pot licking and licking and there was nothing in it. An old lady tending to these kids said please bring us rice……..

Monday was another long day with more work done. At this point, seems as if we need more concrete to finish all the walls and floors before we think of the ceiling, doors and windows before painting is done.
More people mostly villagers just cant wait to see this done as they kept stopping every moment to say hello and thanks to the workers. Pa Foday like Fr. Hicks patient enough to answer to every question.

Even though I exhausted my self enough, i was happy to make this trip and indeed it was a successful one and the contractor said they will finish the building supplies on friday and will wait till more money comes in to finish the other parts.
Before closing this one, two issues were of interest to me. I noticed more crowded vehicles due to the recent fuel increase making it very dangerous to travel for those who cant meet a comfortable ride and the of cause mangoes taking the place of rice every where but this wont be too long before the struggle begins again.

I look forward to make another trip as soon as more money comes in to finish this school work. Thanks to you all for your relentless support so far.
God bless you all.

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Kabala Report from James in Freetown, Sierra Leone





Report James Mansaray: NHA Media: 28 May: Having spent four good days in the provinces, i am happy to report it all to you.
This time it was on a late Friday evening when i got a comfortable ride to Kabala. Phone lines were out so it was very difficult for me to inform Mama Vicki earlier but she finally got hold of me and we got little time texting back and forth.
I did took along few medications, some rice and building supplies to help push the school Construction. With the little money sent by Mama Vicki just a day before i left, there was enough to do all of the wall plastering and white washing as you can see on the pictures. Day by day the workers are doing their best and i guess it wont be too long to see it all done.
Saturday morning was kind of hectic. I was busy moving back and forth buying more concrete whilst Pa Foday was painting and the rest of the workers doing their part. Lunch time was the only break we had and at the end of the day, a whole portion of work was done.
Sunday they rested but i took time to do medications in some very poor and needy areas. With a blink of an eye a box full of kids pain and fever medication was all gone. I felt so guilty for not meeting all their needs so i promised the rest that more will come later. At the other end of this small village a group of kids were struggling over a little pot of left over rice in a small pot. One of them almost ate the pot licking and licking and there was nothing in it. An old lady tending to these kids said please bring us rice……..

Monday was another long day with more work done. At this point, seems as if we need more concrete to finish all the walls and floors before we think of the ceiling, doors and windows before painting is done.
More people mostly villagers just cant wait to see this done as they kept stopping every moment to say hello and thanks to the workers. Pa Foday like Fr. Hicks patient enough to answer to every question.

Even though I exhausted my self enough, i was happy to make this trip and indeed it was a successful one and the contractor said they will finish the building supplies on friday and will wait till more money comes in to finish the other parts.
Before closing this one, two issues were of interest to me. I noticed more crowded vehicles due to the recent fuel increase making it very dangerous to travel for those who cant meet a comfortable ride and the of cause mangoes taking the place of rice every where but this wont be too long before the struggle begins again.

I look forward to make another trip as soon as more money comes in to finish this school work. Thanks to you all for your relentless support so far.
God bless you all.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Mangoes & Rice: A Report from James in Freetown



Imported rice from Thailand namely Parboiled, Triple AAA and Bella Rosa to name but these three has taken a toll in the markets making it very difficult for the ordinary man to meet a whole bag, instead some go for the half bag which is 25 kg and majority do with the one cup service which is meeting what you can afford for a day and then leave the following day to fend for itself.

For some, especially up in the provinces, a mixture of rice and Bulgur (some kind of brown wheat also imported) which is usually being used to feed pigs, is being blended together to make a perfect family dinner.

The other day, i sat together with a group of fellow photographers at the Sun Colour Photo Studio down Sanders Street and I noticed several push carts carrying bags of rice, old and young men sweating and forcing more rice with their wheelbarrows. Printed on one of the rice bags was USAID,followed by a small writing at the bottom – A GIFT FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. These lines throw lots of question to us and we started debating about it. The argument was, was this sent to us as a gift when people we are paying for it? This remained unanswered.

Let’s say, where man fails to come to our rescue, God is always there to help. The months April and May has been good indeed bringing forth more mangoes to help combat the hungry homes. It was said years back that people in Freetown only eat mangoes to balance their diets but my pictures are saying the opposite. More homes are making better use of it including St. Laurence House forgetting this diet balance thing and using mango as a way to ward off hunger.

In Kabala, it is very difficult to tell whether mangoes should be eaten at a certain time because people sleep, wake and dine with it twenty four hours a day.

My fear is what will people do when all this mango season celebration will be done in a months’ time and the rice prices still the same or worst?

Posted in bulgar, Hunger, Lazarus Sierra Leone Nazareth house freetown salone Outreach, mango, rice | Leave a comment

Mangoes & Rice: A Report from James in Freetown



Imported rice from Thailand namely Parboiled, Triple AAA and Bella Rosa to name but these three has taken a toll in the markets making it very difficult for the ordinary man to meet a whole bag, instead some go for the half bag which is 25 kg and majority do with the one cup service which is meeting what you can afford for a day and then leave the following day to fend for itself.

For some, especially up in the provinces, a mixture of rice and Bulgur (some kind of brown wheat also imported) which is usually being used to feed pigs, is being blended together to make a perfect family dinner.

The other day, i sat together with a group of fellow photographers at the Sun Colour Photo Studio down Sanders Street and I noticed several push carts carrying bags of rice, old and young men sweating and forcing more rice with their wheelbarrows. Printed on one of the rice bags was USAID,followed by a small writing at the bottom – A GIFT FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. These lines throw lots of question to us and we started debating about it. The argument was, was this sent to us as a gift when people we are paying for it? This remained unanswered.

Let’s say, where man fails to come to our rescue, God is always there to help. The months April and May has been good indeed bringing forth more mangoes to help combat the hungry homes. It was said years back that people in Freetown only eat mangoes to balance their diets but my pictures are saying the opposite. More homes are making better use of it including St. Laurence House forgetting this diet balance thing and using mango as a way to ward off hunger.

In Kabala, it is very difficult to tell whether mangoes should be eaten at a certain time because people sleep, wake and dine with it twenty four hours a day.

My fear is what will people do when all this mango season celebration will be done in a months’ time and the rice prices still the same or worst?

Posted in bulgar, Hunger, Lazarus Sierra Leone Nazareth house freetown salone Outreach, mango, rice | Leave a comment

Nazareth House Kabala School



By the bare hands of the workers in Kabala, the Nazareth House School is nearing completion.

Please look for more pictures, more news, and more information from our staff in Sierra Leone on this blog and the photo albums of our website in the next several days.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Nazareth House Kabala School



By the bare hands of the workers in Kabala, the Nazareth House School is nearing completion.

Please look for more pictures, more news, and more information from our staff in Sierra Leone on this blog and the photo albums of our website in the next several days.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Family Dinners in Kabala, Sierra Leone

 

 

 

 
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“The gratitude of the recipient stimulates the donor to gifts greater than before.” – second Discourse #1

Nazareth House Apostolate is doing a lot with very little, if you haven’t given lately, please consider doing so TODAY. The need is great.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Family Dinners in Kabala, Sierra Leone

 

 

 

 
Posted by Picasa

“The gratitude of the recipient stimulates the donor to gifts greater than before.” – second Discourse #1

Nazareth House Apostolate is doing a lot with very little, if you haven’t given lately, please consider doing so TODAY. The need is great.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Nazareth House Kabala School



By the bare hands of the workers in Kabala, the Nazareth House School is nearing completion.

Please look for more pictures, more news, and more information from our staff in Sierra Leone on this blog and the photo albums of our website in the next several days.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Nazareth House Kabala School



By the bare hands of the workers in Kabala, the Nazareth House School is nearing completion.

Please look for more pictures, more news, and more information from our staff in Sierra Leone on this blog and the photo albums of our website in the next several days.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment