Prayer Request

Posted on June 13, 2010 by vicki

Its after 11:00 PM in Sierra Leone. Its been a long day, it will be a long night. Once again circumstances are such that I am reminded (“reminded” seems too benign a word, more like pierced in the heart) with the pressing needs and work of Nazareth House in Sierra Leone.

Here I sit at the computer in America, while Kadijah is drifting in and out of consciousness in a hospital in Freetown. James, her beloved husband, next to her, is fighting sleep to stay awake to swat the mosquitoes that are heavily invading the small, dingy space they occupy in the medical facility. Malaria is the number one threat to their existence; and here they sit in a hospital – no bednets, no bug spray, swatting mosquitoes. As if that isn’t troubling enough, the hospital staff has went home for the night. I picture James and Kadijah sitting there, alone and I cringe. I wish I could be there with them, it is very difficult to be an ocean away.
James has had no food since this morning, there is no “food service” in the hospitals – not for the patients, much less their families. Thank God, sweet Lucy brought James some rice late tonight so that he could eat something. I think of the patients who have no relatives close by. They are sick, scared …what do they do for food? I know well, that James and Kadijah have brought strangers food in the hospital, I pray others will care for the strangers while James and Kadijah are indisposed.

Kadijah has suffered malaria, typhoid and apectic ulcer, all within the last 10 days. She was on the mend when the ulcer presented itself with great pain this week. The medicine prescribed by the doctor apparently was bad. Pharmacist don’t have the degrees and scrutiny that we have in America. There are little to no regulations. When you take medication from a pharmacists, you take your chances.

One of the desires of NHA is to help supply hospitals with adequate and quality equipment to give patients the proper treatment.

This is part of the urgency of the Compound. There are many things we cannot proceed further with until we have established a permanent residency. Owning property gives you certain rights. Once the Compound is completed we can move forward with many of our projects.

Dear brother and sisters, the Nazareth House family – you, me, James & Kadijah, Mako, Sanu, Betsy, Emmanuel, Pa Foday- all of those we serve in Sierra Leone and all of those who make up the US extension of NHA- have made such a huge difference in so many lives, may we pull together and prepare to make possible for many more of those struggling to exist to reach their full potential. May we provide for them to not simply exist but to live their lives to the fullest.

God bless you for all that you do and will do through Nazareth House Apostolate.
Nazareth House depends entirely on GOD
as HE expresses Himself
through YOUR
prayers,
compassion and generosity.

Matthew 25:35-40 (The Message)

34-36“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:
I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’

37-40“Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’

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Prayer Request

Posted on June 13, 2010 by vicki

Its after 11:00 PM in Sierra Leone. Its been a long day, it will be a long night. Once again circumstances are such that I am reminded (“reminded” seems too benign a word, more like pierced in the heart) with the pressing needs and work of Nazareth House in Sierra Leone.

Here I sit at the computer in America, while Kadijah is drifting in and out of consciousness in a hospital in Freetown. James, her beloved husband, next to her, is fighting sleep to stay awake to swat the mosquitoes that are heavily invading the small, dingy space they occupy in the medical facility. Malaria is the number one threat to their existence; and here they sit in a hospital – no bednets, no bug spray, swatting mosquitoes. As if that isn’t troubling enough, the hospital staff has went home for the night. I picture James and Kadijah sitting there, alone and I cringe. I wish I could be there with them, it is very difficult to be an ocean away.
James has had no food since this morning, there is no “food service” in the hospitals – not for the patients, much less their families. Thank God, sweet Lucy brought James some rice late tonight so that he could eat something. I think of the patients who have no relatives close by. They are sick, scared …what do they do for food? I know well, that James and Kadijah have brought strangers food in the hospital, I pray others will care for the strangers while James and Kadijah are indisposed.

Kadijah has suffered malaria, typhoid and apectic ulcer, all within the last 10 days. She was on the mend when the ulcer presented itself with great pain this week. The medicine prescribed by the doctor apparently was bad. Pharmacist don’t have the degrees and scrutiny that we have in America. There are little to no regulations. When you take medication from a pharmacists, you take your chances.

One of the desires of NHA is to help supply hospitals with adequate and quality equipment to give patients the proper treatment.

This is part of the urgency of the Compound. There are many things we cannot proceed further with until we have established a permanent residency. Owning property gives you certain rights. Once the Compound is completed we can move forward with many of our projects.

Dear brother and sisters, the Nazareth House family – you, me, James & Kadijah, Mako, Sanu, Betsy, Emmanuel, Pa Foday- all of those we serve in Sierra Leone and all of those who make up the US extension of NHA- have made such a huge difference in so many lives, may we pull together and prepare to make possible for many more of those struggling to exist to reach their full potential. May we provide for them to not simply exist but to live their lives to the fullest.

God bless you for all that you do and will do through Nazareth House Apostolate.
Nazareth House depends entirely on GOD
as HE expresses Himself
through YOUR
prayers,
compassion and generosity.

Matthew 25:35-40 (The Message)

34-36“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:
I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’

37-40“Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Prayer Request

Posted on June 13, 2010 by vicki

Its after 11:00 PM in Sierra Leone. Its been a long day, it will be a long night. Once again circumstances are such that I am reminded (“reminded” seems too benign a word, more like pierced in the heart) with the pressing needs and work of Nazareth House in Sierra Leone.

Here I sit at the computer in America, while Kadijah is drifting in and out of consciousness in a hospital in Freetown. James, her beloved husband, next to her, is fighting sleep to stay awake to swat the mosquitoes that are heavily invading the small, dingy space they occupy in the medical facility. Malaria is the number one threat to their existence; and here they sit in a hospital – no bednets, no bug spray, swatting mosquitoes. As if that isn’t troubling enough, the hospital staff has went home for the night. I picture James and Kadijah sitting there, alone and I cringe. I wish I could be there with them, it is very difficult to be an ocean away.
James has had no food since this morning, there is no “food service” in the hospitals – not for the patients, much less their families. Thank God, sweet Lucy brought James some rice late tonight so that he could eat something. I think of the patients who have no relatives close by. They are sick, scared …what do they do for food? I know well, that James and Kadijah have brought strangers food in the hospital, I pray others will care for the strangers while James and Kadijah are indisposed.

Kadijah has suffered malaria, typhoid and apectic ulcer, all within the last 10 days. She was on the mend when the ulcer presented itself with great pain this week. The medicine prescribed by the doctor apparently was bad. Pharmacist don’t have the degrees and scrutiny that we have in America. There are little to no regulations. When you take medication from a pharmacists, you take your chances.

One of the desires of NHA is to help supply hospitals with adequate and quality equipment to give patients the proper treatment.

This is part of the urgency of the Compound. There are many things we cannot proceed further with until we have established a permanent residency. Owning property gives you certain rights. Once the Compound is completed we can move forward with many of our projects.

Dear brother and sisters, the Nazareth House family – you, me, James & Kadijah, Mako, Sanu, Betsy, Emmanuel, Pa Foday- all of those we serve in Sierra Leone and all of those who make up the US extension of NHA- have made such a huge difference in so many lives, may we pull together and prepare to make possible for many more of those struggling to exist to reach their full potential. May we provide for them to not simply exist but to live their lives to the fullest.

God bless you for all that you do and will do through Nazareth House Apostolate.
Nazareth House depends entirely on GOD
as HE expresses Himself
through YOUR
prayers,
compassion and generosity.

Matthew 25:35-40 (The Message)

34-36“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:
I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’

37-40“Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’

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NHA School Report by Mako Mansaray

Posted on June 12, 2010 by vicki

Greetings from Nazareth House Apostolate School Kabala.


Or… should I say “Manday”,”Njaramah”,”Nparei”, “Buwah”,or “Cusheh”, “How de body” ?
These are all greetings from some of our local languages here in Sierra Leone.
All of our pupils at NHA School speak at least one tribal language as well as the language of Krio, and all are learning in school the Official Language of Sierra Leone — English.

Koinadugu district lies in the northeast of the country. Konadugu is the largest, the most remote and poorest district in Sierra Leone. Dismal road conditions makes accessibility difficult to near
impossible as roads becomes impossible during the raining season. This subsequently limits the amount of outside materials, opportunities and information that are available to communities.

This means that the people of the Koinadugu district must depend largely on the resources and skills that exist within their region.

Koinadugu district, despite being the largest in the country, is the least developed and has the least number of school and school-going children. A good number of children between the ages of 5 to 16 are out of school because of extreme poverty and the large distance between the schools.

Displacement within Sierra Leone or as refugees in Guinea and Liberia also contribute to the growing number of out –of –school children. As a result, the rate of illiteracy and innumeracy is
high in the district.

The rugged terrain combined with the remoteness make the area unattractive to many professionals born outside of Koinadugu such as health care workers, qualified teachers, government staff, businesspeople, and NGO’s.


Though efforts have been made through Government support to strengthening the education sector, ongoing and additional support is still needed to bring communities to the level where effective management and development of their school is within their capabilities.

As a school and a community we want to thank NHA for coming to Sierra Leone and Kabala and giving us such an opportunities as we are very much thankful to them for helping out hundreds of children out here in Kabala to get better education free of cost, school uniforms, shoes, books and other learning materials, including free medical supply. Nazareth House is doing a very good work out here.

NHA School Kabala was able during the this past week to work

and plant our first school garden on the school land.

We were able to plant groundnuts and sweet corn.

As you can see the work was done by the children,

teachers and our education superintend, Pa Foday.


We are also planning to have another school garden but this time on the plot of land that Pa Foday lends to us.
(You can see the NHA Compound being built in background!)

We hope to plant swamp rice during the holidays. We have agreed as a school with the support of the parents and Pa Foday to do the swamp rice.

This will need more
help and support, as we will need tools such as hoes, cutlasses,

seedlings and feeding to do the work. We are not going to pay any body to do the work; we as a school through the help and support of the parents are going to do the work. All we need is the help to get the tools, seedlings, and feeding to do the work.


We are praying and will continue to pray for support as we want to do the work. The school will start it final exams today 11th June. This will see the end of the school year 2009/2010.We are going to close down school on the 9th of July, but before the closure of school we planning, as a school, to organize a school PARTY for all our children at NHA. Since we were unable to have any other social activities during the school year, the school party for the children will send us all
away for the holidays with love and happiness.

We once more want to thank you all for supporting your NHA school all through this years. Your love and kindness has been a great blessing to us all out here at Nazareth Kabala.

W E LOVE YOU ALL,
JERRY MAKO

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NHA School Report by Mako Mansaray

Posted on June 12, 2010 by vicki

Greetings from Nazareth House Apostolate School Kabala.


Or… should I say “Manday”,”Njaramah”,”Nparei”, “Buwah”,or “Cusheh”, “How de body” ?
These are all greetings from some of our local languages here in Sierra Leone.
All of our pupils at NHA School speak at least one tribal language as well as the language of Krio, and all are learning in school the Official Language of Sierra Leone — English.

Koinadugu district lies in the northeast of the country. Konadugu is the largest, the most remote and poorest district in Sierra Leone. Dismal road conditions makes accessibility difficult to near
impossible as roads becomes impossible during the raining season. This subsequently limits the amount of outside materials, opportunities and information that are available to communities.

This means that the people of the Koinadugu district must depend largely on the resources and skills that exist within their region.

Koinadugu district, despite being the largest in the country, is the least developed and has the least number of school and school-going children. A good number of children between the ages of 5 to 16 are out of school because of extreme poverty and the large distance between the schools.

Displacement within Sierra Leone or as refugees in Guinea and Liberia also contribute to the growing number of out –of –school children. As a result, the rate of illiteracy and innumeracy is
high in the district.

The rugged terrain combined with the remoteness make the area unattractive to many professionals born outside of Koinadugu such as health care workers, qualified teachers, government staff, businesspeople, and NGO’s.


Though efforts have been made through Government support to strengthening the education sector, ongoing and additional support is still needed to bring communities to the level where effective management and development of their school is within their capabilities.

As a school and a community we want to thank NHA for coming to Sierra Leone and Kabala and giving us such an opportunities as we are very much thankful to them for helping out hundreds of children out here in Kabala to get better education free of cost, school uniforms, shoes, books and other learning materials, including free medical supply. Nazareth House is doing a very good work out here.

NHA School Kabala was able during the this past week to work

and plant our first school garden on the school land.

We were able to plant groundnuts and sweet corn.

As you can see the work was done by the children,

teachers and our education superintend, Pa Foday.


We are also planning to have another school garden but this time on the plot of land that Pa Foday lends to us.
(You can see the NHA Compound being built in background!)

We hope to plant swamp rice during the holidays. We have agreed as a school with the support of the parents and Pa Foday to do the swamp rice.

This will need more
help and support, as we will need tools such as hoes, cutlasses,

seedlings and feeding to do the work. We are not going to pay any body to do the work; we as a school through the help and support of the parents are going to do the work. All we need is the help to get the tools, seedlings, and feeding to do the work.


We are praying and will continue to pray for support as we want to do the work. The school will start it final exams today 11th June. This will see the end of the school year 2009/2010.We are going to close down school on the 9th of July, but before the closure of school we planning, as a school, to organize a school PARTY for all our children at NHA. Since we were unable to have any other social activities during the school year, the school party for the children will send us all
away for the holidays with love and happiness.

We once more want to thank you all for supporting your NHA school all through this years. Your love and kindness has been a great blessing to us all out here at Nazareth Kabala.

W E LOVE YOU ALL,
JERRY MAKO

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

NHA School Report by Mako Mansaray

Posted on June 12, 2010 by vicki

Greetings from Nazareth House Apostolate School Kabala.


Or… should I say “Manday”,”Njaramah”,”Nparei”, “Buwah”,or “Cusheh”, “How de body” ?
These are all greetings from some of our local languages here in Sierra Leone.
All of our pupils at NHA School speak at least one tribal language as well as the language of Krio, and all are learning in school the Official Language of Sierra Leone — English.

Koinadugu district lies in the northeast of the country. Konadugu is the largest, the most remote and poorest district in Sierra Leone. Dismal road conditions makes accessibility difficult to near
impossible as roads becomes impossible during the raining season. This subsequently limits the amount of outside materials, opportunities and information that are available to communities.

This means that the people of the Koinadugu district must depend largely on the resources and skills that exist within their region.

Koinadugu district, despite being the largest in the country, is the least developed and has the least number of school and school-going children. A good number of children between the ages of 5 to 16 are out of school because of extreme poverty and the large distance between the schools.

Displacement within Sierra Leone or as refugees in Guinea and Liberia also contribute to the growing number of out –of –school children. As a result, the rate of illiteracy and innumeracy is
high in the district.

The rugged terrain combined with the remoteness make the area unattractive to many professionals born outside of Koinadugu such as health care workers, qualified teachers, government staff, businesspeople, and NGO’s.


Though efforts have been made through Government support to strengthening the education sector, ongoing and additional support is still needed to bring communities to the level where effective management and development of their school is within their capabilities.

As a school and a community we want to thank NHA for coming to Sierra Leone and Kabala and giving us such an opportunities as we are very much thankful to them for helping out hundreds of children out here in Kabala to get better education free of cost, school uniforms, shoes, books and other learning materials, including free medical supply. Nazareth House is doing a very good work out here.

NHA School Kabala was able during the this past week to work

and plant our first school garden on the school land.

We were able to plant groundnuts and sweet corn.

As you can see the work was done by the children,

teachers and our education superintend, Pa Foday.


We are also planning to have another school garden but this time on the plot of land that Pa Foday lends to us.
(You can see the NHA Compound being built in background!)

We hope to plant swamp rice during the holidays. We have agreed as a school with the support of the parents and Pa Foday to do the swamp rice.

This will need more
help and support, as we will need tools such as hoes, cutlasses,

seedlings and feeding to do the work. We are not going to pay any body to do the work; we as a school through the help and support of the parents are going to do the work. All we need is the help to get the tools, seedlings, and feeding to do the work.


We are praying and will continue to pray for support as we want to do the work. The school will start it final exams today 11th June. This will see the end of the school year 2009/2010.We are going to close down school on the 9th of July, but before the closure of school we planning, as a school, to organize a school PARTY for all our children at NHA. Since we were unable to have any other social activities during the school year, the school party for the children will send us all
away for the holidays with love and happiness.

We once more want to thank you all for supporting your NHA school all through this years. Your love and kindness has been a great blessing to us all out here at Nazareth Kabala.

W E LOVE YOU ALL,
JERRY MAKO

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Keep the prayers going for Kadijah

Posted on June 8, 2010 by vicki

For the last two weeks, we’ve been dealing with illnesses in Sierra Leone. Serious illnesses: Sheaku dealing with severe internal parasite infestation, Fatu ( James/Mako’s mother) with malaria and typhoid, Betsy at Dyclar in Freetown with malaria, and poor Kadijah suffering the typhoid and malaria like James’ mother.

Everyone is on the mend but Kadijah is lagging behind.

Her illness has been extremely hard on her and she has not been able to move, her body in pain, swollen joints.

She just started on the Cipro that I left her and as is the usual case the 3rd pill has granted a bit of relief. Still in pain and very weak, she is at least able to stand now and attempting to heal.

Please keep Kadijah, and all of the others, in your prayers. These illnesses have been rough on everyone.

Thank you.
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Keep the prayers going for Kadijah

Posted on June 8, 2010 by vicki

For the last two weeks, we’ve been dealing with illnesses in Sierra Leone. Serious illnesses: Sheaku dealing with severe internal parasite infestation, Fatu ( James/Mako’s mother) with malaria and typhoid, Betsy at Dyclar in Freetown with malaria, and poor Kadijah suffering the typhoid and malaria like James’ mother.

Everyone is on the mend but Kadijah is lagging behind.

Her illness has been extremely hard on her and she has not been able to move, her body in pain, swollen joints.

She just started on the Cipro that I left her and as is the usual case the 3rd pill has granted a bit of relief. Still in pain and very weak, she is at least able to stand now and attempting to heal.

Please keep Kadijah, and all of the others, in your prayers. These illnesses have been rough on everyone.

Thank you.
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Keep the prayers going for Kadijah

Posted on June 8, 2010 by vicki

For the last two weeks, we’ve been dealing with illnesses in Sierra Leone. Serious illnesses: Sheaku dealing with severe internal parasite infestation, Fatu ( James/Mako’s mother) with malaria and typhoid, Betsy at Dyclar in Freetown with malaria, and poor Kadijah suffering the typhoid and malaria like James’ mother.

Everyone is on the mend but Kadijah is lagging behind.

Her illness has been extremely hard on her and she has not been able to move, her body in pain, swollen joints.

She just started on the Cipro that I left her and as is the usual case the 3rd pill has granted a bit of relief. Still in pain and very weak, she is at least able to stand now and attempting to heal.

Please keep Kadijah, and all of the others, in your prayers. These illnesses have been rough on everyone.

Thank you.
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Sheaku’s internal parasites making their departure!!!!!

Posted on June 5, 2010 by vicki

Received this email with photos from Mako tonight:

“Big surprise Mom,Sheaku has started to send out the worms much earlier than we expected.
Just from the Bible school,just look at the pictures.He likes the fanta,so i have to get him one everyday”
Thank God for that.
Mako.”

Note: Before the arrival of the Parasite Medicine, Sheaku was extremely dehydrated and unable to eat. The only thing we could use to get nourishment in him was Orange Fanta. This was something new for him and as Mako says, he now loves it! The worms were eating up all of his nourishment but now with their exiting, we will be able to nourish him with food that will be used to sustain Sheaku rather than the worms.
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