Nazareth House Apostolate, Freetown prepares for Easter

Posted on April 4, 2010 by vicki

Here in Freetown, Sierra Leone, NHA is busy preparing for Easter. They won’t be hiding colored eggs for Roo (and Simba) to find,

they won’t be shopping for fancy clothes to wear on Easter Sunday,
they won’t be planning a big family feast for the day.

Instead,

they have went to the store to buy

RICE!…

Lots of Rice.

The whole family struggles

to load

the heavy bags of rice.

One bag,

maybe two bags of rice at a time

– they load them into Sanu’s tiny red car. (Special Note: NHA is so very grateful to Sanu for his offering of his car to us to use for the work)

Once the car is loaded, it is then unloaded at St. Laurence House.

Everyone pitches in

– even poor Joseph who is recovering from a severe bout of Malaria and Typhoid –

to distribute the rice to the neighbors.

An added treat was the arrival of another box of medication and supplies

that we assumed was lost in the mail!
This enable our staff to hand out more treats and needed supplies for Easter!

So what is NHA doing for this Easter Sunday?

– they are showering their neighbors

with bags of rice.

Although rice is a staple food in Sierra Leone, it is very expensive and not too many can afford it – opting to buy it a cup at a time.
This Easter,

NHA is gifting their neighbors with rice

……and their neighbors are gifting them with something even more special –

they are giving out huge smiles!

This is what it is all about.

Truly what a blessed and happy Easter it is.

Glory be to God, go …spend this wonderful day well.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Lil’ Emmanuel is spending Easter with the Lord

Posted on April 4, 2010 by vicki

We have received word that little Emmanuel, who struggled so hard sharing his body with millions of worms, has passed on in the village in which he was taken. As expected, the little fellow could not survive, even with the worms gone from his body, without the nourishment his mother could give to him his chances of survival weakened. He was a fighter, which is indicated by the fact that he lasted this long (over a week) without the sustenance he required.

This is the difficulty in this type of work, there are those times when you do all you can but the differences in culture prevent the complete cure. The parents, under pressure from those who lived far away, believed that “traditional medicine” is what he needed. Therefore, diverting him from the very nourishment he needed the most. So sad.
Reality dictates that Emmanuel’s chances of survival have never been good. He was in too bad a shape for too long a time. But treating the malnutrition, once the worms were gone, – there was a chance and we were prepared to go full speed ahead to give it all we had. James & the St. Laurence House Family, Mako, Pa Foday – the whole village – we were ready to be there to help Emmanuel. This speaks of the huge heart of Nazareth House. This ordeal with Emmanuel saddens us but it doesn’t deter us – we continue on, doing what we are called to do.
We continue our $collection$ to buy worm medications. Internal parasite infestation is rampant and there are very few organizations dealing with the situation in Sierra Leone. We are small but we do not give up at NHA. $3 buys one worm pill (a significant discount compared to the price of one pill at a pharmacy ($9-$12)). For well established cases of worms, it takes 6 pills – which means that $18 will cure someone of worms. We are also teaching the hygiene habits that must go along with the treatment. Education at every level is so very important.
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Lil’ Emmanuel is spending Easter with the Lord

Posted on April 4, 2010 by vicki

We have received word that little Emmanuel, who struggled so hard sharing his body with millions of worms, has passed on in the village in which he was taken. As expected, the little fellow could not survive, even with the worms gone from his body, without the nourishment his mother could give to him his chances of survival weakened. He was a fighter, which is indicated by the fact that he lasted this long (over a week) without the sustenance he required.

This is the difficulty in this type of work, there are those times when you do all you can but the differences in culture prevent the complete cure. The parents, under pressure from those who lived far away, believed that “traditional medicine” is what he needed. Therefore, diverting him from the very nourishment he needed the most. So sad.
Reality dictates that Emmanuel’s chances of survival have never been good. He was in too bad a shape for too long a time. But treating the malnutrition, once the worms were gone, – there was a chance and we were prepared to go full speed ahead to give it all we had. James & the St. Laurence House Family, Mako, Pa Foday – the whole village – we were ready to be there to help Emmanuel. This speaks of the huge heart of Nazareth House. This ordeal with Emmanuel saddens us but it doesn’t deter us – we continue on, doing what we are called to do.
We continue our $collection$ to buy worm medications. Internal parasite infestation is rampant and there are very few organizations dealing with the situation in Sierra Leone. We are small but we do not give up at NHA. $3 buys one worm pill (a significant discount compared to the price of one pill at a pharmacy ($9-$12)). For well established cases of worms, it takes 6 pills – which means that $18 will cure someone of worms. We are also teaching the hygiene habits that must go along with the treatment. Education at every level is so very important.
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Nazareth House Apostolate, Freetown prepares for Easter

Posted on April 4, 2010 by vicki

Here in Freetown, Sierra Leone, NHA is busy preparing for Easter. They won’t be hiding colored eggs for Roo (and Simba) to find,

they won’t be shopping for fancy clothes to wear on Easter Sunday,
they won’t be planning a big family feast for the day.

Instead,

they have went to the store to buy

RICE!…

Lots of Rice.

The whole family struggles

to load

the heavy bags of rice.

One bag,

maybe two bags of rice at a time

– they load them into Sanu’s tiny red car. (Special Note: NHA is so very grateful to Sanu for his offering of his car to us to use for the work)

Once the car is loaded, it is then unloaded at St. Laurence House.

Everyone pitches in

– even poor Joseph who is recovering from a severe bout of Malaria and Typhoid –

to distribute the rice to the neighbors.

An added treat was the arrival of another box of medication and supplies

that we assumed was lost in the mail!
This enable our staff to hand out more treats and needed supplies for Easter!

So what is NHA doing for this Easter Sunday?

– they are showering their neighbors

with bags of rice.

Although rice is a staple food in Sierra Leone, it is very expensive and not too many can afford it – opting to buy it a cup at a time.
This Easter,

NHA is gifting their neighbors with rice

……and their neighbors are gifting them with something even more special –

they are giving out huge smiles!

This is what it is all about.

Truly what a blessed and happy Easter it is.

Glory be to God, go …spend this wonderful day well.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Lil’ Emmanuel is spending Easter with the Lord

Posted on April 4, 2010 by vicki

We have received word that little Emmanuel, who struggled so hard sharing his body with millions of worms, has passed on in the village in which he was taken. As expected, the little fellow could not survive, even with the worms gone from his body, without the nourishment his mother could give to him his chances of survival weakened. He was a fighter, which is indicated by the fact that he lasted this long (over a week) without the sustenance he required.

This is the difficulty in this type of work, there are those times when you do all you can but the differences in culture prevent the complete cure. The parents, under pressure from those who lived far away, believed that “traditional medicine” is what he needed. Therefore, diverting him from the very nourishment he needed the most. So sad.
Reality dictates that Emmanuel’s chances of survival have never been good. He was in too bad a shape for too long a time. But treating the malnutrition, once the worms were gone, – there was a chance and we were prepared to go full speed ahead to give it all we had. James & the St. Laurence House Family, Mako, Pa Foday – the whole village – we were ready to be there to help Emmanuel. This speaks of the huge heart of Nazareth House. This ordeal with Emmanuel saddens us but it doesn’t deter us – we continue on, doing what we are called to do.
We continue our $collection$ to buy worm medications. Internal parasite infestation is rampant and there are very few organizations dealing with the situation in Sierra Leone. We are small but we do not give up at NHA. $3 buys one worm pill (a significant discount compared to the price of one pill at a pharmacy ($9-$12)). For well established cases of worms, it takes 6 pills – which means that $18 will cure someone of worms. We are also teaching the hygiene habits that must go along with the treatment. Education at every level is so very important.
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

This Week’s Kabala Report from Mako

Posted on April 3, 2010 by vicki

Written by Mako Mansaray, Kabala Sierra Leone


THE FRIDAY REPORT

Greetings from Sierra Leone especially from Kabala.

We wanna thank God
for another Good Friday.
It is a great blessing as we have the first
rain fall in Kabala last night.
As today is Good Friday,this fresh day started with a church
service in Pa Foday’s church. This has been our tradition over the
years. Our message for today was taken from the book of Mark 15 verses
21to 40.

We really thank God for the health of Pa. Foday, as he was in church
this morning to deliver to us the Sermon. Thanks to NHA for getting the
right Malaria drugs for the treatment of Pa. Foday.

Our little friend Emmanuel’s parents were also in church with us
today.Special prayers were offered for him as he is still in Gnaya
village with the grandmother. They told us that Emmanuel is doing fine
as he was taken there mainly to have some “traditional medications”.
But with the love and concern shown by the NHA team both at home and
abroad,they have strongly promised us that they will bring back the
boy. This we will wait and see.

With the first rains last night,the mangoes are
back,fresh,ripe,sweet,and ready to eat. This is a very happy time
especially for the children in and around Kabala.
With all the happiness and joy on this Good Friday,deep down our heart
there is plenty of sorrow as a dear friend of Pa. Foday and Pa
Bah, – David Fonah,a motorbike rider commonly known as “OKADA” in Kabala
passed away in the very early hours of Thursday-1st April.
David Fonah,who came to Kabala from the East has spent all his life
riding people from one place to another around Kabala and the villages
around. He was a very popular man and was known as the poor mans
friend.

At the age of 49 years,the poor mans friend departed this world for
life eternal,leaving behind five daughters and a very worried and
broken hearted widow.The oldest among the children is 16 years and the
youngest is 4 years old.

At the grave site,Pa Foday and myself could not keep our tears away
as the youngest of the children was crying “Papa u don punish tay u
die,now u don lef we for sofer back. Who that go ge we tin for eat,send
we na school,cre we na Hospital way we sick or pay we ose
rent”. Meaning,”father you have suffered all you life up till death,and
now you have left us to suffer the more behind you.Who will give us
food to eat,send us to school,care for us when we get sick or pay our
house rent?”.

Lucy the widow, told us that her husband has died of severe cold (probably pneumonia) as a
result of the bike riding which he has done for the past 15 years.
As we walk back home from the grave site,I was so worried and trouble
by the words of Isha at the grave site that I immediately ask Pa.
Foday that we need to get this children to come to our school-NHA
Kabala. He welcomed the idea with a little smile on his face. I then took
his right hand,and said to myself,I am lucky to have both parents
still alive.

But all is not lost for this family as they still have Jesus. In our
own little ways,we can help this family. As “a friend in need is a
friend indeed.”

Thanks to you all for your help and support.
May God Bless us all.
Love
Mako.
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

This Week’s Kabala Report from Mako

Posted on April 3, 2010 by vicki

Written by Mako Mansaray, Kabala Sierra Leone


THE FRIDAY REPORT

Greetings from Sierra Leone especially from Kabala.

We wanna thank God
for another Good Friday.
It is a great blessing as we have the first
rain fall in Kabala last night.
As today is Good Friday,this fresh day started with a church
service in Pa Foday’s church. This has been our tradition over the
years. Our message for today was taken from the book of Mark 15 verses
21to 40.

We really thank God for the health of Pa. Foday, as he was in church
this morning to deliver to us the Sermon. Thanks to NHA for getting the
right Malaria drugs for the treatment of Pa. Foday.

Our little friend Emmanuel’s parents were also in church with us
today.Special prayers were offered for him as he is still in Gnaya
village with the grandmother. They told us that Emmanuel is doing fine
as he was taken there mainly to have some “traditional medications”.
But with the love and concern shown by the NHA team both at home and
abroad,they have strongly promised us that they will bring back the
boy. This we will wait and see.

With the first rains last night,the mangoes are
back,fresh,ripe,sweet,and ready to eat. This is a very happy time
especially for the children in and around Kabala.
With all the happiness and joy on this Good Friday,deep down our heart
there is plenty of sorrow as a dear friend of Pa. Foday and Pa
Bah, – David Fonah,a motorbike rider commonly known as “OKADA” in Kabala
passed away in the very early hours of Thursday-1st April.
David Fonah,who came to Kabala from the East has spent all his life
riding people from one place to another around Kabala and the villages
around. He was a very popular man and was known as the poor mans
friend.

At the age of 49 years,the poor mans friend departed this world for
life eternal,leaving behind five daughters and a very worried and
broken hearted widow.The oldest among the children is 16 years and the
youngest is 4 years old.

At the grave site,Pa Foday and myself could not keep our tears away
as the youngest of the children was crying “Papa u don punish tay u
die,now u don lef we for sofer back. Who that go ge we tin for eat,send
we na school,cre we na Hospital way we sick or pay we ose
rent”. Meaning,”father you have suffered all you life up till death,and
now you have left us to suffer the more behind you.Who will give us
food to eat,send us to school,care for us when we get sick or pay our
house rent?”.

Lucy the widow, told us that her husband has died of severe cold (probably pneumonia) as a
result of the bike riding which he has done for the past 15 years.
As we walk back home from the grave site,I was so worried and trouble
by the words of Isha at the grave site that I immediately ask Pa.
Foday that we need to get this children to come to our school-NHA
Kabala. He welcomed the idea with a little smile on his face. I then took
his right hand,and said to myself,I am lucky to have both parents
still alive.

But all is not lost for this family as they still have Jesus. In our
own little ways,we can help this family. As “a friend in need is a
friend indeed.”

Thanks to you all for your help and support.
May God Bless us all.
Love
Mako.
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

This Week’s Kabala Report from Mako

Posted on April 3, 2010 by vicki

Written by Mako Mansaray, Kabala Sierra Leone


THE FRIDAY REPORT

Greetings from Sierra Leone especially from Kabala.

We wanna thank God
for another Good Friday.
It is a great blessing as we have the first
rain fall in Kabala last night.
As today is Good Friday,this fresh day started with a church
service in Pa Foday’s church. This has been our tradition over the
years. Our message for today was taken from the book of Mark 15 verses
21to 40.

We really thank God for the health of Pa. Foday, as he was in church
this morning to deliver to us the Sermon. Thanks to NHA for getting the
right Malaria drugs for the treatment of Pa. Foday.

Our little friend Emmanuel’s parents were also in church with us
today.Special prayers were offered for him as he is still in Gnaya
village with the grandmother. They told us that Emmanuel is doing fine
as he was taken there mainly to have some “traditional medications”.
But with the love and concern shown by the NHA team both at home and
abroad,they have strongly promised us that they will bring back the
boy. This we will wait and see.

With the first rains last night,the mangoes are
back,fresh,ripe,sweet,and ready to eat. This is a very happy time
especially for the children in and around Kabala.
With all the happiness and joy on this Good Friday,deep down our heart
there is plenty of sorrow as a dear friend of Pa. Foday and Pa
Bah, – David Fonah,a motorbike rider commonly known as “OKADA” in Kabala
passed away in the very early hours of Thursday-1st April.
David Fonah,who came to Kabala from the East has spent all his life
riding people from one place to another around Kabala and the villages
around. He was a very popular man and was known as the poor mans
friend.

At the age of 49 years,the poor mans friend departed this world for
life eternal,leaving behind five daughters and a very worried and
broken hearted widow.The oldest among the children is 16 years and the
youngest is 4 years old.

At the grave site,Pa Foday and myself could not keep our tears away
as the youngest of the children was crying “Papa u don punish tay u
die,now u don lef we for sofer back. Who that go ge we tin for eat,send
we na school,cre we na Hospital way we sick or pay we ose
rent”. Meaning,”father you have suffered all you life up till death,and
now you have left us to suffer the more behind you.Who will give us
food to eat,send us to school,care for us when we get sick or pay our
house rent?”.

Lucy the widow, told us that her husband has died of severe cold (probably pneumonia) as a
result of the bike riding which he has done for the past 15 years.
As we walk back home from the grave site,I was so worried and trouble
by the words of Isha at the grave site that I immediately ask Pa.
Foday that we need to get this children to come to our school-NHA
Kabala. He welcomed the idea with a little smile on his face. I then took
his right hand,and said to myself,I am lucky to have both parents
still alive.

But all is not lost for this family as they still have Jesus. In our
own little ways,we can help this family. As “a friend in need is a
friend indeed.”

Thanks to you all for your help and support.
May God Bless us all.
Love
Mako.
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

First stop: Lungi (via FNA)

Posted on April 1, 2010 by vicki

Before I began telling of our trip to Sierra Leone, I first wish to share with you today some wonderful news from our Nazareth House Apostolate Chapter in Bishop, Georgia!

Lil’ Chloe Akridge

has completed her Chemotherapy Treatment and is free from Leukemia.

If you are new to this blog and don’t know her story, you can read about it on her blog “Chloe’s Touch”. Fr. Seraphim and I welcomed the new year

with the Akridge family, but that celebration pales to the welcoming of this fresh start, new beginning, new life. This is events really starts their New Year!

God bless you, Chloe and your dear, dear family. We love you and are overwhelmed with the joy of this news. Glory be to God and thanks to all of you for your continued prayers.
LUNGI, SIERRA LEONE
Looking out from the Standiford Field Airport Window in Louisville,

we await our plane to begin our journey to Sierra Leone. Traveling from Louisville to Chicago to London to Lungi to Freetown.

Port at Lungi, Sierra Leone

This trip generally takes 24 -26 hours to complete (depending on how fast the ferry to Freetown goes or if we take the helicopter). Emily, Fr. Seraphim and I began on March 8th around 3PM arriving in Lungi on the Evening of the 9th. Captain Brima of the Sierra Leone Army was there with James to greet us. We were relieved and pleased that the Freetown National Airport (Lungi) was no problem; we maneuvered through quite easily.
Having weathered the airport without difficulties we loaded up the vehicle with our 6 large suitcases and 6 small carry-ons. The driver made way to the ferry. We waited…and waited but the Ferry chose not to make the crossing into Freetown this night. So other plans needed to be made.


Knowing that Lucy and Ann Marie, back in Freetown, had an important test scheduled for the next day, we decided it would be best to get to Freetown as fast as possible so that James could be there to support his daughters. Therefore, we began to travel around the point towards Freetown, in the middle of the night. Roads are not bad, but not good and it can be a long difficult journey. We thought we could make it by morning. We thought wrong.
Several miles down the road in the dark night, our car broke down. Thankfully Captain Brima was able to flag down a motorbike and get to the Army Barracks and secure us a car to take us to the Lungi Hotel. There we stayed the night and arrived at the Ferry early in the morning to be on the first transfer into Freetown.

We were the first in line and able to greet and talk with others as they loaded up onto the ferry.

This was a newer ferry, from Greece. Fr. Seraphim and I had not been on this one. It is in better condition than any of the others we’ve been on for this little sail into Freetown.
With all of our luggage, the Ferry is the best form of transportation upon arrival. The helicopter charges for extra weight on each of your bags and the Ferry is only about $5 per car regardless of how much your car is loaded.

As the morning sun rises,

more and more people file in to board the ferry.

Some people make their way onto the boat

by walking through the water.

Whatever direction they come from, the boat is certainly filling up.

Not only with loaded cars and trucks, but people are carrying heavy loads on their heads, as well.

Lungi is the first sight of Sierra Leone

for those entering the country by commercial plane.

I always enjoy the view with the boats lined along the shore.

It is rural area, but growth is taking place there as it is all over the country.

Driving onto the ferry can be a bit tricky, but our driver had no problem.

This particular ferry we were on crossed the waters a bit faster than others.

It is a nice way to get a panoramic view of Freetown

as we approach its port.

Once in Freetown, arrival at St. Laurence House is always exciting.

Seeing everybody again after missing them for so long is always a wonderful time.

Once all the hugs and greetings are done,

its time to start unpacking; sorting out all the supplies.

Bit by bit we unload the suitcases all the while, searching for that favorite thing of Kadijah…

“Hellman’s REAL mayonnaise!”
Nazareth House Apostolate, making a difference in their lives and that of our own. Be a part of this great work. DONATE TODAY:
Nazareth House Apostolate
2216 Goldsmith Lane
Louisville, KY 40218
Photos on this blog are the exclusive property of NHA and its photographers. All rights reserved. They may not be used or copied with out the expressed written permission of NHA.

Posted in Freetown, Hellman's mayonnaise | Leave a comment

First stop: Lungi (via FNA)

Posted on April 1, 2010 by vicki

Before I began telling of our trip to Sierra Leone, I first wish to share with you today some wonderful news from our Nazareth House Apostolate Chapter in Bishop, Georgia!

Lil’ Chloe Akridge

has completed her Chemotherapy Treatment and is free from Leukemia.

If you are new to this blog and don’t know her story, you can read about it on her blog “Chloe’s Touch”. Fr. Seraphim and I welcomed the new year

with the Akridge family, but that celebration pales to the welcoming of this fresh start, new beginning, new life. This is events really starts their New Year!

God bless you, Chloe and your dear, dear family. We love you and are overwhelmed with the joy of this news. Glory be to God and thanks to all of you for your continued prayers.
LUNGI, SIERRA LEONE
Looking out from the Standiford Field Airport Window in Louisville,

we await our plane to begin our journey to Sierra Leone. Traveling from Louisville to Chicago to London to Lungi to Freetown.

Port at Lungi, Sierra Leone

This trip generally takes 24 -26 hours to complete (depending on how fast the ferry to Freetown goes or if we take the helicopter). Emily, Fr. Seraphim and I began on March 8th around 3PM arriving in Lungi on the Evening of the 9th. Captain Brima of the Sierra Leone Army was there with James to greet us. We were relieved and pleased that the Freetown National Airport (Lungi) was no problem; we maneuvered through quite easily.
Having weathered the airport without difficulties we loaded up the vehicle with our 6 large suitcases and 6 small carry-ons. The driver made way to the ferry. We waited…and waited but the Ferry chose not to make the crossing into Freetown this night. So other plans needed to be made.


Knowing that Lucy and Ann Marie, back in Freetown, had an important test scheduled for the next day, we decided it would be best to get to Freetown as fast as possible so that James could be there to support his daughters. Therefore, we began to travel around the point towards Freetown, in the middle of the night. Roads are not bad, but not good and it can be a long difficult journey. We thought we could make it by morning. We thought wrong.
Several miles down the road in the dark night, our car broke down. Thankfully Captain Brima was able to flag down a motorbike and get to the Army Barracks and secure us a car to take us to the Lungi Hotel. There we stayed the night and arrived at the Ferry early in the morning to be on the first transfer into Freetown.

We were the first in line and able to greet and talk with others as they loaded up onto the ferry.

This was a newer ferry, from Greece. Fr. Seraphim and I had not been on this one. It is in better condition than any of the others we’ve been on for this little sail into Freetown.
With all of our luggage, the Ferry is the best form of transportation upon arrival. The helicopter charges for extra weight on each of your bags and the Ferry is only about $5 per car regardless of how much your car is loaded.

As the morning sun rises,

more and more people file in to board the ferry.

Some people make their way onto the boat

by walking through the water.

Whatever direction they come from, the boat is certainly filling up.

Not only with loaded cars and trucks, but people are carrying heavy loads on their heads, as well.

Lungi is the first sight of Sierra Leone

for those entering the country by commercial plane.

I always enjoy the view with the boats lined along the shore.

It is rural area, but growth is taking place there as it is all over the country.

Driving onto the ferry can be a bit tricky, but our driver had no problem.

This particular ferry we were on crossed the waters a bit faster than others.

It is a nice way to get a panoramic view of Freetown

as we approach its port.

Once in Freetown, arrival at St. Laurence House is always exciting.

Seeing everybody again after missing them for so long is always a wonderful time.

Once all the hugs and greetings are done,

its time to start unpacking; sorting out all the supplies.

Bit by bit we unload the suitcases all the while, searching for that favorite thing of Kadijah…

“Hellman’s REAL mayonnaise!”
Nazareth House Apostolate, making a difference in their lives and that of our own. Be a part of this great work. DONATE TODAY:
Nazareth House Apostolate
2216 Goldsmith Lane
Louisville, KY 40218
Photos on this blog are the exclusive property of NHA and its photographers. All rights reserved. They may not be used or copied with out the expressed written permission of NHA.

Posted in Freetown, Hellman's mayonnaise | Leave a comment