Freetown

Friday Smiles

Posted in Freetown, Kabala, labor and delivery Sierra Leone, Nazareth house apostolate, Nazareth House Apostolate School on January 13th, 2012 by vicki – Be the first to comment
(All photos on this post and on this blog are the property of the photographers and Nazareth House Apostolate - All rights reserved.  They cannot be used for any purpose without written permission from Nazareth House)

 

 

It is all smiles for the Mansaray Family.

Papa James is bursting with joy that his youngest daughter has arrived
and is healthy
and that is beloved wife survived the birth
in a country where maternal mortality during delivery is very high,
Having malaria, enduring a long drive from Kabala to Freetown, it is amazing how well Kadijah is doing!  Thank God.

Lucy is back at boarding school, unable to leave the school to be with her family, yet,  delighted that her baby sister and mom are doing well.  Lucy is all the more determined to study harder.   She knows how much we need doctors in Kabala.

….and Roo…

Roo wasn’t sure what to think about all this and was being very quiet…

but now that he met his little sister
well..look at those eyes… they say it all
Baby Vicki has definitely met with his approval
At this post, James is working his way back to Kabala,
he has work to do and we have villages to care for.
In our line of work, there is no “family leave”.
The Needs don’t stop, the work is ongoing.
People like this little “lucky charm” toddler are depending on us.
They depend on you and I to lend them the hand.  If you haven’t already committed to a monthly donation, please consider doing so today.
Through your generosity, NHA has given help to many, but the light of each new day uncovers more that need us.
We can’t fulfill every need, but with your help, we can help many – bit by bit, person by person AND put a smile on their face.
After checking on the latest new villages, James will return this weekend to pick up his family once Kadijah and Vicki are released from the hospital.

Please pray for him as he travels the roads of Sierra Leone, road travel is not safe.  Drivers are wild and the roads bad.
Its all about love….
Nazareth House Apostolate (NHA)
185 Captains Cove Drive
Taylorsville, KY 40071


Note: For those of you in America who have noticed the earrings already in Vicki’s ears.  This is Africa, its a different culture and ears are pierced at a much earlier age than in USA.  This has been part of their culture from the beginning.

This Weeks Full Moon brings a full week for NHA

Posted in Ashley Landess, Freetown, Kabala, Nazareth house apostolate, Sierra Leone, Thomas Hilditch Landess, Tom Landess on January 11th, 2012 by vicki – Be the first to comment
Nazareth has had a full range of emotions this week.
Seraphim especially enjoyed his conversations with Tom
The week began with the passing of Thomas Hilditch Landess, a dear friend to Seraphim and I and to Nazareth House Apostolate.
Lucy in Sierra Leone sending condolences for the family
James and his family in Sierra Leone have not been able to meet Tom Landess or his family, but they know them well and have been friends for years.
Roo especially, since Tom’s wife, Mary Beth has always had a special nitch in her heart filled with Roo.
And Roo loves her.  The bond is there – no need to meet face to face, the heart travels across oceans and bonds the two.
The news that Tom dropped the body this week hit us all hard, including the Mansaray family.  They, too,  share the loss and grieve with the family.
And as one friend passes another one arrives.
In the middle of the night I receive this text that James and family have packed into a car and made the long trip from Kabala to Freetown.  Kadijah ‘s fever is worse and with the baby nearing time for delivery they thought they could find better medical attention in Freetown.
I received word at 4:24 AM this morning that James wife, Kadijah has given birth to a baby girl – her name is Vicki.
We will keep you informed and send pictures as we get them.
God bless you all, Nazareth House Apostolate truly is a family … We love you all.

Let the Celebrations Begin…

Posted in Bo Sierra Leone, Freetown, James B Mansaray, Nazareth house apostolate, NHA, Sierra Leone 50th Jubilee, St Simeon Skete on April 20th, 2011 by vicki – Be the first to comment
Sierra Leone, together with the undying hope for the future and the understanding that there is much more to be done for the betterment of life, is pleased with the strides that have been made since the end of the War.  Holding all this, they are celebrating with all vigor the Golden Jubilee of her Independence on – 27th April 2011.  

This anniversary in all its glory, 

also gives the country opportunity to ponder, consider and learn from past hardships and errors.  

The coming together of the people to celebrate their country generates a deepened sense of patriotism and unity.  

Sierra Leoneans are generally known as a trusting, loving people. 

Despite the atrocities they’ve endured – they continue to love.  

Despite the poverty they’ve lived – they have hope! 


Faith, Hope & Love are the instruments that will propel this country forward regardless of the adversities that may be poised to hold them back. 





NHA is happy to witness this celebration through the lens of James’ camera. These photographs are from  Bo, Sierra Leone as the paramount chiefs receive their new staffs to mark the 50th Anniversary.  

 Chief Paygay, paramount chief of our beloved Koinadugu District in

 Kabala – home of our NHA School and the new home of the NHA Compound (in construction), honorably accepts his staff.

   



His excellency, the Honorable Ernest Bai Koroma, president of Sierra Leone.

   You are in our prayers, Mr. President.  

  It is such a wonderful sight to see the people of Sierra Leone 

doing what they do best, smiling 

and loving in the midst of whatever their personal situation might be. 

  They know well that God has given them 

whatever it is they need to do what the moment calls.   

We send our continued love and prayers to Sierra Leone.  

 May the love you have now, flourish and spread out more and more in the next 50 years.  

Congratulations!  

God be in you…

Urgent Prayer Request

Posted in Freetown, NHA, Pregnancy in Africa on September 3rd, 2010 by vicki – Be the first to comment

By James Mansaray:

Hannah Mansaray, the wife of my brother, Paul is in hospital about to deliver a baby.   The timing is early for the child to be born and the Hannah is bleeding.   Please pray and we will update you as things progress.  

Thank you to all of you that make up the NHA Family all over the world – what an amazing team!

Here is a photo of Hannah taken on August 25th, a few days back:

Urgent Prayer Request

Posted in Freetown, NHA, Pregnancy in Africa on September 3rd, 2010 by vicki – Be the first to comment

By James Mansaray:

Hannah Mansaray, the wife of my brother, Paul is in hospital about to deliver a baby.   The timing is early for the child to be born and the Hannah is bleeding.   Please pray and we will update you as things progress.  

Thank you to all of you that make up the NHA Family all over the world – what an amazing team!

Here is a photo of Hannah taken on August 25th, a few days back:

Planting Rice, Whatever the need

Posted in Education in Kabala, Freetown, Kabala, kabala sierra leone, kadijah, Lucy Mansaray, NHA, rice, Rice Farm on August 26th, 2010 by vicki – Be the first to comment

At Nazareth House Apostolate,

you will find our staff
 doing what NHA does – caring for others.  
  Wherever the need.
   If the need is to help plant rice, 
then you plant rice.   
Last week, 
Lucy and Roo joined in with Pa Foday and Mama Fatu and 
 the workers on Pa Foday’s farm to plant rice.   
 It’s that Nazareth House Apostolate “thing” …..  
Kadijah brings food for the workers in the rice field.

that “thing” of working together, making possible a better tomorrow for all.  

Planting Rice, Whatever the need

Posted in Education in Kabala, Freetown, Kabala, kabala sierra leone, kadijah, Lucy Mansaray, NHA, rice, Rice Farm on August 26th, 2010 by vicki – Be the first to comment

At Nazareth House Apostolate,

you will find our staff
 doing what NHA does – caring for others.  
  Wherever the need.
   If the need is to help plant rice, 
then you plant rice.   
Last week, 
Lucy and Roo joined in with Pa Foday and Mama Fatu and 
 the workers on Pa Foday’s farm to plant rice.   
 It’s that Nazareth House Apostolate “thing” …..  
Kadijah brings food for the workers in the rice field.

that “thing” of working together, making possible a better tomorrow for all.  

Nazareth House Apostolate, an Ocean Tide of Giving

Posted in Anglican Province of Christ the King, APCK, Freetown, global outreach, humanitarian, kabala sierra leone, Nazareth house apostolate on August 25th, 2010 by vicki – Be the first to comment

While James and Kadijah go about delivering

medications and supplies throughout the villages in Kabala, Sierra Leone;


back in the States, we are loading up boxes

and sending them over to James for the next round

 - an unbroken chain, ocean tide – in and out, in and out.

Shipping the supplies is a tremendous expense, however, it doesn’t matter because without these necessary items – we lose lives.

As with the suffering of the people, the high costs of getting what they need to them will always be there.  So we deal with it.

That’s why your monthly financial donations are so vitally important to us and we are most grateful to those who contribute this way.  Share the need, make others aware – invite everyone you know to be a part of this love – love for one another – Come join us at Nazareth House Apostolate.

Nazareth House Apostolate, an Ocean Tide of Giving

Posted in Anglican Province of Christ the King, APCK, Freetown, global outreach, humanitarian, kabala sierra leone, Nazareth house apostolate on August 25th, 2010 by vicki – Be the first to comment

While James and Kadijah go about delivering

medications and supplies throughout the villages in Kabala, Sierra Leone;


back in the States, we are loading up boxes

and sending them over to James for the next round

 - an unbroken chain, ocean tide – in and out, in and out.

Shipping the supplies is a tremendous expense, however, it doesn’t matter because without these necessary items – we lose lives.

As with the suffering of the people, the high costs of getting what they need to them will always be there.  So we deal with it.

That’s why your monthly financial donations are so vitally important to us and we are most grateful to those who contribute this way.  Share the need, make others aware – invite everyone you know to be a part of this love – love for one another – Come join us at Nazareth House Apostolate.

Baimba wants your attention, so do a lot of children in Sierra Leone.

Posted in Education in Kabala, Freetown, google blog, james mansaray, Nazareth house apostolate, poverty on August 20th, 2010 by vicki – Be the first to comment
By James B. Mansaray, Freetown, Sierra Leone
As I travel through Sierra Leone to distribute supplies from NHA to those in need, I think of who and what generated the compassion to help Nazareth House Apostolate to do this work.  
When I consider the people in the world, I know that for some its just not “their thing”.  They have no desire to give or help.  Then there are others, without perfect reasoning that will say “it’s not my business”.   In the scope of how many people there are in the world, few will say “Lets help”,  while a majority will just linger and wait for a start before they give a helping hand. But for Nazareth House to be such a small organisation, we certainly have a whole lot that join hands together as a team and end up making the perfect change for a BIG SMILE on the faces of those in pain around us.  
Those who don’t know that there are people suffering in Sierra Leone, they need to be told.   If people are thinking that the pain of others is not their business, they have never been hungry and had someone hand them a bowl of rice.   If they had been hungry or sick, they would realize the need to be involved.  Many of those sitting on the fence need to look at these children, so poor, having nothing in life.   Understand the smile that stretches across the face when they are given something (no matter how tiny) to ease their pain.  Certainly, your own struggles seem smaller at a time like this.  

A stop at Kamano Village few miles from the NHA school, this village hosts many helpless children:  boys and girls who haven’t learned their A.B.C.’s, rarely, if ever eat a breakfast or lunch and only when they are super lucky do they get a chance to eat a dinner.   None of these children ever watch TV or play with toys that they didn’t make themselves.  They have nothing like most of the present day children, no gameboys, ipods, they can’t even comprehend what those things are.  More importantly, those things would not excite them.  They want simple things, like a meal or not to have worms.  

As I make my way through the villages here in the country of the poorest of the poor, its seems that the next child is worse off than the first.  When I think I have found a child who is most needy, another one pops up even needier. 

Poor Baimba is a typical example, welcoming me in his only clothing he owns, tattered and dusty.  The clothes are only dusty on dry days, wet days his shredded attire is soaked and muddy. 

  He is nothing but the clown of the village and he himself accepted it as it is. My first question to him was, “are you ok?” And his answer was “wotin u tink Cameraman” ?  Meaning,  ”what do you think Photographer?”   These are the situations that NHA faces everyday.  Seeing a need and meeting it. 

Tattered Baimba was the first case and by the time I could blink my eyes,  I was greeted with more kids living in the same fate. Half naked, hungry, or sick patiently waiting for a big pot filled with only boiled potatoes or cassava.
What they consume is always lacking the basic food necessities’ that a child should have to grow healthy.  Most of the children are left alone to fend for themselves, without a real idea of what moms and dads mean in the life of a child.  Babes with no future, left unattended, barefooted, but still carrying the smile and signs of hope in their eyes.

Borbor pains (boys in pain) and Titi strain ( girls in same strenuous state) roaming the streets, roads and check points to make a sale 

with whatever little they have to bargain with.  

Huge baskets on the heads,  or dozens of live birds in one hand,

 they barter with all sorts of words to cajole those in automobiles into making a purchase.
The tradition of the youth fending for their parents is a must, a belief we all should detest. A tradition that we should curb in order to make a better life for them.  Desolate villages driven with nothing but poverty but in the midst of it I see hope amongst these peace loving people. This is what NHA does, it cares for the people, gives them hope, helps them to become what they had no chance to become.
You could make it happen for more children like Baimba – provide the right education, good health, filled bellies – it doesn’t take much.  One donation to NHA will help someone out, regular donations each month will keep it going for more and more.  Don’t wait around for more people to be involved, jump in now.  The need is here and its not going away on its own… we here in Sierra Leone…we are all waiting for you.
Give today, Give to Nazareth House Apostolate
2216 Goldsmith Lane
Louisville, KY 40218
or via the website at www.nazarethhouseap.org

 God bless you all,
James

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