Once again the Post has done its job on both ends, Stateside and in Sierra Leone.  

James makes his way to the Post Office to pick up two boxes.  

There are six more in travel to Freetown

And once again we are able to replenish our supplies.

James and his family only recently depleted our our stock while distributing in villages of Kabala.

Therefore  was nothing to treat the symptoms of malaria that James has been experiencing all week.

But as is the usual case, at the point of greatest need, a shipment arrives.

This particular shipment had a few extras stuffed inside, since the desperately needed supplies we were shipping (syringes and needles) were so light in weight we could afford to cram some other items in the box.

As usual, while Lucy unloads,

 Roo is patiently looking for his special surprise from Mama Vicki.  

Once found, he is all smiles!

We are thankful to the Salone Post for making sure to get our boxes to us, as shipped with nothing missing.

  Thanks to you all and keep up the Good Work!

Report from Mako Mansaray

Greetings to you all

We want to thank God for yet another Friday.

The NHA Team in Sierra Leone wants to thank you all for being so supportive to the NHA cause and for helping us do what we believe is right and what we love to do-That is: HELPING THOSE IN NEED especially in Sierra Leone and in particularly Kabala.

This week I was able to make a move to another village around Kabala as part of the work. 

The visit was made to the village of KONDAYA about 3 miles from Kabala (local mileages) The village itself is well located with many Bamboo Huts as a dwelling place for the people.

On arrival, we were greeted with this crying child holding a Cacao leaf as a local umbrella for fun, 

and this one is busy sleeping on a very sunny day.

With my NHA T-shirt on, 

since NHA is  a well known organization in Kabala for its humanitarian work, I was immediately welcomed and taken to a very sick woman. The foot, as you can see, is in a very bad form and getting worse.

It has been like this for this poor lady for some time and there is little or no help at all for her.  The only medication for her is local herbs and this has made the situation worse rather than better.  

The foot according to her is giving her a lot of pain and sometime the pain is so bad that she can’t walk.

This is just one of the many situations in the village. And there are many others, sick and needy people in this village.

 The situation in this village and many other villages in and around Kabala strongly point out the immediate need of Nazareth House to move to Kabala.

The needs are getting bigger and bigger every day.

We must have this compound settled as quickly as possible so that NHA can move to Kabala and reach these poor people.

You can help NHA change this situation by giving so that the sick and hungry will have a chance. 

LET GIVE TODAY!!!

With Love

JERRY MAKO.

James was fortunate enough to have been able to rent a 4 wheel drive vehicle capable of carrying the whole family, plus supplies and medications.

Roads being what they are in Sierra Leone, a 4-wheel drive allows us to get to villages that otherwise we would not be able to reach.

 Thanks to VistaPrint, we were able to temporarily personalize the truck with a Nazareth House Apostolate Magnetic Sign.


The Rainy Season continues in Sierra Leone, but life goes on.

 James’ cousin, Albert carefully makes sure that Kadijah is completely dry and not slipping and falling in the mud as she makes her way to another Medical Clinic in one of the villages.

I miss Albert, he is in school and I don’t always get to see him when I am in Sierra Leone.  He is a fine gentleman with a humble and kind spirit.

As the heavy rains beat down on the people of Sierra Leone,

you’ll find them sheltered in their homes

and other places to keep them dry.

Children being children  - indoors  - playing Hide and Seek,  teasing one another.

Laughing and playing.

However, for the children of Sierra Leone,

when the rain comes day after day,

more times than not, you’ll find them playing right out in the midst of it.

 It brings a little variety to their daily adventures.

It cools you down and makes life interesting.

Squishing your toes in the mud can be so fun! This is part of the strength of a true Sierra Leonean, they take what is given them, be it rain, poverty, war or disease and they deal with it.

 They know that all they really have is the moment.

  And if the moment gives you rain, then you make life happen in the rain.

Shipped from the States, full of supplies for NHA to help the poor and needy, three more boxes arrived in Freetown.

James makes his way in the hot sun of Freetown to pick up the boxes from the post office.                  

Once the boxes are in his hands, he hurries to St. Laurence House to unload, sort and distribute the contents.
One thing that James can always count on is that Roo will be waiting, anxiously to see what is inside.  He knows that Mama Vicki always tucks away a little something for him in each shipment.

NHA is so thankful for all the medications that have been arriving at our headquarters in the States, helping us to provide the necessary aid to the people of Sierra Leone. 

As always, when there is an information gap from Kabala. My internet connection was lost last week so I was unable to report to you. But as for the work of NHA and life in general in the this district, it means that NHA team is at work, even in our silence.

This little church has a good numbers of Christians, (although our district is shared with our Muslim brothers and sisters – living together in harmony – just as NHA blends all walks of life).

and most of them have their children attending the Nazareth House School.

They are all hoping and waiting to see the entire team and work of NHA
move to Kabala.

Nazareth House Apostolate is most needed in Kabala, as the district is one of the least developed in the country.

Nazareth House has and is still doing a very good work out here, but
there is more to do: The Compound, The School, The Church, The
Children, The Sick, The Hungry and so many other things that need
urgent attentions.

The question they keep asking is how soon NHA will join us in Kabala? It is up to you how quickly the move is made.

We trust in God, Prayers and the support of our friends and the financial donations
to make this dream come true. We are so anxious for the Compound to be paid and the construction completed so the NHA can fully be seated in Kabala and doing the work so desperately needed.

Take a look at these children I don’t know how they survived but for God’s
provision for their poor fathers and mothers.

Dirty cloths with no shoes on are part of the system for these children.
People continue to die of curable sickness such as MALARIA and
TYPHOID, leaving the poor mothers to look after the children without the support of a husband.

With all this odds and suffering we can’t wait to see the full
operations of NHA in Kabala. It will change so many lives for the better.

There are plenty of good things you can find in Kabala such as: The
culture of the people, the dancing,

the singing, corps, nice places,

as on a happy day like this these children are happy washing at the
stream.

Kabala in the midst of all its struggles is happy and grateful

for whatever they have even when most have little or no hope for food at home.

We can change the system if only we GIVE. If only we share a little of what we have with those who have nothing.

SO, PLEASE, LET’S START GIVING. Let’s make the NHA Compound a reality and let’s start doing the work of NHA in a bigger way – with more and more love.

I’ll see you next Friday…
With all my love and gratitude,

Jerry Mako.

The contractor is in the process of tiling the NHA Compound. He has enough funds to do some tiling in the interior and the exterior wall. I was surprised by the exterior tiles, I wasn’t aware that tiles would be used outside and the “bright display” took me aback for a moment. But affectionately, I remember T.I.A. This Is Africa and bright colors remind of us of life and joy. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

All photographs on this post are the exclusive property of NHA & its photographer, James Mansaray

It holiday time in Sierra Leone and so also in Kabala.

Schools and school children are closed for the Summer Months.

The rains are coming down as they never have before, as this is the peak of the rainy season.

This season is the most difficult time in Kabala, especially the months of July and August.

There is plenty of farm work, but little food and crops at this time of the year.

Food items are very expensive, especially rice which is the staple food.

Children have to carry heavy fire coals on their head and walk up to five miles to the center of Kabala

The fire coals are sold so that they can help to buy food for the home.

The mother has to sell other food items such as corn to support the home too.

Sorie, at 6 years of age has lost both his parents due to Malaria and typhoid within only six months time

This poor orphan has to take care of himself, as you can see Sorie washing his only cloths.

But the story is not the same for all the children,

as this boy is content riding his old tyre.

Every family member, both young and old, have to work on the farm and do some petty trading in other to make a living.

Pa. Foday continues to do the “Home Visit” in spite of the heavy rains and his duties at his farm.

He has been improving from his recent bout with malaria.

Despite all the troubles, sickness and hard times Fr. Seraphim & Mama Vicki and some of our Nazareth House Supporters in America have been dealing with, plus the day to day struggles James endures in Freetown, and our own problems here in Kabala; Nazareth House continues to make sure that they are always a great help to the people of Kabala.

Please help them with these kind works. Give today to NHA so that they can help feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and provide medicine for the sick.

Please also help us to pay for the Compound so we can expand our work to more of those in need in the villages in and around Kabala.

May God Bless Us All.

Jerry Mako.