While those of us in Louisville, Kentucky mourn the loss of our beloved Sr. Warden of Grace Church and Nazareth House Apostolate Advisor, Nancy Denison, who dropped the body on Wednesday, June 4; our staff in Sierra Leone mourn the passing of a beloved medical man, Alimamy, who transitioned to the next life on the same day. Like Nancy, He has been ill for some months now. Alimamy is the brother of James' sister-in-law, Hannah, the wife of Paul Mansaray. Alimamy was the breadwinner of the family and his loss will be felt emotionally as well as by the loss of income. We ask that you keep these families in your prayers as they wade through this difficult time.
Though an ocean apart, the circumstances of our staff at St. Laurence House and that of our own always run parallel. This is because our lives are very much entwined, they are in every sense of the word - family! Nancy's death affects them as well as Alimamy's passing affects us. Aunty Nancy (as she is known in Freetown & Kabala) was a big part of the lives of James, Kadijah, Lucy, Ann Marie and little Roo. She regularly emailed & text messaged James, spoke to him on the phone from time to time and sent treats & gifts to St. Laurence House. She spearheaded the shower for Kadijah during her pregnancy with Roo and was always ready and willing to help out in any crisis arising out of those living in poverty.
We all mourned, with those in Sierra Leone, the passing of sweet Gladys earlier this year and we all pray for the children she left behind. We will do the same for Alimamy who worked to heal so many in Freetown.
Despite the miles - the fact is - Nazareth House is one big family struggling to boost each other, transforming lives. Those who are involved become a part of each others lives. Because we are small, we are able to keep this personal touch. As time goes on we will all know the names and circumstances of the students at our school in Kabala who we are providing a free education....giving them a real chance at a better life. You are Nazareth House - not the Incorporation, but YOU are Nazareth House and each act of love, be it distributing rice to the needy, giving a much needed hug to a crying child, sitting with the dying, building a school, cleaning up a poor soul who has no hands and has soiled his pants, paying school fees, paying medical costs - all that Nazareth House does... - this is all done in the name of the contributors, the supporters, those that pray. When Kadijah provides a meal for a hungry beggar - it is YOU feeding that soul. When James provides the funds to admit someone very ill into the hospital - it is YOU getting that person medical treatment. When a construction worker drives a nail into the building of our school in Kabala, it is YOU hammering it in. You all need to know that YOU ARE NAZARETH HOUSE making possible a better existence for so many who otherwise would have NO chance.
As with all families, it is give and take. We make possible assistance to those in Sierra Leone and they bring us so much love and joy. How many of you have had your day brightened by little Roo's smile? or by listening to James sing on our youtube video, Simba the dog howling all the while? All of us have benefited by the daily prayers rising out of St. Laurence House and from those we have come in contact with in Sierra Leone. They know you by name, they know you have helped them and they love you unconditionally.
We're all feeling the pinch of the economic slow down. It is felt harder than a mere pinch to our families suffering in unspeakable poverty who are hurt by rising costs.
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