Another Village (one of many) that requires our Attention. By: Mako Mansaray, Kabala Sierra leone

Note:  As you will see in this blog post by Mako Mansaray, there are many villages, within the area in which we are building the new NHA Compound, that are in desperate need.  It is extremely necessary  that we settle in this region.  All though there are needs all over Sierra Leone, Nazareth House Apostolate goes deep into the bush to find the hidden villages, those that are not receiving assistance from other organizations.  Those hidden in the cracks of society.    Because the need is so great in this area, it is even more important that we complete the building of our NHA Compound immediately.  We must have a center of operations to work out of, to store supplies and medications and to house our staff who will be carrying out the work of Nazareth House to the people we serve.  There are so many villages - men, women and children that are counting on us to make a difference for them.  Please send your donation today!  Once we have the Compound up and running, we can move on to the other projects that enable us to serve the people more efficiently and effectively.  

Mako's Friday Kabala Update:

MANDAY (greetings in Limba) to you all!

It's been a while now, but all is well and fine. When there is silence we still continue to do our work of NHA.  

We believe in going to the people and their villages rather than expecting the tired, sick, hungry villagers to come us. 

By so doing, we actually come in contact with the real people and their living conditions.  We share their sorrow, their difficulties and hardship. THAT IS THE SPIRIT OF NHA.

August 25^th was another sad day for the NHA Family. Our builder of the new NHA Compound, Anthony Bangura, lost his father. 

Pa Foday in Kamanka Village with Anthony

Pa Foday got ready his Motorcycle as we travel to pay our last respects to the old man. 

We had to travel up to Kabagbasia with the bike. (This is the village James did the last medical distribution.-see tomorrow's blog) 

The rest of the way, we had to walk on foot to the village.

We hiked through streams 

and tall bushes as we trekked the 8 mile walk.

In the village itself, my attentions were drawn to so many things.  

But what really troubled me the most is the number of sick people, both young and old in this village.

As you can see, this old woman is very ill.  

She has suffered this illness now for five years. 

This young boy is suffering from serious head ache for the past two months.

Local Herb Treatment smeared on his head for headaches

The only treatment available is traditional herbs which is not helping the situation at all.

This one is also suffering from a swollen neck

for some time now.

Another man has a swollen foot.

These children are sick, 

and there is so many of them.

There is no assistance what so ever for these people! 

NHA has recently gone as far as KABAGBASIA doing the medical supply, but deeper into the bush, the people of KAMANKA also need our attention through Nazareth House Apostolate.  

People are dying of curable diseases and the situation cannot be rectified on its own without our help.  

WE CAN SAVE THESE LIVES IF ONLY WE GIVE TODAY.

The urgency to get NHA established in this region is vitally important.  I cannot think of a more important act of charity, act of love, act of compassion you can do than to support this venture and help us get this Compound settled so that through NHA's existence here we can save even more lives.   I implore you to open your hearts and give today. 

Well, in the midst of its pains, all ends well tonight in KAMANKA Village.  Anthony's father is laid peacefully to rest 

and the Local Chief serves the palm wine as traditions permits.

With Love-JERRY MAKO.

Planting Rice, Whatever the need

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

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.

Here a Worm, There a Worm! Everywhere a Worm, Worm! We want them to be Gone Gone

As James Mansaray and the family travel throughout villages of the upper Provinces of Sierra Leone,

they happen upon village after village of children infested with internal parasites: worms.

Lucy and Kadijah treat each child as they line up to be rid of their worms.

The living conditions can be unsanitary, it is impossible to prevent people in these area from getting worms.

Its not that the people are dirty.

They wash everything, themselves, their clothes, in many cases many times a day - and they use soap - lots of it.

Notice the child's belly (on right) enlarged with parasites

The problem is their water is not clean, the water they drink nor the water they wash in.  Their homes are made of mud, they have dirt floors.

We've been asked, "Why do you treat worms in children if you know they are going to get them again?"  The answer is simple.  If we don't, the worms will increase inside the body and devour what little nutrition the child gets.  There is no option than to treat - it is better to treat and rid the body of the worms and re-treat again later than to allow the parasites to progress so much they snuff out the child's life.

Thanks for the money for Worm Pills that you raised selling the blackberries that you picked, Savannah

Treating people with worms is not cheap.  It cost NHA $3 per pill.  It takes one pill to cure a mild case of pins worms.  Unfortunately, we rarely see mild cases and usually they have round, whip, or hook worms. These situations take 6 pills or $18 per case to cure.

Again, its the teamwork of NHA, the praying, the giving, the loving that gives these children a chance.   Keep up the good work! Share NHA with others so that they too may be a part of helping the poor today so that their tomorrow may be brighter.

Nazareth House Apostolate

2216 Goldsmith Lane

Louisville, KY 40218

www.nazarethhouseap.org

The Rains Pour down on the Poor

For this NHA Distribution Trip from Freetown up to Kabala, visiting villages along the way,

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.

Give Today

Nazareth House Apostolate

2216 Goldsmith Lane

Louisville, KY 40218

www.nazarethhouseap.org