St. Simeon Skete, Taylorsville Kentucky USA

With St. Simeon, the God receiver, as our patron, the skete seeks to practice the ideals found in our Rule, The Thousand Day Nazareth. In simplicity and poverty, the skete embraces the struggle of inner life through the practice of the Prayer Rope.

See our website at www.nazarethhouseap.org

Donations should be addressed to: Nazareth House Apostolate, 185 Captains Cove Drive, Taylorsville, Kentucky 40071.

Important Notice: All writings, posts, graphics & photographs in this blog are the copyrighted property of (unless otherwise indicated) Nazareth House Media, a division of Nazareth House Apostolate and cannot be copied, printed or used without written permission from NHA Media, Taylorsville, KY.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

What a Thanksgiving it was & continues to be. James Mansaray arrives in America!

I was a bit distracted during our Thanksgiving Dinner this year.  I had a certain event on my mind, everyone did.  We knew that James Mansaray, our NHA Director from Freetown, Sierra Leone had boarded a plane bound for the USA the night before and was expected to land at Standiford Field Airport in Kentucky on Thanksgiving Eve.  However, after he boarded in Lungi (Sierra Leone) we had no contact again.   His phone didn't work on our networks here and even as he waited out a layover in Chicago, we weren't sure if he'd cleared his way through Heathrow Airport.   So we waited....

anxiously hoping to see his face.   On the monitor it was reported that the flight was delayed.  
Was he on the flight?  Is he okay?

We waited with signs and even a homemade Sierra Leonean Flag!!!!!!!!!!

We tied shoes, and
danced around the Greeting sign... all in anticipation of the moment of arrival....
Finally, the plane arrives and we stand ready to greet James......
...and we wait....
and we wait...........

Suddenly we catch a glimpse of him.......
camera in hand.....
The hugs begin..........
and continue......
smiles and waves ............  



We greet in front of the "Kentucky Welcome" of bourbon splashing in the background and the word "ARRIVAL" 

joy and excitement
faces matched to phone voices..........
 3-D hugs.....
 finally getting to touch and hold "Uncle James" ....
 Real live greetings, no more internet photos... 
 the real thing, here in America........
 wow!
 A faithful supporter, Loretta, happened to be returning from visiting friends and recognized the faces of NHA, as well as our Logo on the banner and immediately joined in the celebration.
 Before allowing James to walk out into the cold, Ray presented him with a warm coat... (which seems to have become permanently attached to him ever since.)

Its on to experience America...

But first the escalator had to be dealt with.......
white knuckled, James negotiates it........  

Check in daily for more adventures both of NHA in America and in Sierra Leone.........

and remember
every donation small or large, aids someone in Sierra Leone

www.nazarethhouseap.org





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