Nazareth House Apostolate Blog: The path

As usual, Nazareth House Apostolate

During a rainstorm, we noticed the letters N H for Nazareth House spelled out in the leaves of the trees at St. Simeon Skete

packs a whole lot of action into a years time;

Humanitarian medical supplies delivered to a clinic in Sierra Leone from NHA

2011 was no exception.

James mails packages to Sierra Leone from Taylorsville, KY

2012 is panning out to follow suit.

James receives the packages in Sierra Leone that he mailed in Taylorsville.

January is not yet over and NHA has welcomed this New Year with President Koroma in Kabala, said goodbye to our dear friend, Thomas Landess, welcomed baby Vicki,

Young boy at one the newest villages that NHA will give aid.

brought aid to new villages near Kabala, reopened the NHA School after the holidays and

St. Simeon Skete, Meeting of the Lord Chapel

continued the daily life of ongoing prayer at St. Simeon Skete.

James from Sierra Leone visits California

A year ago at this time, James was returning to Sierra Leone after his visit to America.

James during his visit to St. Simeon Skete.

While in America (his first trip outside of Africa),

James was able to

meet in person many of

those who have been with him through the struggles of rebuilding life after such a terrible war. His heart had already been touched by them, now he was able to meet and physically touch them.

He was also provided a complete health screen by NHA.

Now today, a year later, he is back in Sierra Leone, struggling with a rather stubborn case of Malaria combined with an even more stubborn case of Typhoid.

He has just returned from opening a new village in need of NHA's assistance, he has a new two week old daughter

and much more responsibilities added to his charge.

children in the newest village under NHA care

As they say in Sierra Leone "it no easy"; however, through the love, care and compassion of our supporters, NHA will do its best to lessen the load as best we can, not just for James but for all of those we serve.

I remember lamenting at the first of the year in 2011 "so much to do!" But now a year later, as I review the year, I think "Oh wow! so much accomplished!"

We kicked 2011 off in Chico, California attending the Pray Love Walk-a-thon sponsored by St Augustine's Anglican Church. This was the catalyst for the campaign to retire the debt of building the NHA Compound, our center of operations in Kabala. We did, indeed, by the year end, retire the debt in 2011, which was one of our biggest expenses for the whole year. The construction was completed and our staff, James and Kadijah, moved in.

The move from Freetown all the way to Kabala was a difficult chore, one with its own expense, however, that too was accomplished through the assistance of NHA.

The NHA School (which is right across the street from the new NHA Compound) needed painting and the rooms needed to be divided in order to accommodate the need for more classrooms.

The Nazareth House Apostolate Teachers and Principal (January 2012)

Thanks to the support and generosity of all of you, this was accomplished before the start of the 2011/2012 School Year.

Another successful school year is well underway at the NHA School and we are very proud of our teachers and our students and the tremendous discipline of both.

James daughter, Lucy, with plans to be (a much needed) doctor, entered a private boarding school in Freetown where her she can excel in studies and preparation for medical school.

Her tuition has been paid for this year.

Every month (sometimes late but never missed) NHA was able to maintain the support of humanitarian aid to the families we regularly support in Sierra Leone plus random emergency needs that are presented to us. The teachers received their salaries ($100 per teacher per month) and the school continues to be maintained and in good operation.

Our monthly expenditure to provide for our staff, the school, the teachers, and care of the people in need - in Kabala, Freetown and area villages is $2,200 a month. We depend on our regular monthly donors to maintain this commitment.

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Fire destroys the One Hut Village housing

NHA provided a new home for the One Hut Village

The newly constructed home for the One Hut Family. It has rooms with walls and everything

after a series of disasters destroyed their thatched hut not once but thrice.

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Clinics have been stocked and restocked with medications from NHA.

Many children were treated

for internal parasites (worms). We even cared for a snake bite... Lives are being saved.

Illnesses, labor and delivery and other medical situations that required hospitalization were paid for by NHA for several in need, including Kadijah's expenses for delivery of Vicki

and Roo's anemia diagnosis. (Remember James' shingles, how painful that was)

So much accomplished. A review through the blog posts only hints at all that we've done together. Working together as a family, helping each other, caring for each other. Lives are being changed for the better, bellies fed, educational opportunities granted, love exchanged.