Nazareth House Apostolate Blog: February 2012

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, February 28, 2012

Coffee Spilled...

I recently came across an article of Seraphim's, written many years ago about the time he spent in India. He was invited to a Christian Ashram in the Himalayas for dialog on the enculturalization of prayer.

Written by Fr. Seraphim

❖Coffee spilled into my lap as I heard, "Oh, I'm sorry, please forgive me." Grabbing a napkin, I assured the person who had bumped into me that it was okay. As I refilled my cup, I was reminded of a day on a dusty street in New Delhi, India, and how I learned one of the great spiritual lessons of my life.

Some years ago, I travelled to the Jeevan Dhara Ashram located in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains. I went to pray and spend time with the head of the ashram. My cell looked out on the majestic peaks which were breathtakingly beautiful. The air was fresh and scented with mountain flowers; it was a truly idyllic setting. Each morning I would rise at 3 AM to pray the Divine Office, remaining in prayer as the sun ignited the majestic peaks with heavenly golden light.

Then, with Jesus beads in my hands, I would take a prayer walk which would eventually lead me to the chapel of the Ashram. My time in the mountain paradise seemed to blend into one continuous, ongoing prayer. One day I was talking to a pilgrim who had just arrived from Germany. As we discussed the beauty and calm of the ashram I said "It sure is easy to be holy in a place like this," and he said, "Yeh, it sure is," as we gazed on the valley below.

A week later I made my way to New Delhi, where I spent my days walking the streets, silently praying the Jesus Prayer. I was still swimming in the holiness of the ashram when a motorized rickshaw ran up on the walk, heading straight for me! As the driver was bearing down on me I thought, surely he wouldn't hit me on purpose! How wrong I was - I bounced off the front of the rickshaw. I landed on the ground and yelled, "You idiot!" as he drove off waving his arms and blowing his horn. Dusting myself off I said, "Oh well, forget it," and walked on, keeping careful eye open for ricks.

Suddenly the noise of the city faded as my thoughts turned inward to the space where God speaks to us beyond words and images. A week before I had been in a Himalayan bliss, so "close" to God, so spiritual and saying, "It's easy to be holy in a place like this." Now, the first time I"m with someone since then I get angry and call him an idiot! I suddenly realized it's easy to think you can be holy in a place like an ashram. The test of holiness, however, is not being in an ashram, on a mountain, or in one's set times of prayer. The real test is carried out in the marketplace where life bumps us literally and figuratively.

Looking at this old photo, it proves that there was a time when Seraphim actually was young! (Tall man, back roll, left) ©2101 NHA

Back in the present, as I took another sip of coffee, I thought, the reason coffee was spilled on me was not because I was accidentally bumped but because there was coffee in the cup to begin with. What's inside a person is what comes out when they are bumped. We are to be filled with Christ so that when we are bumped, out come forgiveness, understanding, encouragement, compassion, love and whatever the present moment demands. (Col. 1:27). ❖

During this Lenten Season, as we fast, prepare our hearts, deepening our prayer lives, and attempt to take our spiritual disciplines more seriously, - its easy to think we are holy. But its what we do when life knocks us around and we get jolted.

We will get bumped. What is inside? What will come out? anger? revenge? mean-spirited, hurtful words? jealousy? If that is what is inside you, then that is what will come out.

However, if forgiveness, love, words that offer redemption, ...if those are the things that are inside you - then that is what will be unleashed on whatever jars us out of our comfort zones. May this Lenten Season be one in which the overflow within us is emptied of everything that isn't rooted in love.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Last week, one of the boxes that NHA sent to Sierra Leone arrived at its destination. There were others that were mailed together with it, but sometimes things are released at different times depending on how the postal workers in Lungi process the shipment. Once the packages arrive in Freetown, the Postal Workers there understand the value of the boxes and the needs of the people and they try their best to get them to James. Last week when the single box arrived in Freetown, the postal worker (a friend to James) took the care to have it delivered to James in Kabala.

Box in hand, James set straight out to put the box's contents to use. Squeezed in among the medications in the box was some deer jerky. In villages with no electricity, no form of refrigeration, the jerky is a great source of protein.

As James approaches the village, the residents wonder what he is up to and why he is coming their way.

He is watched as he steps closer.

The children are shy,

unsure of this visitor.

James begins to pass out the jerky.

At first, no one understands.

What is this dried out strip this man is giving us?

One taste of jerky at a time,

the uncertainty on their face is replaced by a smile.

Smile after smile after smile

after smile.

The Hunting Season in and around Anderson County in Kentucky

has now brought joy

to many people

in and around Kabala, Sierra Leone. Thank you to Denny and Joanie of

Markwell's Deer Processing for sending the jerky.

It certainly is a real treat in Africa.

See your donations in action, check back on this NHA Blog often! Let's pray that the remaining boxes arrive soon, there is some extremely important medications - like Roo's Iron pills - in them.

Please spread the word, invite your friends to be an NHA Sustainer! Thank you.

Friday, February 24, 2012

Barrka Village

Blog Post written by James Mansaray, Kabala Sierra Leone

After a long day of work around the NHA Compound, and assisting at the NHA School, and since Kadijah, Baby Vicki and ROO decided to spend time with her family,

I decided to skip out and visit the gold fields around Kabala for the first time.

Here a seventeen old boy lost his life and was buried with falling dirt

but his colleagues cant stop finding the hidden treasure that enables them to fight the severe poverty.

For them it seems a chance to be able to provide for their families.

The first thing they asked me for is Pain tabs (Advil) as they continue their hard labor.

Women and children patiently wait to see what the end of the day will bring them.

A hard days work brings very little results, but they keep at it - day after day.

Here in Barrka village people have nothing, I mean they really have very little to keep life going.

I will return to visit them from time to time and bring them much needed medication and supplies

thanks to the supporters of NHA that will make this possible.

Its such a rough road so we used a motor bike.

I'm always happy to add new friends to the NHA Family

and now we have another village - Barrka Village.

Please pray for them.

I had just received some deer jerkey

from Denny and Joanie Markwell of Lawrenceburg, Kentucky

and I was pleased to be able to share some with the children.

Its always a struggle here and there are so many needs. Thank you for your continued prayers and support - everything - every gift - large or small makes a difference.

Oh, yes, I know you pray for my family and the work here. Please keep special prayers for Lucy, my eldest daughter, as she is away from us in boarding school in Freetown. Thank you.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

St. Matthew vi. 16.

WHEN ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

FASTING:

During this Lenten Season, many of you will be abstaining from certain favorite foods, giving up meat on Wednesday and Fridays and/or other "fasting". Fasting is to abstain from an otherwise normal activity for the purpose of spiritual pursuit. Traditionally, it is food that is "given up" for Lent. But there are other ways to fast. If you are a clock watcher, you can give up constantly looking at the clock. You can fast from TV, shopping at the mall, playing video games. There are many things in today's world that consume our attention and divert us from focusing on God. With all the frivolous distractions in the world, it would be easy to find something in which to fast. Whatever you do, fast or no fast, it would be most beneficial if you make time this Lent to deepen your relationship with God.

UPDATE on NHA in SIERRA LEONE:

James reports that baby Vicki is growing fast and is a very good eater.

In fact, on one of his FaceBook status posts, James writes "Baby Vicki eating my ears off ".

Thank you for your continued prayers.

The Mansaray Family is doing very well, including Roo.

We have word that one of the several boxes of medicine and supplies has arrived.

We pray that the other will be released soon. The shortage of medical supplies, especially in Kabala is extreme. Its one thing to deal with such a handicap for a community, but to have sent things that are desperately needed and have them held up by the post is another. Please pray for their expedited delivery. Thank you.