Not intentionally, the NHA Blog seems to have been on Summer Vacation. Though the NHA blog has been inactive - Nazareth House Apostolate has been extremely busy.
Today is the feast of Mary, Messenger of Peace. Her statue resides in our chapel, the Sanctuary of the Holy Name. The details about Mary, Messenger of Peace can be found on a previous post at this link: NHA Blog Post Messenger of Peace This link also include the Litany of Mary, Messenger of Peace.
This special Feast Day is the perfect guide as we step quietly into the Autumn Season. At St. Simeon Skete we begin the Novena of the Seven Sorrows of Mary today. For Nine days we will say the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows through the 14th of September which is the Feast of the Holy Cross. September 15th is the Feast of Mary of Seven Sorrow. September is pregnant with spiritual devotions and learning.
As we edge towards a new season, falling leaves and changing weather, I am forced to stop and take a look at the events of this Summer. Among many events, the arrival of James Mansaray, our head of operations in Sierra Leone and his daughter, Lucy are the highlight of the activities.
Lucy has never been out of Sierra Leone and this was a considerable undertaking. I remember the first time she looked into the sky and wondered what the airplane vapor trail was. There are no airplanes crossing the sky in Sierra Leone.
As I type this post, I can hear Lucy in the kitchen singing. Its hard to believe that on Monday it will be two months since she had heart surgery in Louisville. What an event in her life, in our life and that of all Nazareth House Apostolate. Can you imagine coming to a foreign country, passing out at Eucharist and finding out that you need heart surgery?
Lucy has handled it all beautifully, choosing to take advantage of the situation as a learning tool.
Every nurse and Doctor she met, Lucy asked questions and the wonderful staff at Baptist were more than happy to help her out.
During the past few months at the skete we've had an incredible amount of guests from all over the world.
Plus all of the Nazareth House Board of Directors came for our Annual Meeting.
And we've also made visits to our friends and supporters in other areas of the country.
Through it all, The Prayer Offices continue. This is what sustains us, feeds us and keeps us going.
Too quickly, the time for James to return to Sierra Leone came. Afraid of blood clotting after surgery, Lucy has stayed behind. Sending James back to Sierra Leone is always difficult, but sending him this time, knowing of the prevalent Ebola Outbreak in his country tore at our hearts like never before.
This brave man smiled and waved at us from the airport security checkpoint and armed with a suitcase full of rubber gloves, he made the journey to his homeland where Ebola is wreaking havoc.
He was anxious to be with his beloved wife, Kadijah and children, Roo and Vicki.
As Headmaster of the NHA School, he is excited to prepare for the school reopening. And he wants to return to be there for those who are without. Especially the children, he loves the children of Sierra Leone so much and wants to in some small way better their future.
Food and jobs have always been scarce around Sierra Leone, but these days with closing of schools, shops and such because of Ebola; people are suffering more and more each day.
Because of the regular monthly donations NHA was able to continue to provide for those in Sierra Leone. Our teachers are getting paid, even while school is not in session due to the Ebola. We are doing our best to keep the economy stimulated by buying paint and supplies from local shops in order to paint and prepare the NHA School in Kabala for the opening of a new school year. We've hired workers to help us get this job completed. James also hired some workers to cut the overgrown brush from around the contract. NHA is providing work where there is not. This helps people to provide for their families and helps us get our work done. Though travel from area to area is forbidden and curfews issued, James is able to get funding to Freetown to the people we take care of there. We cannot ship items at this time but we can purchase supplies there if we have the money. Ebola is pressing hard, but NHA continues to do our work one way or another.
The reality is that, things will get worse before they get better. This means more and more people will have to do without. They have very little to begin with. Please in your charity, consider lending a hand to those without. God bless you all
Donations can be mailed to:
Today is the feast of Mary, Messenger of Peace. Her statue resides in our chapel, the Sanctuary of the Holy Name. The details about Mary, Messenger of Peace can be found on a previous post at this link: NHA Blog Post Messenger of Peace This link also include the Litany of Mary, Messenger of Peace.
As we edge towards a new season, falling leaves and changing weather, I am forced to stop and take a look at the events of this Summer. Among many events, the arrival of James Mansaray, our head of operations in Sierra Leone and his daughter, Lucy are the highlight of the activities.
Lucy has never been out of Sierra Leone and this was a considerable undertaking. I remember the first time she looked into the sky and wondered what the airplane vapor trail was. There are no airplanes crossing the sky in Sierra Leone.
As I type this post, I can hear Lucy in the kitchen singing. Its hard to believe that on Monday it will be two months since she had heart surgery in Louisville. What an event in her life, in our life and that of all Nazareth House Apostolate. Can you imagine coming to a foreign country, passing out at Eucharist and finding out that you need heart surgery?
Lucy has handled it all beautifully, choosing to take advantage of the situation as a learning tool.
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| Dr. Mandrola with Lucy and James |
Every nurse and Doctor she met, Lucy asked questions and the wonderful staff at Baptist were more than happy to help her out.
Plus all of the Nazareth House Board of Directors came for our Annual Meeting.
And we've also made visits to our friends and supporters in other areas of the country.
Through it all, The Prayer Offices continue. This is what sustains us, feeds us and keeps us going.
Too quickly, the time for James to return to Sierra Leone came. Afraid of blood clotting after surgery, Lucy has stayed behind. Sending James back to Sierra Leone is always difficult, but sending him this time, knowing of the prevalent Ebola Outbreak in his country tore at our hearts like never before.
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| Seraphim giving a blessing to James as he travels |
This brave man smiled and waved at us from the airport security checkpoint and armed with a suitcase full of rubber gloves, he made the journey to his homeland where Ebola is wreaking havoc.
He was anxious to be with his beloved wife, Kadijah and children, Roo and Vicki.
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| Roo and Vicki (August 2014) |
Food and jobs have always been scarce around Sierra Leone, but these days with closing of schools, shops and such because of Ebola; people are suffering more and more each day.
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| Kabala Children (Septermber 2014) |
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| Child of Kabala (September 2014) |
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| Child drinking well water from dirty water bottle. Kabala, 9/2014 |
Nazareth House Apostolate
185 Captains Cove Drive
Taylorsville, KY 40071
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