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

If the shoe fits, buy it in every color...

you bought shoes in USA,

NOW

they are wearing them in Sierra Leone

Once all the medications were given out at Kamasorie Village (we distributed to 3 villages that day), it was time to sort and give out the shoes. We had given out more shoes the day before at the Nazareth House Apostolate School in Kabala. Here we are today ready to give out more. We can't thank everyone enough for their participation in this collection drive. You did well!

The shoes were carried over to the area in which we would distribute them.

We had laid out a mat to keep the shiny new shoes perfectly clean

for their proud new owners. In a village where no-one gets anything brand new; everything - shoes, clothes, etc - is used (and most of the time not "gently" used but vigorously used), getting brand new shoes is a big deal. A very big deal.

Emily quickly initiates the task of sorting the shoes by sizes. Pa Foday, Kadijah and Mako begin opening the large black bags and boxes filled with shoes.

These are the very bags filled with shoes that they carried on their heads to reach the this village, hiking 4.8 miles.

My mischievous nature is sparked when seeing Emily sitting on the ground surrounded by shoes. I decide its time for a little fun.

I whisper to Mako about my plan and being the fun loving guy that he is, he quickly agrees to join in.

Poor Emily, she is a sitting duck to us

as we dump all the shoes directly on her.

Ever-practical Kadijah looks on.

I know what she is thinking, "no time to play kids, lots of work to be done". Being a hard working family, the Mansarays

appreciate the prank, but work is quickly resumed.

The shoes are sorted by size.

This is once again the "NHA Way of Individual", one on one attention

that is characteristic of Nazareth House. We never pull up in a truck, dump off supplies and leave. We work individually, building a relationship. As with the worm pills we take the time to administer each dose to each person. We fit each shoe on each child, making sure it fits the best it can. Oh sure, some shoes had growing room for some kids, we could not have 100% perfect fitting. But we came close.

As we continue to sort,

a line begins to form with anxious children.

Eventually the line

surrounds the building in which we are in front.

There are more and more children and adults,

all wanting new shoes. Finally the sorting is done

and we are ready to match the shoes to the feet.

Check back tomorrow to see the "fitting of the shoes".

Be a part of Nazareth House Apostolate, its not just an organization helping out others, its a family; sharing, laughing, loving together, doing the best we can for each other with what we have.

www.nazarethhouseap.org

Special note to James Mansaray from Mama Vicki:

Thank you James for documenting the work, the fun, the family. What a great photographer you are. I love you.

Hiking into Kamasorie Village

During the recent trip to Sierra Leone, we were delighted to be able to return to Kamasorie Village.

This village requires about a 45 minute drive from the area where the new NHA Compound is and then a 4.8 mile hike by trail.

The sign at the entrance says 3 miles, but according to GPS it is indeed 4.8 miles from the road to the village.

James told me the 'lesser distance' on the sign might be to encourage people to visit, thinking it to be a shorter hike.

As we start out, Pa Foday hands me his father's cane

to navigate through the brush along the trail.

I am honored to be given such a precious memento from the past.

As we hike on, James sees that I am using the cane and recognizes it.

He tells me stories about his grandpa - swatting at the kids with the cane when they troubled him or pestered him.

After gathering at the start of the trail by the road,

we gather the supplies we are bringing in.

Mako and several of the kids carry the shoes we have brought for the children of the village. I am stunned that they effortlessly carry such heavy loads, long distances, on their heads.

This is one of my goals, to learn to carry things on my head like the Africans...

but for now it remains an accomplishment this white girl has not met.

As we hike on into the village, it is a tradition that Fr. Seraphim lags back in prayer.

He wants to take his time and pray. Prayers left like bread crumbs every step of the way, lingering for all who pass through this trail to receive.

Fr. Seraphim's work is of all time and is not restricted by the clock.

The rest of us, some with loads on our heads, work our way through the trail a bit faster so that we can begin our work in the village while it is still in the cool of the morning.

It is March and this is the dry time. We are used to making this journey in September or October (the rainy season) when all is lush and green. This hike, everything is very dry and it all looks "burned up".

The streams and rivers we are used to crossing have dried up

and the ponds are muddy with only small amounts of water in them .

As we climb up one hill, it looks as if it has snowed.

The tree seed pods have burst

and showered a white fluffy seed mix all over the area.

As we get closer to the village,

we can view the huts from a distance.

A little further in, we see their thatched school.

Once we have paid for our new compound in Kabala, including the surrounding land, maybe we can think about building a school for Kamasorie. We've always brought medical supplies into Kamasorie, however, this visit we are bringing shoes as well as enough internal parasite (worm medicine) to treat the whole village. Maybe with our move into Kabala, we can begin to help in their educational needs, also.

Finally, we are nearing the village.

Fr. Seraphim is not far behind.

It is always wonderful to greet

our friends of Kamasorie.

We have kept them in our hearts

and prayers as they keep us.

In Sierra Leone, especially in villages such as this,

Muslims and Christians co-exist very well,

respecting each others traditions, working together in brotherhood.

At the entrance to Kamasorie, Pa Foday's father, Pa Mako Mansaray, is buried. I hand Pa Mako's cane to his namesake, Mako Mansaray as he stands at the gravesite.

May the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.

As the greetings continue, we prepare for our work. Check back tomorrow to hear more about our visit to Kamasorie.