From Freetown, SL to Kindia, Guinea and back...

Written by James Mansaray, 16 March, 2009

(Pa Barrie's widow, Marianna, and James at St. Laurence House)

Greetings from Freetown, Sierra Leone

Having gone through several weeks of mourning for her late husband, Mama Marianna made yet another trip to Kindia town/ Conakry Guinea to pay last respect to her late husband, Pa Barrie.

( Pa Amadu Barrie, Waliullah -صديق الله)

It was our promise at NHA to continue helping and seeing her through this and to take responsibility for her hence forth.

(Fr. Seraphim and Mama Vicki paying the rent for 2009 of Marianna's tiny little "house")


Mama Marianna, Mama Vicki, Fr. Seraphim, Pa Barrie and Jaria Barrie at the Barrie Home, September 2008.

Mama Vicki and Pa Barrie, September 2008 at his home.



Below, the photo is of the inside of the Barrie house, storage of foods, etc.



Once more, I was on the road again last week to bring Marianna Barrie home. As usual, passing through that road is always hectic, meeting more military and police check points, harassment and not mentioning the pains from the continuous road bumps. Despite the dust and broken bridges,this time round I consider it much better. No trouble on the Sierra Leonean part of the road so it was a lucky trip. Thanks to you all for your prayers.

To prevent more damage to my working tools (Cameras) I bury them among my few clothes and placed all in my bag. Remember they damaged and almost took my only camera on the Guinean part during my last trip to Kindia, so I was kind of conscious and a bit worried making way through those guys again.

A quick stop at Conakry, before jumping into another jam-packed vehicle to Kindia the following day.

(James is wearing mask to prevent all the dust from entering his lungs during the drive)

Yet again at this big check point called Transis, a Guinean soldier having found no fault in me decided to take money from me somehow so he said that I need an official medical proof to enter their Country. I did’t know what to say, as he was already walking away with my Passport. God bless the heart of a lady sitting next to me who went out arguing on my behalf and brought back my Passport. Like Mama Vicki says "Miracles are LOUD in Salone" and they were shouting to make it so easy for me to cross the border this time.

Once in Kindia, Mama Marianna was there waiting and I received a warm welcome again from the few family members that I met there.

I just could not wait to see Pa Barrie’s grave again. It all seems as if he was waiting there to say "hello". I spent sometime there in prayers with Ibrahim, one of his Grandsons

and also Sheriff, a friend I made on my way to Conakry.

The thoughts of spending another dreadful night with bed bugs and killer mosquitoes was on my mind from my last trip... so I wasted no time the following morning to make it quick out of Guinea and cross the border post before it closes down. Mama Marianna never said a word nor climb out of that vehicle till we get home in Freetown, late that evening.

Eight hours from Pamalap to Freetown in a drive that was supposed to be just three hours. This time we squeezed into the car of the most rotten and bad driver I had ever met in my life, with no spare tires, no jack for his vehicle etc.

We had ten to fifteen break downs and any time this happens we have to wait for another vehicle to help up us out.

One long stop at Boamoi village where the tire could go no more so the bad driver finally decided to buy another old one.

Here I took a walk along the village greeting some of the villagers who were all in a happy mood

collecting peanuts and getting busy.

You’ll see the need but these people have no choice but to stick with it happily.

More kids rolling on the dust keeping the dry wind alive.

Thank God I am back home and Mama Marianna happy to be here.

She, along with me and the whole St. Laurence House family, say "hello" and send love to all at NHA for providing for and praying her back home safe.

Thanks for keeping up the support of Nazareth House and not forgetting needs of those in my country. You are making a difference. God bless you.
James.

GUINEA PIGS & GUINEA ROADS...

Our recent Journal Series of James travel to and from Guinea prompted some comments and questions from those who are new to Nazareth House Apostolate.

One such comment came from a kind lady who was "googling" the words "guinea pig" and came up with our blog. Ha Ha! I love the strange ways people find us. Anyway, seeing the photos and reading James' struggles of the trip kept her on the blog and prompted her to investigate Nazareth House further.

In a series of emails, she questioned about how we were able to "do what you do" in Sierra Leone while operating out of USA. "It seems that an organization would have to be in the country and area in which they serve" she said, "The logistics, the energy spent must be incredible being across the ocean" she continued. This was my perfect opportunity to explain that we are doing just that...trying to establish permanent residency in the area in which we serve.

I explained that we are able to do as much as we do because of the team work between Nazareth House, Freetown a.k.a. St. Laurence House and Nazareth Houses in America. We are more than a working team, we are a family, a bond. Through James, Kadijah, Lucy, Ann Marie and even little Roo, we, as Nazareth House, are able to deliver provisions and hope to those in need without ever leaving home!

You know James and Kadijah, because there is a relationship, you care about them, you love them. Conversely, they know those involved in Nazareth House from America as if they are their own family, they love you.

 

Everyone is giving every thing they have (prayer,talent, money, time) to make it happen ....but without a compound we are limited. Once we own our Operations Center and are free of the rental insecurity, we can expand and branch out to fill more cracks with the provisions that they so desperately need. It is imperative for us to provide housing for our staff, store the supplies that we distribute to the needy (including medical), give accommodation for those coming to immerse themselves in the mission field, an most importantly offer a much needed home for the terminally ill - a place to spend your last days without being alone and homeless. Death is a constant IN YOUR FACE reality in Sierra Leone, most are left to find it without any comfort.

All of this we must do, and the clock is ticking fast. March 1, 2009 - we lose our lease and St. Laurence House et el will be out on the streets of Freetown. Like the beach bars of Lumley Beach, we have received our warning and we fully expect to have to vacate the premises. (see previous posts this blog re: beach bars)

"Wow", she replied "I certainly didn't expect to be drawn into the needs of an African country. I really didn't even know anything about Sierra Leone when I typed 'guinea pig' into the Google Search Engine!" "I was looking for ways to aid a sick guinea pig."

"I want to know more about St. Laurence House and NHA." I sent her to our website, but for more personal views, because of her interest and that of others; our next Blog series will be on Getting to Know St. Laurence House...

Tomorrow's Blog: Meet Mr. Roo...

Journey back to Freetown (Final Day)

Harassment from Guinean police and military personnel's for 'Carte' meaning paper or documents when all they are looking for is money. Fighting with drivers and passengers for money at the Gbalamuya border post got so tense that morning as we drove through. This time I was in a tight spot -- for carrying a (NHA) press ID, Media vest and worst of it all, a camera!!! A big fight to stop them from grabbing my camera. They wanted the film out so I took the lens off and then the battery. I then placed rest of camera in my vest and quickly took the media stick out, hidden. Thanks to a Sierra Leonean military man who asked them to leave me alone when they found out that there wasn't media stick in it. (They damaged the rubber of the camera searching for film, they didn't understand the concept of digital camera)

As a Camera man, Media or whatever you may call it, there is this art of picture taking as you go about doing your stuffs. This is part of my job as I work with people. Sometimes it is very heart breaking to take pictures of rough kids and poor scenery when there is not enough to give to all, but I think it is good to show the world some of these stuffs. In the midst of it all, you are sometimes faced with smiles and most times trouble especially with security personnel. The trip to give Pa Barrie our last respect here on earth was no exception.

It was very difficult to say the least, but so it was and I am happy to be back home at St. Laurence house. Thanks for your prayers. - James

Struggles of travel to Sierra Leone (Day 4)

By James Mansaray, Freetown:

We managed to get to the borders again and I had to pass the night there once more since the border was already closed. Sleeping place was the problem. A call from Mama Vicki lights me up a little since it was very cold there that night.

I finally found a sleeping room of ten for just three thousand Leones a night (a dollar). Very cheap but was it worth it? This I found when I got in there and this I wrote that night as I sat on my part of the ten man bed.

" As I write this down, it is still dark here. 2:35 AM I am right at the borders between Sierra Leone and Guinea. I just cant handle sleeping with ten strangers on the same bed in this hut, fearing theft or something else. My clothes still on, fearing more mosquito bites, the guy next to me rubbing and scratching all over his body. The other on the left side snoring like thunder signifying sound sleep in the mist of mosquitoes and bed bugs, he must be very comfortable with it.

At a distance a man talking at the top of his voice in Fula and a woman laughing. They, too, just cant sleep. The man next to me is up and he is talking to himself. I am scared, so I answered him, pretending to not be scared of him and as if I am used to the place. It is a long night and my flash light in my mouth to help me see what am writing. All these struggles in the name of Pa Barrie, yes, he deserves it.

Writing is good and it's a stress killer right here in this hut. Still killing time, still no sign of the morning light. Seems quite now, no sign of man talking in Fula. Tons of snoring this time from the nine guys. I love sleep-- but not here. My camera well held, you never know what might happen".

So it was that dreaded fourth night.

To be continued on next post tomorrow...

Travel to Guinea for Burial Rights of Pa Barrie (Day 2)

Meeting Pa Barrie's extended Family: James Mansaray, Freetown

Day two was a little bit relaxed for we were on the better side of the road to Coyah town linking the capital Conakry and the Provinces. Here I finally got hold of Mama Vicki and my family back at St. Laurence house before heading to Kindia in another full car. After two hours we were there and we met several family (Barrie) members waiting, some crying and mourning together. I was greeted with peace, love, and tears of joy. At the grave side we said a prayer and back at the house I greeted the family and explained that I was sent by Fr. Hick's, the best friend of the late man. Their mouths were full of thanks and love for us to come that far to mourn with them.

After greeting and spending time with them, arrangements were made to mark the grave well, food and transportation money from NHA given to see that Mama Marianna and Jaria returned back to Freetown after the funeral rights were all observed. I was off again on the road. This time alone and it was the third day.

They all escorted me out of the compound with tears still on. I tried to keep mine but could not control it and at the end was in tears too, till I reach the bus station.

Tomorrow: more discomforts of the road

Trip to Guinea, escorting Pa Barrie Widow (Day 1)

Travels to/from Guinea: by James Mansaray, Freetown:

Writing this makes little sense for it's the worst and best trip that I had ever made. Worst in the sense because the roads are very bad, risky to travel on, broken bridges, hostile check point's guards on the Guinean side, passengers jammed packed like sardines together with goods and most of all spending ten hours in what supposed to be two hours.

Best trip on the other hand, for it brought us (NHA) and Pa Barrie's family much closer --seeing us all as one family. This does contribute to the work of NHA here in Sierra Leone and beyond taking peace in the midst of turmoil through prayers and love. Not counting the warm welcome and appreciation I got from this people when we got there.

My pity was for the old Mama Marianna (Pa Barrie's widow) who was struggling to handle the pain of her husband's death and the struggles to get there. Climbing up and down whenever we get to a bad point on the road. Sometimes, the driver's apprentice would have to go stand into the huge pool of water to make sure it is safe to drive on. Can you imagine doing all this at night? She could not say a word till we make it to Kambia town the following morning, where she asked for water. There was pain and fear all over my body on the first day.

(to be continued next post...)