There is a reason to give...

This morning I received the following email with several photos from James Mansaray, our NHA Director in Kabala, Sierra Leone.  I thought that I should write a blog about the situation and the needs but I think James' email says all that needs to be said.  I have no words to add.  

James Bombolia Mansaray	6:40 AM (9 hours ago)
to me

As we strives to raise funds on this  past Giving Tuesday for our nha school kids, several poor families in Kabala were devastated with their house on fire yesterday afternoon.  

Two of our NHA school kids live with their parents in this house. 

For Victoria and her sister, they were still in school but they lost everything again. 

Yesterday we were talking about uniforms and today it’s about food, clothes, basic house stuffs and shelter not only for Victoria and her sister but eight family member living in this house. 

These are hard times so this family is in desperate need. Vic and her sister luckily got a pair of uniforms on with the spare lost in the fire.  

so they stayed with their grandmother last night as they wait for whats next. 

I  stopped to see them again this morning and I was in tears, walking there with nothing in my hands, I wish I had buckets of money to give them to restart.  I cried so hard, mom.  

We are hurting here so bad, even food is hard to come by. But Guess what?  

these girls were just happy that I came and they welcomed me good in the midst of their burned out rubble of a house.  

At the fire there wasn't any way but for the neighbors and I to carry bucket after bucket of water to put it out.  

 I was there mama, my heart hurts, I wish I could do so much more.  

My neighbor died of malaria yesternight and the overwhelmed wife ran off leaving the kids to fend for themselves.  I fed them.  I am so broken mama, Monday I went to Nurse Ami's village - she is working all day long, hundred of mom's holding sick kids waiting outside.  

Please thank everyone for their prayers and encourage them to see through my eyes and come to our aid.  Its hard mama, its hard. 

Donations can be made by mailing a check to NHA, 185 Captains Cove Drive, Taylorsville, KY 40071 or via the Paypal Donation Button on our website www.nazarethhouseap.org

Visits, Projects and a Special Memorial

I’ve just woke up from a mid-afternoon nap. Seraphim and I have had little sleep lately, I finally crashed.  Waking up, I’m groggy and somewhat sick.  Apparently my body would rather I not wake up.  But I’m excited, I have some special guests at the kellia and I don’t want to waste any of the the time I have with them. 

 The Last few weeks have been intense.  This whole year has seen us and those we love pushed to extremes - struggles, hopes, fears, positives, negatives, joy, sadness - a whole bag filled with jubilant ups and devastating downs toying with our hearts and minds.  At times, its been hard to relate, to think or even pray.  Nevertheless, the Prayer Offices continue at the skete uninterrupted.  Sometimes the timing has been a few moments off schedule but every Office has been said - without exception.  And for me, there have been times when personal praying is difficult, distracted and disjointed.  It is at that time when all I can do is simply hold onto my beads, the rosary in which the Life of Christ is prayed.  And that holding is prayer; a holding onto that (Jesus) which is holding onto us.  

Photo by Aleica Willis 

Photo by Aleica Willis 

On Wednesday, October 2, James and Pa Foday Mansaray arrived from Sierra Leone.  

Photo by Aleica Willis 

An exciting and joyful event to have them here with us, but I want to back up to the week before.    September 22, was a typical Sunday -  Mass at the Sanctuary of the Holy Name - the Skete’s Chapel, with the added joy of taking Holy Communion to the Peterson’s home afterward.  

                     

Photos by Joan Markwell

                                                            

                   

There, Cindy Peterson was dauntlessly dealing with a body ravaged by cancer.  It wasn’t only the cancer she had to contend with but the damage caused by the treatment used to fight the cancer as well.  Through it all, I have never seen a braver soul, prevailing one hurdle after another, managing to squeeze out a smile, a quick witted remark to those around her or a kind “thank you” to the nurse attending her - even in the most troublesome situations.  After our visit on this particular Sunday, we returned to the skete and began to pack boxes, preparing to move to a new home.  You see after much prayer and consideration, it was determined that Anna House was more practical as the Office Headquarters for NHA and our residence and that the kellia is the better guest house.  And so, we began the move into our new home.  While we were in the process of that move, Cindy made her move to her new home as well, entering life eternal on September 23rd.  

Cindy and I had met prior to her illness but it was after the diagnosis that we got to know each other better.  

Our relationship grew, connected in a spiritual way - and I like that.  You can’t meet Cindy without her spirit showing through.  

A strong, valiant young woman - wife, mother, daughter - she embarked on nothing without giving it her all.  The “proper” thing people say at this time is “May she rest in peace.”  I know she’s at peace now...but resting? Somehow I see Cindy in the Cloud of Witnesses that have gone on before, cheering us on with all the vigor, enthusiasm and determination in which she approached everything while here on earth! 

Last Friday, the NHA Board of Directors began to assemble at St. Simeon Skete. By Saturday night we were all gathered in one spot - including James.  This was a first - all of us meeting in person.  When we meet in person, generally its 5 of us and we rely on video chat meetings, emails and phone calls to coordinate our work with James.  Before the Liturgy, we held our official meeting on Sunday Morning which Pa Foday set in on in an advisory position.  It was very productive with many goals and plans of implementation. As always, its evident what needs to be done, the chore is raising the funding.

Top priorities are 1. the purchase of the front property at the skete ($40,000) and 2. the addition of more classrooms at the NHA School in Kabala ($50,000).  New enrollments are approaching us everyday and we don’t want to turn students away.   Education is vitally important to the future of the community, without it there is no progress as the dependency on aid prevents self-sufficiency.  

While we must strive to fulfill the above goals with urgency, there is another need that is extremely necessary, i.e. a medical clinic.  The healthcare facilities in Kabala are greatly lacking.  Because of this, people must make the journey to Freetown to get somewhat better care.  In Kabala, if you get sick at night, chances are you will not find any medical attention until in the morning and then the equipment, medication and staffing is very limited.  Your emergency or illness must match exactly the treatment the hospital has on hand, if it doesn’t you cannot be treated.  For instance, if you have severe diarrhea and the hospital only has medication for those with constipation - you are out of luck. People need access to healthcare.  Therefore the NHA Board has proposed to build and maintain a Medical Clinic in Kabala near our school and compound.  

The NHA Board of Directors approved the building of the NHA Health Clinic dedicating it in memorial to Cindy Joan Peterson.  Cindy made a huge impact on the lives of many while she was with us, her memory will never fade. 

The children in Kabala prayed for Cindy during her illness.  





An ocean apart, Cindy and the students of NHA School and Pa Foday’s church were united in those prayers.  

What a suitable way of keeping Cindy’s Memory alive - - by keeping people alive - namely the children and families in Kabala.  People who otherwise, without the clinic, have no chance for medical treatment. We estimate that we must raise $75,000 to complete this project. (Considering the price of raising a comparable building in the USA, its not a large sum at all).   I just got off the phone with Supplies Over Seas in Louisville and have already began the steps to supply the clinic with medical equipment and supplies. 

There are many ways you can be of help to NHA and be a part of this great work.  Most importantly we ask for your prayers, for provision and protection.  Without funding, none of these needs, beneficial and essential to many, can be implemented.  Please consider giving today and also sharing the needs, projects and goals with your friends, family and co-workers - inviting them to be a part of this great work.  

There are many ways to donate.  You can make a contribution through the Paypal Donation link on the right side of our website, (www.nazarethhouseap.org/outreach ), arrange to have your bank send a donation through your banking institutions BillPay  or  you can mail your donations to :

Nazareth House Apostolate, 

185 Captains Cove Drive, 

Taylorsville, KY 40071

Checks should be made out to Nazareth House Apostolate. 

If you are making your donation for a designated project such as the clinic in memory of Cindy, or the school expansion project, St. Simeon Skete or any particular need, be sure to note it either on the Paypal instructions section or denote it on your check “for” line.  Donations received undesignated will be deposited into general funds and distributed as priority dictates.

Whatever way you decide to make your tax-deductible gift (reminder: only two months remain in which to make a contribution you can claim on your 2013 tax filing), remember you are not simply a donor but a part of this work.  You are being prayed for daily at St. Simeon Skete and it is YOUR school, YOUR clinic, etc.  in which lives are made better and saved.  

FAITH in action

The purpose of this NHA Blog is to keep you informed of the work and the needs both in Kentucky and in Sierra Leone.  It is important to us that you can see and track the gifts (donations) that you give.   Sometimes it takes time for everything to fall into place and the internet to cooperate in Sierra Leone but eventually you'll be able to see your contribution to NHA in action.   And so today I show you what the Faith Family has done.  This post details the activity of the Faith Family Yard Sale.   Its fitting that their name is Faith because it was in faith that this family trusted that whatever they gave would be enough to do something helpful.  

It pleases us that Cassie was surprised that a whole village could be supplied with dishes for $60.  (see yesterday's blog post: ) It is the way of NHA to be extremely careful with money - at the skete and in our overseas outreach.  James and our staff in Sierra Leone are exceedingly thrifty.  They know that the funds they receive come from your hard earned dollars.  They do not take this lightly and in their appreciation every thing they purchase is done so in the utmost frugal manner.  This is the practice of NHA in Sierra Leone and at the skete. This is why you see Seraphim constantly turning lights off behind others, we do not heat or air condition the chapel except on Sundays, grow as much of the food as we can and rarely hire out work. James is a master at squeezing everything he can out of every penny he receives.  In that vein, let us show you how the $200 from the Faith Family Yard Sale was spent:

At the end of every NHA School year in Kabala, the Teachers, Parents and Students are rewarded with a "End of Year Party".  James and the teachers work hard to prepare for this celebration.  This year, because of the Faith Family, we were able to provide a super party for the NHA School.  We provided food, 

(lots of food) and a good time for everyone - students, teachers and parents!  

$60 feeds one family one meal in Disney Land (and I suspect that was with the Faith Family being very economical).  But through NHA,  

only $140 more feeds 300 students, teachers and parents one meal and a party in Kabala!  - thanks to the careful planning and preparing of all of those involved in the school.

and as the pictures show, everyone received an American sized huge portion.

And thanks to Erik, Spencer and Owen - we now have two footballs for the Physical Education at the NHA School.  

Its fun to see the students having such fun.  Many of you will recognize the familiar faces of the students and notice how fast they are growing up.  Soon we will have students that have went through every grade and graduated from our school.  

The Year End Festivities took place on three different days last week at the NHA School.  We are anxious to share all of these events with you.  Tomorrow our blog will be on "Receiving Report Cards".  Please check back to see these students.  We cannot tell you how proud we are of them, the teachers, Pa Foday and James for all they have accomplished this year.  And most especially our supporters who are making it all happen.  

We depend on our supporters who give monthly that enable us to pay our teachers, provide food for many families, keep the skete and NHA Compound in good maintenance, provide for our staff and enable us to remain in prayer for others.  We are grateful for their support and for the extras that come in from time to time like this Yard Sale Money that enable us to surprise our brothers and sisters in Sierra Leone with additional good things.