In Sierra Leone, James has been very busy bringing much needed supplies to the Bush Clinics and families in the villages.
These are the poorest of poor, desperately requiring our assistance. Yours and mine.
James has also been heading up the construction crew while throwing in his own hand at building the wall around the NHA Compound. He said with the economy in such a downward spiral, thieves are more prevalent than ever. Unfortunately, without the final funding, he had to delay the finishing of the security wall.
Upkeep of the skete is a matter beyond the weekly 7-8 hours of grass cutting. It is groundskeeping, building maintenance, household chores, cleaning the chapel, preparing for guests, and much more, week after week. We had some unexpected plumbing issues at Anna House hit us this past week. I was already struggling to figure out a way to go ahead and send an extra $700 to James to finish the NHA Compound Security Wall in Kabala when I decided the danger is too great, I just have to send it, couldn’t risk the family left open to thieves or thugs any longer. No sooner did I send it to Sierra Leone when the plumbing woes showed their ugly head to the tune of $700 (This was with a $185 discount for religious institutions). I’ve been paying the heating costs bit by bit from last Winter but the company insisted it all must be paid at once or we won’t be able to use them next year - so there goes $500 for Anna House and $400 for the Kellia. At least that won’t come up again until the Winter, and the plumbing is completed. However, in one week we had to cover $2300 in unexpected bills. That’s a difficult sum for any organization to endure, more so for us who depend on donations.
Each month, NHA sends $2300 towards the work in Sierra Leone. This includes paying our hard working teachers, providing needs of the school, providing food and supplies for the families and villages in need and accommodating the maintenance and sustenance of the NHA Compound and staff. Our goal has always been to secure 1000 donors giving at least $25 per month. This would provide a budget that allows for maintenance of both the skete and the NHA Compound in Sierra Leone as well as increasing our presence in the villages surrounding the compound. We’ve had as high as 33 people giving monthly but are now at 30. Recently a couple of our supporters passed on, God rest their soul. I am encouraged that now these two are now praying for us from the other side.
As he was taking supplies into the villages, James happened upon this young boy wandering along a dusty road. He was hungry, feeling faint, naked with a belly full of worms, no shelter from the hot sun. This is what NHA does, this is what you do when you support NHA - Matthew 25:35-36.
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| Children near Kroo Bay in Freetown, bathing in dirty water shared with swine |
Donations for NHA are critically important, there is so much more at stake than meets the eye. People are in serious poverty in the villages in Sierra Leone and in America there has never been a more urgent need for the skete. Its tough everywhere, people take comfort in knowing that there is a place where prayer is going on continually for them and those around them.
Please consider becoming a part of the NHA Monthly Giving Program and remember to spread the word - allow others the opportunity to be a part of the love found in Matthew 25 - bring awareness of the needs.
For information on making donations please click on the link below:
Thank you.
You can follow Nazareth House on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NazarethHouseApostolate
and St. Simeon Skete at https://www.facebook.com/StSimeonSkete. Have prayer requests? Send them via our Bede Roll of St. Simeon Skete at this link: https://www.facebook.com/Bede.Roll.of.SSS?fref=ts
