Waking up in Freetown

Early mornings are pretty routine for Fr. Seraphim and I at St. Laurence House in Freetown. Although Fr. Seraphim has already had his shower and begun his first Prayer Office by this time, I am wakened early by the Minarets' call to prayer from the Mosque. Such a beautiful way to wake up, being called to pray as your first thought.

It is still dark, but the relentless howling and barking of the demon possessed dogs have finally stopped. Simba settles down for a nap after a long night of guard duty over St. Laurence House.

Note: Simba is a great dog, and only barks in warning to his family he protects.

Flashlight in hand, I grab my toothbrush, knock the cockroaches off of it and head to the bathroom for a nice COLD shower. It's startling enough for the cold water to hit you first thing in the morning but even more unsettling when there is no electricity and you are showering by flashlight. T.I.A.*

For the most part, St. Laurence House lives at the level of the people around them. We don't have a generator, so when the city turns the electricity off, we use candles. When the tap water is turned off, we carry buckets long distances to gather our water. We have some updated equipment which enable us to do our work, but nothing to the extreme. However, the loss of the lights, the water, give you a better appreciation of what you do have. You learn quickly to not take anything for granted.

By now, the night sounds have subsided enough to hear the songbirds welcoming the morning. The comforting sound of the women sweeping the porches can be heard throughout the neighborhood. The bread is ready and we run down the street to buy our daily bread.





As the children get ready for school, Fr. Seraphim is now sitting on the porch, prayer beads in hand, praying over the people as they pass. He lines his "tools" up on the porch wall ...another day begins.

I have started the fire and am making coffee in the coffee press.

A woman driving by in a taxi spies Fr. Seraphim and wonders about his beads. She stops the driver and hops out "I have to know more about this man who prays".One by one the children leave for school. Each one stopping for their blessing. Lucy first ...then Ann Marie.... and now little Roo is of school age and joins in the morning routine,receiving his blessing bathed in prayer, the children of the St. Laurence House are fully equipped for the day... and off they go... Simithe stops by on her way to work to enjoy some fellowship and coffee. Before she leaves, she too, receives her morning blessing.
Its still very early in the morning and the streets are already becoming busy. Soon the streets will be overwhelmingly filled and Freetown will be fully activated.

*T.I.A. = This Is Africa

Roo experiences the value of FREEDOM!

If your week has been like ours, its had its share of frustration. Everyone has those weeks from time to time and they are good lessons in patience - at least this is what I keep telling myself (smile).

The other morning was particularly annoying. For years I've fought with the Sierra Leone Post in order to get packages delivered without items stolen from within or whole boxes lost all together. But the USPS, I could count on...that is... until recently.

I suddenly noticed a drop in donations and mail for Nazareth House at our address. This is always a scary thing to have happen since without our help people are put in severe need. Nazareth House Office Headquarters shares property with Grace Church in Louisville, but is incorporated separately. Both organizations are registered Kentucky Corporations at the Goldsmith Lane address. We've been getting mail for Nazareth House at that address since 2001. As of May 11, 2009, the USPS took it upon themselves to stick a yellow label on and return to sender all mail for Nazareth House. The label reading "undeliverable at this address"!

I began to get calls from people who have had donations sent by mail returned. We went to the Louisville Post, showed them our Corporation Registration papers (we had to go to 3 different USPS offices to get to the right place) and explained the problem. They were at a loss and said they didn't understand why this was happening. They assured me they would get it fixed. I explained that we are a humanitarian organization and that when donations don't come - people starve. There are very needy people depending on us to survive. This was Tuesday.

Yesterday, I did receive a piece of mail for Nazareth House. I pray that this situation has been rectified. If you have received your donation returned, please resend it. The economy has hurt us enough, we can't afford, for the sake of these dear people in Sierra Leone, to lose any more donations. If you were thinking of sending a donation and haven't yet - please do so today. The Post Office is on guard looking for our mail now and would like to have chance to make amends for their mistake. Let's bombard them with mail - let's keep them on their toes while we keep some bellies fed in Sierra Leone.

Nazareth House Apostolate

2216 Goldsmith Lane

Louisville, KY 40218

In the midst of the frustrations of lost mail, etc. I received the following email from James. I thought it was adorable and it made my day! Although James and Roo experienced some frustrations, the story certainly lifted mine. Lucky for us, James had his camera and documented the whole story... Read on:

Good Morning Mama,

Wow, We all pray success on our campaigns to raise awareness and funds for our work. We pray and place it in God's hand to work on.

I am doing fine and woke up well. We were busy this morning figuring how to get ROO out who playfully locked himself in our Room. He locked it with the Key and could not open so i was looking around for him and I heard him inside saying Papa "Open the door for me". I said,"I cant for the key is inside with you". So he started crying and crying. He was short and could not reach the key anymore. With my instructions from outside in the yard through the window, he placed a stool and climb up and them turned it a gain. It was a miracle. Since then he has refused to go into our room and now lodge himself in the prayer room. Funny but that could have cost us a whole door break.

I am getting few items for school like chalk, papers, etc and preparing to deliver it to Kabala school soon. As I go, I will be doing rice bags for some poor families too. Pray and I will report on that too.

I miss you but will catch you later on.

Love you lots.

Son.

As James gives instructions from outside the bedroom window, Roo pushes over a stool to stand on to reach the door.

An intense look on his face and key in hand , he tries to unlock the door.

A smile creeps across Roo's face as he realizes success!

Roo, never wanting to experience being locked-up again, celebrates his freedom with a bowl of Cassava Leaf & Rice.

PS: As you can see, Roo is a huge Spiderman Fan.

Daily frustrations being worked out... I have some good news to report.

More boxes are being delivered to Maria filled with shoes. Still a long way to go to reach our goal.

We are making progress filling this storage to later be packed into the container which will set sail to Sierra Leone.

James also reports that another package has arrived to St. Laurence House from the Post. We'll report on that later. Thank you, God. It's all good.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

Nazareth House Apostolate, The Staff and Family at St. Laurence House wish you all a
Happy St. Patrick's Day.

NHA is preparing for "James Day" on the blog...

Keep posted to the blog... James Mansaray Day on the blog is coming soon...

Meet Little Roo of St. Laurence House in Sierra Leone.

LAURENCE THOMAS MANSARAY: Born 2nd October 2006

This next Blog Series will be to introduce the newcomers to Nazareth House to the faces and people who make up this organization. We will begin in Sierra Leone with our beloved family who operate our rented distribution house, affectionately known as ST LAURENCE HOUSE.

For information as to the reason we named the center "St. Laurence House" refer to previous post of this blog ran on August 10, 2008, Treasures of the church" (http://nazarethhouseap.blogspot.com/2008/08/treasures-of-church.html#links)

 

James Mansaray is the director of St. Laurence House and the head of his household, however, little Roo (his son) runs a pretty good show of his own within St. Laurence House.

 

Even while growing in Kadijah's womb, when he first received his nickname, Roo captured the hearts of all of us. He is one of the cutest and smartest two years old around.

His smile can melt even the coldest of hearts.

 

Yet, like every toddler journeying through the Terrible Twos, Roo has his moments when he is mischievous, rambunctious and not too pleasant to be around.

 

 

 

Many parents in America (and maybe in Europe, too - I'm not sure), reprimand their children that misbehave by making them sit in "time-out"; a space or area where they must sit quietly, compose themselves if crying and contemplate what they had just done wrong. Upon arriving at St. Laurence House, we found out that Roo's "time out" is the wall. If Roo is whining or misbehaving, he is told "Roo, face the wall!" and little Roo obediently faces the wall until he can collect himself. More times than not, the question, "Roo, You want to face the wall?" will turn the situation in a positive manner without actual wall time taking place.





After a small time of contemplation while facing the wall, Roo always makes sure to apologize and show his parents he loves them. It is as if he understands that the corrections they give are in the end for his own benefit.



With all of us encouraging and supporting him along the way, we are expecting Roo to do big things as he grows up. Who knows? Maybe President of Sierra Leone some day???

 

Fr. Seraphim playing soccer with Roo at a store front in Freetown.

 

Pa Barrie, The Needs, and NHA Chapters...

 

"Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man." Ecclesiastes 9:15


The Three Day Mourning of Pa Barrie that Nazareth House Apostolate observed has now ended. Our love and respect for this Holy, Humble and Gentle man will never cease. We understand death and see it as a "journey on" rather than an end. Having much experience with those as they "drop the body" (especially in Sierra Leone) we are able to deal with it. Not that losing someone ever gets easy, or something you are used to, yet, with each passing, you become better equipped with the understanding of it all... However, Pa Barrie's transition from life on earth has affected us like no other. It is a very discomforting thought that we will not talk with him, visit with him, or walk with him again in this life. He has become so much a part of Nazareth House and we are all experiencing a great loss.

I have just received word that James has now returned to Freetown from Guinea where he escorted Pa Barrie's wife for the burial/mourning of her husband. He tells me it was the most terrible journey he has ever made, horrible roads. Both coming and going he had to wait the night at the border before entering the country. It was raining, he was cold and hungry. I cannot begin to tell you how proud we are of James and thankful for his dedication and love. NHA is truly blessed to have him as our director in Sierra Leone. Fr. Seraphim and I are most blessed to call him our son!

When James was suffering ulcers, we knew Pa Barrie was praying. When troubles were brewing during the Presidential Elections last year, we knew Pa Barrie was praying. When Fr. Seraphim and I are attacked with malaria, we knew Pa Barrie was praying. At all times, at all situations, he prayed.

Nazareth House Apostolate is committed to supporting his family. We have already paid the rent on the house for 2009, this Pa Barrie knew about. We want to complete his daughter's schooling and continue to provide for his wife. Marianna, his wife, works cleaning the Central Mosque. The income she receives is not enough to survive.

There are many other families that depend on Nazareth House to boost them up and help them along. You've met many of them through our photos. Each donation to Nazareth House makes possible their ongoing existence. There is so much to do and we are on such a limited budget. The needs are great and we must not turn our heads to them.

Now that we've opened the school, we cannot leave them hanging with no way to function. We must provide for the teachers and the teaching supplies.

YOU are Nazareth House and it is through you that the work is made possible. Please invite others to become a part of Nazareth House. The more involved, the more we can do.

In March 2009, St. Laurence House lease will expire. The landlord says he will rent to us NO MORE, having relatives who wish to move into the house. 5 months from now, James, Kadijah, Lucy, Ann Marie and little Roo will be out on the streets, homeless. Our distribution supplies and all, no where to store. It is now that we must establish permanent residency in Sierra Leone. Many foreigners are purchasing property and the housing marking will soon be cost prohibitive. We are down to the wire.

Nazareth House supporters are all over the United States and a few in Europe. It has been suggested that people form groups in their areas to raise money (i.e. Nazareth House Chapter). Example: Nazareth House: Breeding, Kentucky takes responsibilty raising $10,000 through fundraising methods of their choice. Another group would be responsible for additional amount. All working together, through grassroot efforts... wow... knowing all of you...we can accomplish anything...and have fun doing it. I know how creative this bunch is...

To secure a compound that will accomodate the storage of supplies to be distributed, house our staff, supply an area to aid the dying (Lazarus House), and provide guest housing for those wishing to experience life on the mission field; we estimate the costs to be around $250,000. We are in process of looking at property currently.

Those interested in starting a group, NHA Chapter, to support the work in Sierra Leone, please contact us through the email on our website www.nazarethhouseap.org.

POSTAL WORKERS COME THROUGH FOR NHA

Once again the postal workers have come through for NHA and we have received a large shipment of postal packages. Many of these items were shipped months ago, but they did arrive and they came intact. This is fantastic.

PHOTOS:
Roo goes with James to help at the POST OFFICE in collecting shipments. (love is wide-eyed look as he exams the boxes)
Boxes are carried to St. Laurence House
Lucy sorts and figures out the distribution. (I am happy to see that Lucy (our soon to be accountant - when schooling is complete -) is actively accounting for each piece that has arrived and categorizing and documenting. Wonderful!