Post comes so St. Laurence House can do their job... Giving, Giving, Giving.

Most of the supplies we ship to St. Laurence House in Freetown is hospital supply, medical, over the counter medicine and special needs. However, the USPS allows 20 pounds per flat rate box. Many times we have syringes and IV tubing which weigh very little. So we cram the box with other items taking advantage of the 20 lb limit. These last few shipments have been filled with medicines and extras to be distributed at Christmas time to those living around Freetown. We've also shipped our annual candy canes for the students at our Nazareth House Apostolate Kabala School. Many of the over the counter medications were purchased from Dollar Tree and Big Lots. Effective medication at a great price.

We've been praying for little Samuel Mansaray, the son of Paul and Hannah Mansaray. Paul is James' elder brother. Samuel has not been well, not able to take nourishment and has no appetite or energy. Plagued with repetative fevers and swollen glands, no doctors have been able to diagnose him or help him.

Samuel was the reason for this shipment, we sent him some nourishment boosters such as "Kids essentials" to give him vitamins and hopefully stimulate his appetite.

The boxes are hauled home from the Post Office to St. Laurence House

(Kadijah is lifting 60 pounds worth of supplies - 20 lbs per box)

where they are sorted according to distribution.

The St. Laurence House family

gets into the helping unload and sort the boxes.

Everyone is checking to see if there might be something special

just for them tucked in the packages.

I always try to put something fun, something unusual for James and the family to find when they open up the boxes.

This time it was Groucho Marx Faces which Roo and James

displayed for us all immediately! Heh! Groucho doing the Spiderman sign... Oh Roo, such fun you are...

"Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes? " -Groucho Marx

In these particular packages Roo received his Christmas gifts, a bit early. When I was in Freetown, Roo had a tiny toy Scooby Doo toy, so I sang the Scooby Doo theme song from the cartoon. He looked puzzled at me. Roo didn't know there were Scooby cartoons or Scooby Songs or anything. So in returning to the States, I sent him some dvds, only to find out that their television at St. Laurence House has now bit the dust and there is no way to watch the videos... sigh. Prices for an old analog TV in Freetown range upwards of $900 so it is not feasible to buy one there, and no way to afford cost of shipping them one - for now they will do without and maybe I can figure a way to bring a portable dvd player to them next mission visit. However take a good look at the smile on Roo's face,

watching the videos doesn't matter to him, he's happy enough just to look at all the DVD cases with his favorite characters on them.

This was Roo's special box,

having new Scooby Doo pajamas

and several people helped add a few spiderman gifts -

ah this Christmas has already proven to be one of his best,

Roo is very happy but ALWAYS

remembers to share with his friends.

Nazareth House and all involved are very thankful for your love and support. You make this happen! You are bringing about many many smiles. God bless you!

Nazareth House in Action

Last Week, our Nazareth House family from St. Laurence House packed up the necessary provisions

for James to make a trip to Kabala to check on the school and distribute rice to those in need along the way.

The following is written by James Mansaray from Freetown:

Its is our belief and wish at NHA to give rice for those who are in real hunger as (and when necessary). With the little funds we manage to scrape up every month, we pick families around us and those beyond to surprise them with a little bit of help to ease the hunger cry.

Small as he is, I need not tell ROO to help me collect, pack and give rice out to our neighbors.

This is what we do and would love to continue doing since there a so much empty stomachs out there.

Couple of days ago I was on the road again

with a handful of medical supply and rice reaching the most desperate homes especially those who had never had a bag from us before.

Day by day you meet more hungry kids

and adults and they need not ask you to give them for their eyes and the way they do says it all.

More and more kids left alone to baby sit themselves till 7:00 PM in the evening, when the family food will be ready.

Sometimes you need not blame the parents for they too had no choice but to make use of the best harvest that are left behind by rats and monkeys’.

As a child I had experienced this and till this day I still see mothers struggling to make the last days meal for their hungry kids who just sit back and wait for what will be placed in their big empty bowls.

For the kids at the one hut house, it’s all smile in their faces for they knew for sure that something is in store for them that will keep them alive and

active the up coming days. There is this joy you always find in their eyes and with this, it is always in my mind to give out more and more everyday.

A poor blind man could not believe that he was receiving a gift of rice and couldn't believe it was true. He asked if this will happen for him at least once every three month before he dies. (Help me provide this for him - give today). For him death is just around the corner since he is blind and has no means of providing for himself.

Sometimes it's so hard to believe and very difficult to do but once you see the hungry faces, you are left with no choice but to help out in your own way just like the

way we at NHA are trying to do.

See the huge smile of appreciating in this one legged woman's eye as I dropped her her own gift from St. Laurence House.

This is something no one will stop us from doing, we will continue despite the struggles. Together we will make our way into more and more hidden villages and do our work.

A big thanks to you all helping us reach these people. It is because of your compassion that they can keep breathing, please keep it up. You are important and needed.

God bless you all.

James.

Monday, April 21 updates

Email from James Mansaray to Vicki Hicks

Good Morning Mama Hicks,

I just drop Mako off at the Fourahbay College campus. He must finish registration or else miss a whole semester. He is struggling terribly with it but managed to make it there this morning. We must see a better doctor soon. He is always quiet and sleeping alot.

This morning he had some of the nice herb tea (sent from you guys) and a piece of bread before i dropped him off. Sanu kind enough to let me use his car again to escape the morning rush here. Mako for now taking the few medications we have on hand at St. Laurence House and the fever less but he still so very weak.

Having taken the allegery medication, am beginning to feel better. Roo down with flu so am sure its just the same weather condition. The rest are ok and doing fine.

We hope medications comes in today. Post Office has been really slow the past few months. We need these medecines as soon as possible. Our supply is very low.

Thanks for the encouraging phone calls and prayers from all of you guys out there. Again thanks for the daily prayer updates.

One more thing before i go. So much rodents in the house so we are doing mass clearing on every corner today. You hardly see them day time and it seems as if they are coming from outside the street gutters. Scary heh? But we are taking good care of our food so dont worry.

I will talk to Pa Foday later. I might go this weekend as planned depends on how Mako is improving.

Have a blessed day and greetings to all.

Son.