Welcoming Baby Bangura at St. Laurence House in Freetown

One of my many favorite times at St. Laurence House during this recent trip was to see Salu and Kadiatu at our gate ..with both of their daughters. After all the troubles they've been through (losing Isha, losing the baby girl last year at birth) here they were a happy family of four.It was wonderful to see all the smiles and to enjoy the sweet baby girl and play with dear little Salma.Salma has grown and is a very happy child...
We were honored to be able to provide them with a some new baby clothes, rice and support for their needs. This family has weathered a lot of heart-ache and struggles and we are happy to see them through as times look better and better for them.
The newest edition to the Bangura family "has my face" as Salu so proudly inform us. Fr. Seraphim and Salu discussed the common ground in which Islam and Christianity can meet.We all made sure that we took our turn holding the sweet baby girl... and playing with Salma. What a great day it was fun for all of us! Contented to have met everyone, someone is ready for her nap....

Blessings & Peace from Nazareth House

click on photos to enlarge

NHA, the future

The Funeral of Fr. Robert Michael Francis Haux
St. Andrew's Anglican Church, November 21, 2008

Nazareth House Apostolate has taken some hard hits, recently, including Gladys, whom we tried so hard to provide medical help but died after surgery; Nancy Denison, one of our greatest supporters; Alimamy, the medical man who provided so much help all around him in Sierra Leone; the deaths during the floods of Kroo Bay; Salu & Kadiatu's baby (who was prevented life because a c-section was not offered)... and now there is the loss of Pa Amadu Barrie and most recently Fr. Bob Haux. All of these events hit hard in the heart. We must, in the honor of all of our friends that have went on before us, push harder than ever to make their dreams, our dreams, a reality. This begins with raising the money to purchase the compound. Without a permanent residency we cannot continue. It is the logical, practical and necessary step as we further our work with the poorest of the poor. Rental property is never secure, as we well know. We fix a place up, pay rent a year ahead and are still asked to leave. We have been given notice to vacate the small house we rent now by March 1, 2009.

We must have a center of operations that we know is legally ours, one that we hold title in which we cannot be removed. Scrolling down to past posts of this blog, you will find one such opportunity that we might purchase for a compound. The purchase price $250,000.

How do we raise this kind of money? By spreading the word of this work. By asking everyone to give to this worthy cause. By fund raising projects, baked sales, selling hot-dogs outside of Walmart, groups of people working together and individually for one common goal. If one thousand people each gave $250 we'd have this compound purchased.

This Christmas, in the midst of the hustle and bustle to buy Christmas presents for your friends who "have everything"; think about a gift that will provide sustenance, education and LIFE to someone in Sierra Leone through Nazareth House. When you do, A gift card will be sent to your friend informing them of your generous donation in their name. Make a difference this Christmas, a real difference in the life of someone who would literally have nothing without you.

One thing that Nazareth House takes very seriously is that we go over and beyond to make sure that every penny is used for the purpose in which it is collected...the purpose being, benefitting those in need in Sierra Leone. In an effort to do this we document what is given and how it is received in photos, etc.

When I started getting the phone calls from St. Laurence House when Fr. Bob passed on, I was surprised by the depth of grief they were experiencing for a man they never met, physically. However, as more and more calls, our school closed down, and the signs started showing up in email photos, I realized the impact that each of us make on the lives of those in Sierra Leone.

I label each item that I send to Sierra Leone with a note of who the donor is. What I mean is, if you or your group send several boxes of tylenol to me, I put your name on it and send it on to James to distribute. Each financial donation, as I wire it, I inform James who it is from and what that donation's purpose is. If it is for a bag of rice, then James knows that a bag of rice is from you and as he distributes it, he tells the recipient who gave it to them...by name. I started this form of record keeping as a documenting gesture, so that I could account and know exactly where every donation and penny went.

What I hadn't considered is the impact that this documentation has on the recipient. They have just been handed either food, medication or assistance from a specific person or persons. They KNOW that this person from America or wherever has just in some way improved their life. And so it was with Father Bob... all over Freetown and Kabala, people had a gift from him.... an item that improved their life and it was labeled "Nazareth House Apostolate loves you, donated from: Fr. Bob Haux". It gives them the opportunity to know a name, a real person and for them to know that you love them and care about their existence and want to help them.

When the kids hold up the signs that say thank you to a specific person or organization, we like to look at the photos and see our names but those holding the signs like to see, from that sign, that a real person with a name is caring about them. This makes us, all of us that wear the name of Nazareth House Apostolate of which you are included, a unique group giving personalized assistance and making personal friendships to all we serve. Awesome.

I know what our work does in Sierra Leone. I see students attending a school where once there was none, I see people able to feed their families when before they starved, I see medical assistance being given. I know the work we do and see its results. However, I, for one, would have never realized the emotional impact (both ways -giving and receiving) we are making, the loving bonds we are creating between cultures, across an ocean, ... if all of the deep heartfelt expressions of sympathy had not suddenly bombarded my phone and email from those in Sierra Leone who are grieving the passing of a friend, a loved one in Fr. Haux. Their lives, our lives affect each other in so many positive ways. Truly we are giving more than assistance to those in Sierra Leone, we are making friends, bonds...loving our brothers and sisters. This is so exciting...


Now, in answer to the tons of emails and questions about Fr. Bob's send off. Yes, of course, his funeral was beautiful and as he would have wanted. Afterwards we toasted his life and celebrated his love. We will always miss him, We will always love him, We will smile, cry, and continue doing this thing called life until our paths meet again.

T.I.A. This is Africa

I just received some news, not entirely unexpected, but news that is hard to comprehend just the same. The following story is one of tragic sadness but one that embodies the love of Nazareth House and the compassion of those who make up this apostolate. It demonstrates the depth in which we go to reach into the cracks and care for our brothers and sisters in need and help them overcome.


When Fr. Seraphim and I were last in Sierra Leone a few weeks ago, we had the pleasure of meeting a young teenager, Aminata known as Amie (pronounced "Ah mee"). Born on Valentines Day, February 14, 1994; she is 14 years old. She seemed shy, a bit withdrawn and awkward around people. She helped Kadijah prepare meals and tend to the children.



She had arrived in Freetown to receive schooling, but this didn't happen. She is one of those who wandered into Kadijah's "Back Yard" and found a few meals and a caring friend. Lucy and Ann Marie gave her some clothes, as she had very very little. They quickly welcomed her into the fold. The pictures above and below this paragraph are of the first outing Amie had with her new found friends. Jodie, James sister is also with them.

The more I watched Amie, I could see there was more to her. I saw a quite reserve, a dignity. As is the case for most Sierra Leone children, I thought she may have some dark memories hidden away, but she was struggling well to cope. She has a gentle and caring manner and I wanted to give her a brighter future. I knew that without NHA, her chances of making it will be slim.

I talked with James about the possibility of Amie getting education and allowing her refuge at St. Laurence House. There are so many kids out on the streets, if we can help one it makes a difference.

James and Kadijah registered Amie in school. She was of age for Primary Class 5 but was unable to meet the requirements. They tried Class 4 but still she was not prepared so she had to start in Class 3. James and Kadijah and the girls agreed to work with her to get her up to her age class. They bought her uniforms and paid her school fees, thanks to aid through NHA.

On Amie's first day of school, having no real schooling or advantage, she struggled to write. So the St. Laurence House team increased their tutoring efforts. Things looked brighter for Amie.

While I was at St. Laurence House, I noticed Amie's belly was enlarged. When asked about it she said she had worms. She was treated.

When James sent me the following photo of Amie in her new school uniform, I noticed that her belly had not receded after the parasite treatment. I suggested that she be taken to a doctor.

The following email, I received this morning from James. To some it will be shocking, but to an African child, though it should not be, it IS life. T.I.A.

SAVE AMIE..........
Written by James Mansaray: Freetown, Sierra Leone

There is this issue of knowing people either positively or negatively, whatever way you look at it, you meet people and make new friends someway, somehow. It could be in or out of the house , in a religious place or on the streets.

Sierra Leone, as a Country became famous years back for its sparkling minerals, mainly diamonds and its hospitality to strangers. People who had visited or worked here can attest to the fact that we (Sierra Leoneans) are way ahead in terms of love for strangers compared to any other African Country.

Down the road, this big achievement got melted away with our notorious act of killing babies, rape, amputation, looting and the like. In the midst of this turmoil and sad story, Nazareth House Apostolate was born through the direction of God and the dream of one man. Today we have the prayer and a helping house here with little support, yet still we are keeping on to help preserve the peace and tranquillity through prayer and our little humanitarian aids.

It is said that we are beginning to turn over a new page, embracing peace and development in Sierra Leone, but is it all over? Are our kids still safe to live freely? Have all the stories been told about what happened here? Is it still happening or not? Are our parents treating us right?

A sad story gave me the guts to write this down and this time it's right under our (NHA) feet. Several questions came into my mind whether to talk about it or not but I finally came to a conclusion that it would be unfair to my conscience if I kept quiet about it. Some will pretend it has never happened whilst others don't believe this is happening. Yes, it happened here in Sierra Leone and it is still happening.

This draws me back to the first paragraph about meeting people and making new friends. It has become a custom that as we do our work here, we always meet and help more people. The, just ended, visit of Mama Vicki & Fr. Seraphim to Sierra Leone created room for us to do so much, starting with the opening of our newly built school in Kabala, meeting and helping the poor people of Kroo Bay and also a needy girl by the name of Aminata or Amie for short.

Her story is such a pathetic one for she was brought here in Freetown by her adopted aunt under the guise of education etc. Sorry to say that this never happened. She happened to bump into Kadijah, who started helping her with food aid, medication and clothing. The presence of Mama Vicki and Fr. Seraphim makes it much easier for Amie as Mama fell in love with her and asked that we can keep her if we so desired. The fact was we have little room for ourselves and the possibilities of adding another member to this family was a big question. You can tell from Amie's face that she has nowhere to go. We finally agreed to keep her and that she is now sleeping on the floor of our living room at St. Laurence House................

Happily she started fitting in to the norms and caprices of St. Laurence House and our goal was to give her the best. Funds were provided for her schooling by Mama Vicki etc. Things started changing few weeks ago when we noticed that she is not keeping well. She was treated for malaria, Typhoid and worms but still no good. With instructions from Mama Vicki, Kadijah finally took her to the hospital yesterday and to our surprise she was tested pregnant. Then came the question who, where, how and why a fourteen year old kid. I had dealt with many difficult issues but this was very troubling. Because of fear, Amie could not accept the fact that she is pregnant nor tell us who was responsible for it. She denied it, said it wasn't true. This gave us the cause to try another hospital to make sure the test was done right (T.I.A). Again she was proved pregnant. The issue got more frustrating for us as we were waiting for answers from her in order to know how to help her. Not knowing truths we we didn't know how to reach a decision on her case. As we pondered what to do, finally she quietly confessed with tears to Kadijah, late last night, that her step father in the presence of her mother messed with her virginity for rituals and I guess it was in this event that she got pregnant. All this happened in her village some months ago. Can you believe or imagine this?




Her fear was, they told her that she will die if she ever confessed it to any body and she was worried that we will ask her out of St.Laurence House.

Our concerns are, are we going to send her away in the wilderness? NO. It is with this notion that I am calling you all to help save Amie's future. Please dedicate yourselves in providing a compound for Nazareth House Apostolate come March 2009 to help save not only Amie but many out there dying for no just cause. Take this sad story of Amie into your heart and help us today. I had heard of cruelty but this is ONE CRUEL ACT done on a kid by her parents. Can you imagine this? Let's say she is your daughter what could you do? This is unreal and unfair to a poor girl like Amie. For the sake of this, please help us and act now.

On the radios and news papers here the past few days, there is this scary issue of a cult group called ORGBONI from Nigeria about to launch their evil activities here, thank God this was halted by the right authorities. Prayer houses like St. Laurence House, Lazarus house are what we are yearning for and we need you all to make this possible. We need enough rooms to house people, keeping our medication, house that we can operate from to reach the needy spiritually and physically. Help today and contribute to make this happen. Now, if we all got this right, she will be having a baby in few months time and this is our responsibility as the unborn baby will be added to our family. Will she continue to use the living room floor with a new born baby?

Amie is in a desperate condition and she has said that she sees no need to live and that she has lost all her values as a girl. This is true but we can all join hands and save her future so that she be like any of our daughters. I want to see Amie read and write well like Lucy and Ann Marie.

HELP US SAVE AMIE.......................and many others that have fell into the cracks of society?

James B. Mansaray
St. Laurence House, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
--Oh Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God Have Mercy upon me a Sinner.

Send donations to:
Nazareth House Apostolate
2216 Goldsmith Lane
Louisville, KY 40218 USA

or visit our website at the link to the right using paypal for contributions.

You will see your work accomplished through our many photos documented throughout our website.

Meet Lucy Jamestina Mansaray, St. Laurence House, Sierra Leone

 

Birthdate: September 24, 1996

 

Introducing an up and coming accountant that we should all keep our EYE on is Lucy Mansaray of St. Laurence House. Nazareth House's story began with Lucy in the year 2000, when her father, James met Fr. Seraphim.
Sweet Lucy is the first born of James and Kadijah Mansaray. To be as young as she is, she has weathered much difficulty during her lifetime; having been born in the middle of the Civil War in Sierra Leone and survived through the height of it.

This is a credit to her parents' incredible "savvy-ness" and her own level head, good judgment and quick thinking. Lucy delivering rice to a woman in need. Notice the poor lady is holding Lucy's hand with her two amputated stumps. (Click on photo to enlarge)
Despite the traumatic struggles in her environment, Lucy always shines forth a bright smile.

 

 

From the first meeting of Lucy into Nazareth House, she became a child of prayer; in particular, the Rosary.
As a very young lady, Lucy would pray and teach to the Rosary to everyone she meets.

A few years ago, while in Sierra Leone, I became violently ill. To be honest, I thought there was a real chance that I would not make it through the night. At one point, as I lay at St. Laurence House, I felt a presence at the foot of my bed. As I opened my eyes, there sat Lucy. "Mama, I want to pray with you" she said. She held my hand and prayed the most beautiful, tender, sweet prayers. I will never forget that moment and how dear it is to me.

 

Lucy has grown into a spectacular and brilliant young lady. She continues, year after year, to win honors in her schooling.

 

Nazareth House is honored to support her in her education. She now attends the Lebananese International School in Freetown,having chose this school for its specialty in accounting.

 

 

Lucy is very active in Nazareth House work. Helping out in all aspects of the humanitarian aid deliveries and mission work.

 

A talented and special young lady, We Love You, Lucy!