Going Deep

Today on this Easter Monday, the staff and communities of NHA are enjoying Sham El Nessim or Emmaus Day.  We will go on a journey and take along some food for an outdoor picnic - "sniffing the breeze. "   As we do so, we hold you all in our prayers. 

In Sierra Leone the work has stopped until the Holidays are over.  

Tomorrow the workers will return to the well.  Thanks for all of the support we have paid for the completion of this project. 

  

As the workers in Sierra Leone go deeper  into the earth, 

back at St. Simeon Skete we continue to deepen the prayer.  

  

We are still waiting some of our regular monthly funding to make the monthly expenses for our March commitment to those suffering in Sierra Leone.  

Donations have been delayed due to tax time pressures and Christmas credit arriving for some, we understand - bills must be paid.   We went through the same "delay" last year.  I have explained things to the teachers and they are doing okay, they know we will come through, they trust God to provide.  We are hoping to be able to make our obligations this week.

Last week, there was a flurry of work being done at the well.  Maundy Thursday's heavy rains helped give things a test.   We are making a tremendous effort to finish this properly and efficiently.  This well is not only for our compound, but for the NHA School and neighbors. 

  

 The men have worked very hard.  They showed up on Good Friday to work but James dismissed them explaining they must not work on Holy Days.   

They will return to work on Tuesday.  

Please keep them in your prayers.  

Its a difficult job with many dangers and they do not have modern equipment.   

In your charity, if you are able to send in an extra donation at this time, we would appreciate your kindness.  I don't want to keep the teachers waiting for their salary much longer nor do I want those who depend on us to be without food or necessities.   Thank you.  

Nazareth House Apostolate

185 Captains Cove Drive

Taylorsville, KY 40071 

or donations can be made using your credit card through Paypal using the donation link on our website.  www.nazarethhouseap.org 

Report: Completion of the Well at the Compound: What it is going to take to get the job done.

A March 10th email to Mama Vicki from James Mansaray:

The Mansaray Family a few weeks ago in Freetown.   

Dear Mama Vicki,

Good morning and thanks for the phone call yesterday. I had been keeping busy as usual even though donations and post deliveries are a bit slow but we are doing what we can.  

NHA School Kids send their greetings & love to you!  (©2012 NHA all rights reserved)

The kids are on exams so that makes all of us to be very involved with activities. The teachers are doing extremely well and happy. 

Did you ever send the report cards? We are indeed in need of them asap. Sad that post is very slow these days. 

Sorry for keeping you waiting on the well report due to reasons beyond my control. Yesterday I finally got the men to check it up again. Here is the estimate we came up with and it contains the materials we need to bring it to a finish. It might take us till April ending but it will be good if we start now before the Rainy Season begins. 

They say Cholera is on the outbreak in some part of Salone making it scary for lot of people but we are ok here for now.

Materials to Complete the Well:

1.       Forty six bags of cement needed to cover up lining walls, Centre for culvert,head walls and Apron A bag of cement is Le. 45,000 (forty five thousand leones ) bringing us to a total of Le. 1, 980,000 ( one million nine hundred and eighty thousand leones).

2.       One trip sand and one trip granite stone Le. 600,000 ( Six hundred thousand leones)

3.       Sixty pieces of 1length iron rod at Le. 15,000 (fifteen thousand leones each) bring us to a total of Le. 900,000( Nine hundred thousand leones).

4.        2 role Binding wire ( One hundred thousand leones)

5.       Still cover for the top  (One hundred thousand  leones

6.       Hand pump ( Three million leones) The need for it is to let other people like the area neighbors, the school to fetch water without having to walk to the stream. Water from the well will run straight to the tank which we will build at the back of the compound.

7.       Mole rental for concrete work ( Four hundred thousand leones) but I might borrow it to some people here in Kabala.

8.       Adding it up all, we will get a grand total of Seven million and eighty thousand Leones. The workers  were already paid their labor by Anthony (the general contractor)  so we owe them nothing! and there is already a tank in store. We just have to prepare food everyday as the work is going on. Sorry it looks a bit more than what we expect but this is it. I hope this help. March till April ending will be ok so let’s see what we can do.

Thanks for all.

----James 


Note: Please don't panic, 7,800,000 leones is equivalent to 

$1,775 in USDollar.   

We have $500 already in for this project 

which leaves us $1275 to raise 

as soon as possible.

The faster we can raise the money, the quicker we can get the project started and provide water for the NHA Compound, School and area neighbors.   

We have already paid the workers for their labor through the funds we paid 

the general contractor last year when the NHA Compound was being built.  The expenditures to complete the well are all material costs except for the daily feeding of the workers.   

IT IS IMPERATIVE that we complete this project by the end of April.  This means we need to buy the materials ASAP (NOW)  in order to finish before the rains set in. 

We'd appreciate your financial assistance in providing water for NHA Compound which in turn provides water for the community and our school.  Thank you. 

Kadijah & Baby Vicki.   Notice those big cheeks on that baby girl! 

NOTE TO JAMES:  Baby Vicki looks so much like your mother, Mama Fatu!