News from James in Sierra Leone

Its been very difficult for James to communicate via the internet in Kabala these days.  Even his phone service has been limited, and though he and I have found ways to keep in touch, it has been frustrating to say the least.

This morning, we received a bit of luck and James was able to send some photos through his phone.

We are so grateful to all who have given generously (individuals, organizations and church groups) to help complete the security wall around the NHA Compound to protect our staff and the provisions we house from thieves, etc.   We have almost collected all of the money we spent to get this undertaking to the state it is today.  We are lacking just shy of $500.  These photos show the progress, before the job was done.   The project cost doubled what we thought it would take, but as you can see the wall is very fortified.

James announced in his phone call to me, that the wall is completed as of today.   He'll be sending the finished photos as soon as he can.   I can't wait to see it fully accomplished.  I'm so relieved that together we've been able to tick off another need from the "to do" list.  Thank you all for prayers, support and love.

As of this writing, James is heading to the hospital, taking a neighbor child who fell and knocked out his teeth.

Last week James was helping with and attending a funeral.   A funeral for a child who died of what they are labeling as cancer.  A few days before he passed on, James was filling this young man, named David, with mangoes and all the foods the child requested.  Everyone thought the increased appetite meant he was getting stronger.  Sadly, he passed on a few days later.  

And another young child is wrapped in white linen and carried in a straw mat to his final resting place.  

This shouldn't be what is expected in this village - to lose their children so young - but its a fact of life for them.  We can't stop all the illnesses and accidents that are killing the children of Kabala,  but we can prevent some illnesses and help change life for the better for some;  bit by bit,  we can make a difference.  Join us, changing one life at a time, one village at a time, whatever the moment holds - one moment at a time. 

www.nazarethhouseap.org. 

Matthew 25:35-45 

In your prayers...

I have several reports to make relative to specific prayers you have been making on behalf of loved ones involved in Nazareth House Apostolate.  We are most grateful for your ongoing prayers, love and support.

1. Umaru Jalloh, a student at the NHA School in Kabala was burned on the lower part of his body, namely his legs.  He was hospitalized and is improving, Thanks to quick action by parents and the availability of antibiotics. 
2. Cindy Peterson received wonderful news last week in Lexington and again this week in Houston that all of the cancer is shrinking and clearing.

   

   Cindy and her husband, Brent

    The treatment program is working and will be continued.  The severity of her illness accentuates this good news, this is really really remarkable. 
3. We went ahead and sent the funding to complete the security wall around our compound in Sierra Leone.  Too much was at stake to delay the matter.                                   In order to send the money we had to use money designated for other projects, however, bit by bit our supporters are coming through and we are replacing the funding to its originally intended program.  Thank you. 
4. June is a busy month at the skete.  We have will have many visitors throughout the month.  Please pray for them as they travel and for their time spent here in prayer. 
5. Plans are full steam ahead to send us back to Sierra Leone as soon as possible. 



Children enjoying Mango Season

6. James continues to reach more and more villages living without.               Please pray for him as he journeys on and pray for those that he reaches. 
7. Pa Foday is healing up nicely and little Vicki is flourishing as well.                                                         
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Thank you for your ongoing prayers, love and support. 
   
   
   
   

You are needed

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.

We are very thrifty around here, Seraphim goes behind everyone flipping lights off - sometimes while we are still using them.  We don’t heat or cool the chapel except on Sundays.  We are growing a garden to reduce food costs - the new chickens, in time, will begin producing eggs again.  The chicken area was completely constructed by scrap materials left over from the Boat Storage’s new buildings next door.  We use shipping boxes to keep from buying garbage bags, we do all we can to save money.  James and Kadijah reuse everything until it is in shreds before tossing it away.  We have equipped and are equipping the Compound in solar lighting to save on batteries and fuel for a well worn generator that is on its last leg.  Still and all, it costs a lot to continue our life of prayer, hospitality, generosity and sacrifice for the needs of souls - spiritually (St. Simeon Skete) and physically (Sierra Leone).



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.

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:

http://www.nazarethhouseap.org/contact-us/donations/

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

The Month of May ... going, going...

"The world's favorite season is the spring.  All things seem possible in May." 

-Edwin Way Teale

The Month of May is always a rather full month for us at the Skete.  

May 2013 has been no exception.  In this week’s blog post I will attempt to bring you up to date with all that we’ve experienced these past 30 days.  

May is the month dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.   At St. Simeon Skete we moved  our Annual Rosary Convocation from the traditional feast day in October to the second weekend in the month of May.  

The Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary at the skete will be the second Sunday of May from now on.  This day is also the secular “Mother’s Day”, however, at the skete our focus is on Mary.  Jesus gave her to be our mother from the cross therefore it is fitting that Mother’s Day should be in honor of her. 

This year’s Seventeenth Annual NHA Rosary Convocation took place on May 10, 11, 12th.  



The Pilgrimage began Saturday morning (May 12th) from the Skete. 

There have been many pilgrims visiting at the skete this month.  June seems to follow the same pattern.  

Please pray for those who come to the skete as they step out of the world to deepen the prayer and then bring it back with them as they re-enter into the marketplace.  

recent text message received after one left the skete

It is a difficult reentry.  

The next NHA Rosary Convocation will be May 9, 10, 11th, 2014.