Nazareth House Apostolate Blog

The path

2012-01-25T14:45:00.000-05:00

As usual, Nazareth House Apostolate

During a rainstorm, we noticed the letters N H for Nazareth House spelled out in the leaves of the trees at St. Simeon Skete

packs a whole lot of action into a years time;

Humanitarian medical supplies delivered to a clinic in Sierra Leone from NHA

2011 was no exception.

James mails packages to Sierra Leone from Taylorsville, KY

2012 is panning out to follow suit.

James receives the packages in Sierra Leone that he mailed in Taylorsville.

January is not yet over and NHA has welcomed this New Year with President Koroma in Kabala, said goodbye to our dear friend, Thomas Landess, welcomed baby Vicki,

Young boy at one the newest villages that NHA will give aid.

brought aid to new villages near Kabala, reopened the NHA School after the holidays and

St. Simeon Skete, Meeting of the Lord Chapel

continued the daily life of ongoing prayer at St. Simeon Skete.

James from Sierra Leone visits California

A year ago at this time, James was returning to Sierra Leone after his visit to America.

James during his visit to St. Simeon Skete.

While in America (his first trip outside of Africa),

James was able to

meet in person many of

those who have been with him through the struggles of rebuilding life after such a terrible war. His heart had already been touched by them, now he was able to meet and physically touch them.

He was also provided a complete health screen by NHA.

Now today, a year later, he is back in Sierra Leone, struggling with a rather stubborn case of Malaria combined with an even more stubborn case of Typhoid.

He has just returned from opening a new village in need of NHA's assistance, he has a new two week old daughter

and much more responsibilities added to his charge.

children in the newest village under NHA care

As they say in Sierra Leone "it no easy"; however, through the love, care and compassion of our supporters, NHA will do its best to lessen the load as best we can, not just for James but for all of those we serve.

I remember lamenting at the first of the year in 2011 "so much to do!" But now a year later, as I review the year, I think "Oh wow! so much accomplished!"

We kicked 2011 off in Chico, California attending the Pray Love Walk-a-thon sponsored by St Augustine's Anglican Church. This was the catalyst for the campaign to retire the debt of building the NHA Compound, our center of operations in Kabala. We did, indeed, by the year end, retire the debt in 2011, which was one of our biggest expenses for the whole year. The construction was completed and our staff, James and Kadijah, moved in.

The move from Freetown all the way to Kabala was a difficult chore, one with its own expense, however, that too was accomplished through the assistance of NHA.

The NHA School (which is right across the street from the new NHA Compound) needed painting and the rooms needed to be divided in order to accommodate the need for more classrooms.

The Nazareth House Apostolate Teachers and Principal (January 2012)

Thanks to the support and generosity of all of you, this was accomplished before the start of the 2011/2012 School Year.

Another successful school year is well underway at the NHA School and we are very proud of our teachers and our students and the tremendous discipline of both.

James daughter, Lucy, with plans to be (a much needed) doctor, entered a private boarding school in Freetown where her she can excel in studies and preparation for medical school.

Her tuition has been paid for this year.

Every month (sometimes late but never missed) NHA was able to maintain the support of humanitarian aid to the families we regularly support in Sierra Leone plus random emergency needs that are presented to us. The teachers received their salaries ($100 per teacher per month) and the school continues to be maintained and in good operation.

Our monthly expenditure to provide for our staff, the school, the teachers, and care of the people in need - in Kabala, Freetown and area villages is $2,200 a month. We depend on our regular monthly donors to maintain this commitment.

__________________________________

Fire destroys the One Hut Village housing

NHA provided a new home for the One Hut Village

The newly constructed home for the One Hut Family. It has rooms with walls and everything

after a series of disasters destroyed their thatched hut not once but thrice.

________________________________

Clinics have been stocked and restocked with medications from NHA.

Many children were treated

for internal parasites (worms). We even cared for a snake bite... Lives are being saved.

Illnesses, labor and delivery and other medical situations that required hospitalization were paid for by NHA for several in need, including Kadijah's expenses for delivery of Vicki

and Roo's anemia diagnosis. (Remember James' shingles, how painful that was)

So much accomplished. A review through the blog posts only hints at all that we've done together. Working together as a family, helping each other, caring for each other. Lives are being changed for the better, bellies fed, educational opportunities granted, love exchanged.

And all the while the ongoing prayer and stability rising from the work of St. Simeon Skete

keeps it all in prospective and generates the discipline to carry it all out. 2011 was a remarkable year.

And with the same perseverance, Nazareth House Apostolate in 2012 continues on the same path. Come join us....

its all about love...

Nazareth House Apostolate

185 Captains Cove Drive

Taylorsville, KY 40071

www.nazarethhouseap.org

Friday Smiles

2012-01-13T10:45:00.000-05:00

It is all smiles for the Mansaray Family.

Papa James is bursting with joy that his youngest daughter has arrived

and is healthy

and that is beloved wife survived the birth

in a country where maternal mortality during delivery is very high,

Having malaria, enduring a long drive from Kabala to Freetown, it is amazing how well Kadijah is doing! Thank God.

Lucy is back at boarding school, unable to leave the school to be with her family, yet, delighted that her baby sister and mom are doing well. Lucy is all the more determined to study harder. She knows how much we need doctors in Kabala.

....and Roo...

Roo wasn't sure what to think about all this and was being very quiet...

but now that he met his little sister

well..look at those eyes... they say it all

Baby Vicki has definitely met with his approval

At this post, James is working his way back to Kabala,

he has work to do and we have villages to care for.

In our line of work, there is no "family leave".

The Needs don't stop, the work is ongoing.

People like this little "lucky charm" toddler are depending on us.

They depend on you and I to lend them the hand. If you haven't already committed to a monthly donation, please consider doing so today.

Through your generosity, NHA has given help to many, but the light of each new day uncovers more that need us.

We can't fulfill every need, but with your help, we can help many - bit by bit, person by person AND put a smile on their face.

After checking on the latest new villages, James will return this weekend to pick up his family once Kadijah and Vicki are released from the hospital.

Please pray for him as he travels the roads of Sierra Leone, road travel is not safe. Drivers are wild and the roads bad.

Its all about love....

Nazareth House Apostolate (NHA)

185 Captains Cove Drive

Taylorsville, KY 40071

Note: For those of you in America who have noticed the earrings already in Vicki's ears. This is Africa, its a different culture and ears are pierced at a much earlier age than in USA. This has been part of their culture from the beginning.

2012-01-11T14:57:00.001-05:00

Nazareth House Apostolate, St. Simeon Skete,

Fr. Seraphim and Vicki Hicks

and proud parents,

James and Kadijah Mansaray,

together with

siblings - Lucy and Roo

announce

the arrival

Little Miss VICKI ANN MANSARAY

Kabala, Sierra Leone

Glory be to God!

Your prayers have been very reassuring

your love has showered us all

Thank you all!

James message on Facebook reads:

"Counting on what you've done for me, my family and Sierra Leone as a whole i name this newly born rose as Vicki Ann aka SPECIAL to show my love and appreciation for you Mama Vicki. You are one in a million, keep up the good work with Nazareth House Apostolate.. we all in salone loves you."

I can assure you that Grandmama Vicki is quite ecstatic over this arrival PLUS it was a year ago on this day that her last granddaughter was born.

Dear "Special" we all wish you the best, know that you are never alone - you are always bathed in love.

God bless you little one!

And Kadijah, Oh My Gosh, traveling from Freetown to Kabala, arriving and delivering all in a span of less than a days time........ "You are one strong mama!"

We are so proud of you! Godspeed, heal fast.

Thanks to all of you who gave special attention to this pregnancy, especially the ACW of St Augustine in Chico who paid the hospitalization, Esther de Laix - for the supplies for Kadijah (see Esther, Little Vicki is wrapped in Roger's blanket gift) and the many others who generously provided for this birth to be a safe and healthy one.

Nazareth House Apostolate

185 Captains Cove Drive

Taylorsville, KY 40071

www.nazarethhouseap.org

This Weeks Full Moon brings a full week for NHA

2012-01-11T05:49:00.000-05:00

Nazareth has had a full range of emotions this week.

Seraphim especially enjoyed his conversations with Tom

The week began with the passing of Thomas Hilditch Landess, a dear friend to Seraphim and I and to Nazareth House Apostolate.

Lucy in Sierra Leone sending condolences for the family

James and his family in Sierra Leone have not been able to meet Tom Landess or his family, but they know them well and have been friends for years.

Roo especially, since Tom's wife, Mary Beth has always had a special nitch in her heart filled with Roo.

And Roo loves her. The bond is there - no need to meet face to face, the heart travels across oceans and bonds the two.

The news that Tom dropped the body this week hit us all hard, including the Mansaray family. They, too, share the loss and grieve with the family.

And as one friend passes another one arrives.

In the middle of the night I receive this text that James and family have packed into a car and made the long trip from Kabala to Freetown. Kadijah 's fever is worse and with the baby nearing time for delivery they thought they could find better medical attention in Freetown.

I received word at 4:24 AM this morning that James wife, Kadijah has given birth to a baby girl - her name is Vicki.

We will keep you informed and send pictures as we get them.

God bless you all, Nazareth House Apostolate truly is a family ... We love you all.

The heart of Christmas keeps beating in Salone

2012-01-07T09:31:00.001-05:00

Christmas has come and gone on the calendar but in our hearts it remains all year,

A Christmas gift was given in Fairleigh's honor. It will be used to help in Sierra Leone

or at least it should.

Its important that we try not to let the world's craziness

steal it from out of our heart. Remember those in need everyday, not just during Holidays. Your compassion, your love expressed brings happiness.

A special thanks from Lucy and Roo for the money sent to them.

Zachary and Brittany sent money for Roo and money for Lucy to buy something for themselves for Christmas.

Like any child, Roo bought a small toy, but then he bought himself some clothes with the remaining money.

Lucy received some money from Loretta to use for school. She needed a calculator, socks and shoes, which she was able to purchase with the money.

Both Lucy and Roo are grateful for the thoughts, prayers and gifts.

Roo is especially proud of his clothes, he's sporting his new favorite new shirt in this photo.

Thank you to everyone for your support! Your donations are the gifts that keep on going,

changing lives, bringing smiles..... its all about love.

6 January 2006, The Feast of Epiphany

2012-01-06T13:12:00.000-05:00

Epiphany (the word meaning “showing forth” or “manifestation”) is one of the oldest Christian Feasts in the Church Calendar.

Most people associate this feast with the coming of the magi or Wise Men to bring gifts to the Christ Child in Bethlehem.

But there are other manifestations of God’s Presence that are also celebrated on this day. In the Eastern Church, the Baptism of Christ by John the Baptist, and another celebration is that of the miracle of Jesus changing water into wine, the Wedding at Cana. Because of these customs, in many churches water is blessed today.

On the last day of Christmas, we begin our Epiphany preparations at St. Simeon Skete.

In the back of the Skete’s barn, Seraphim has made space for a workshop.

It is his hope to establish a woodworking shop in order to maintain and tend to the work around the property as well as construct icon stands, etc.

In the barn, Seraphim begins making the Epiphany Cross. As he works he stresses that it is “vitally important that in making the Cross that you fashion the vertical beam first before the horizontal.

If you don’t have the vertical beam right, no matter how hard you work at the horizontal beam - it will never work.” he further explained “This is the same with the spiritual life: If you don’t have the vertical beam (represents your relationship with God) right, your horizontal (represents your relationship with man) will not work, it will not be right."

Last evening, for us it was time to take the Christmas Tree down (before sunrise the day of Epiphany).

Today began as usual - walking over to the Chapel in the darkness of the wee hours of the morning.

The moon is beginning to set and lights the path.

6 Jan 2012, Moon at 93% full

Upon reaching the Chapel I meet Seraphim and enter into the ongoing stream of prayer.

Seraphim’s day begins earlier; he has been in the chapel now for hours.

After Lauds (Morning Prayer) we begin the Liturgy.

As is the custom at St. Simeon Skete on Epiphany, during the Offertory, the water is blessed and will be used as Holy Water for the coming weeks and months.

The font at the entrance to the Skete is filled with the Holy Water.

The Epiphany Cross is placed in the offering basin along with our rosaries. (At the skete we offer our beads that hold our prayers at every Mass)

The Cross is then blessed at the Altar.

Later a special procession is made to the nearest river (about a 15 minute hike through the woods for us at the skete) and the Cross is tossed into it, making all waters Baptismal Waters as the river carries the Cross from tributaries, to streams, to rivers, to oceans.

Following Mass as the sun rises, St. Simeon Skete keeps the tradition (Eastern Europe, Baltic Sea to Mediterranean) of blessing all the entrance doors on the property.

God’s blessing is then asked to be upon the building and all who dwell on within.

A piece of chalk is first blessed with holy water and the inscription is then written above the doorway.

20 + C + M + B + 12

The three initials stand for Christus Mansionem Benedicat - Latin for “May Christ bless this house”, although they also stand for names traditionally given to the Wise Men: Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar. They are enclosed by the numerals of the current year.

All doors of the Holy Trinity Kellia have been blessed for 2012

After Seraphim completed blessing all the doors of all the buildings on the Skete’s property, he began his journey,

carrying the Epiphany Cross through the woods to the river.

Saying the Jesus Prayer and the Rosary along the way

he stops to bless the entrances to the St. Arsenius’ hermitage hidden in the woods, and the newly found St. Elijah’s Cave.

Upon arrival at the river bank, Seraphim said the Service for Placing the Cross in the Water adapted from Office of Baptism.

After placing the Cross into the River, thus rendering all waters Baptismal, Seraphim recited the Luminous Mysteries.

Taylorsville Lake, Taylorsville Kentucky

Tonight, after the last Office of the day, we will remove the Nativity Scene from the Chapel although the Season of Epiphany will remain through four Sundays.

The 12th Day of Christmas

2012-01-04T18:00:00.000-05:00

Love and Greetings from Nazareth House Apostolate.

Tomorrow is Epiphany.

Time goes so fast, it won't be too much longer before we are in the Season of Lent.

We want to take this opportunity to slow down

and look at the faces of the people that are being served in Sierra Leone by you through NHA.

When you make a donation, these are but a few of the people that are the recipients of your love, your care, your compassion.

To them, you are a ray of light amongst the dark clouds in their lives.

When they see James coming, they know you are there, too.

They know that the bags of rice, or medicines or whatever the needs are - they know they are provided by you.

It brightens their day and their existence.

Though Christmastide ends this evening, may we continue to live on carrying the spirit of great love, selflessness and humility that came to us swaddled in a manger that first Christmas.

We cannot stress enough that Nazareth House Apostolate relies totally on God as he expresses Himself through our supporters’ prayers, compassion and generosity.

You are a vital part of our lives here at the Skete. You are prayed for each and every day (you need to know that we are praying for you when your day is consumed with frustrations or filled with delight - we are with you). In this prayer we are in unity with Christ and with each other.

Our work at the skete generates the mission work in Sierra Leone, its a two-way street - one needs the other. St. Simeon Skete (prayer) is the cornerstone of NHA and the work in Sierra Leone, the extension of it. It is important that the Skete is maintained, for without its work, the mission cannot be sustained.

We continue the hope of reaching a minimum of 1000 donors giving at least $25 per month. This really isn’t an unobtainable task when you consider the amount of people in the United States. When you consider that many of us have acquired over 300 friends on Facebook, its not hard to imagine spreading the word and making this a reality. It is very possible. To date we have 31 regular monthly donors. We depend on them and on the one time, occasional donations to make possible the good work that is not OUR work but that of an apostolate. And those of you involved in NHA know its much more personal than teamwork - its a family. Join us today.

Send donations to:

Nazareth House Apostolate

185 Captains Cove Drive

Taylorsville, KY 40071

or make donations thru the website

www.nazarethhouseap.org

via the Paypal Donation Button

Thank you.

Christmastide: Day 11

2012-01-04T00:30:00.000-05:00

As usual, the Nazareth House Apostolate supporters, workers, and recipients; both children and adults, do what they do so well - and teamed up to demonstrate what LOVE is all about.

It is always amazing to watch people come together to make things happen.

People from one side of a country to another, from one side of an ocean to another, all walks of life, all capabilities... all blended together to hold each other up.

Its all about love, and when love is truly orchestrating our actions - astonishingly wonderful things can happen.

At the time that the Sunday School Class in Portland, Oregon was preparing candy canes and greetings for the children in Kabala,

the Anglican Church Women of St. Augustine's Anglican Church in Chico, California were sending medications and extra funds for the work of Nazareth House in Kabala.

And while they were doing that, down South in the Carolinas, The C.S. Lewis Center and St. Theodore's Anglican Chapel were Fasting for Africa as a fundraiser for the work of NHA.

...and all the while individuals and families are donating.

In Kabala, everything came in at the right time - money, necessities and Christmas Candy Canes. Once we, in America, ship over to James in Kabala, then its time for them to what they do so well - distribute to those in need.

And with love and the same abundant zeal that began in USA... the work is done.

By the time the candy canes had arrived, the NHA School had already closed for the Christmas Vacation - (yes, in Sierra Leone it is still called Christmas Vacation and not Winter Vacation).

No problem!, James knew exactly what to do. He thought of the Blind School.

Candy canes are a gift that do not have to be seen -

they are a gift for many of the senses -and with someone to help you remove the wrapper its even better.

So James packed up the medications from Chico,

as well as supplies bought from funding from Columbia, South Carolina along with the candy canes from Portland, Oregon

and headed out to the School for the Blind.

He was also equipped with the means (from donations) to provide needs depending on their necessity to those at the Blind School.

And back at the NHA School in Kabala, if you look closely at the little guy holding up the thank you sign for the candy canes,

you'll notice it is ROO.

Another bit of team work accomplished, Roo was critically anemic just last month, however, fast action sending vitamins and IRON from our headquarters in Kentucky has proved effective and we see that energetic smiling Roo once again.

As you can see,

TEAM NAZARETH has managed to spread the love again.

So on this eleventh day of Christmas,

we give you love - lots of it - from all of us at NHA.

ON THE 10TH DAY OF CHRISTMAS....

2012-01-03T08:52:00.000-05:00

The Children's Sunday School

of St. Mark's Anglican Parish

Portland, Oregon

NHA Teacher, Lucy distributes candy canes to the students

know the real meaning of Christmas.

Pa Foday helps to distribute candy canes

They provided the candy canes

and Christmas Cards

to the students of

Nazareth House Apostolate School

in Kabala Sierra Leone.

These pictures show it all...

Merry Christmas!

Your prayers, support, donations are changing the lives of these children and many others. Please remember Nazareth House Apostolate in your charity givings during 2012.

Nazareth House Apostolate

185 Captains Cove Drive

Taylorsville, KY 40071

www.nazarethhouseap.org

2012-01-01T20:36:00.000-05:00

The weather here at St. Simeon Skete currently remains unseasonably warm, albeit, the winds are escorting in the first very cold air of the Winter.

The first sunrise of 2012 majestically peeks through the clouds, a new day....a new year.

2011 proved to be a remarkable year for us at Nazareth House Apostolate.

St. Simeon Skete newly acquired, we began 2011 realizing there would be a lot of work to do, but also understanding it was purposeful work and we were excited to get started.

The Nazareth House Apostolate Compound in Kabala Sierra Leone was a pressing necessity and we needed to get the construction contract paid and the cost of the land.

St. Augustine of Canterbury Anglican Church in Chico California organized a Walk-a-thon on New Years Day last year and helped to jumpstart the funding for this project.

Our director of operations in Sierra Leone, James Mansaray had arrived in America after years of denied visas and was able to participate in the walk.

We are happy to report that we paid off the Contractor and the building is complete (except for the well which we will complete as rainy season ends and weather permits) and the need for a generator. Individuals, small businesses and churches came together to see the Compound completed.

NHA now owns not only the land the school sits on but also that which the compound is built on and the structures.

We continue to strive for 1000 supporters giving $25 a month to keep the work of Nazareth House in operations both in Sierra Leone and at the skete in the United States.

As of this post, we have 30 supporters giving monthly.

The circumstances requiring our attention in Sierra Leone are overwhelming, yet,

we have been able to make the immediate necessities each month -

such as paying the teachers

at our Kabala school

and caring for those who could not make it without our help.

Some months we were late getting the funding in, but we made it every month - all the while paying down the Compound Fund.

The first year at the skete, has been both rewarding and very challenging.

There is (and remains) much to do in transforming the place into a skete

as well as maintain the property and the 6 buildings on the grounds.

The manual work is heavy, yet, the daily Mass, the 11 Prayer Offices nor the daily Rosary have been missed, to the contrary they have been deepened.

There have been many that have arrived here as visitors but left as family, feeling a bond through the prayer.

As 2011 closed, the Sunday School Students of the parish of St. Mark’s Anglican Church

provided, packed and shipped the Annual Candy Canes (along with personal hand-made Christmas greeting cards)

for the students of Nazareth House Apostolate School.

This is for most of them, their only Christmas gift.

And, as always, you can see by the smiles on their face - its enough, they are not only satisfied but delighted.

We will be featuring this joy with our students this week,

as the final days of Christmas come to a close.

Check this blog often this week for updates.

As the first sunset of 2012 blazes behind the lake at St. Simeon Skete, and we celebrate this last week of Christmas

we send you our love and thanksgiving. Thank you for teaming together to be there for others both in prayer and deed. From Nazareth House Apostolate, its board members, our staff in Sierra Leone, our students, teachers and the people we serve, we thank you for your love and support. You are held daily in our hearts and prayers. God bless you all.

President Koroma greets 2012 in prayer at Kabala

2012-01-01T07:57:00.000-05:00

President Ernest Bai Koroma has arrived in Kabala and James was there to meet him, camera in hand.

He didn't greet 2012 with a lavish party and champaign filled glasses,

instead he welcomes the New Year surrounded by the people of the country in which he serves

and he began it in prayer.

Joining with those who had gathered to meet the New Year worshipping at the Holy Martyrs of Uganda Catholic Church in Kabala,

He opened the year,

in prayer for the remaining hurdles Sierra Leone continues to face and

in thanksgiving for the progresses made

What a wonderful way for a Head of State to start a New Year. Many blessings to you, President Koroma, to Sierra Leone and to all involved in Nazareth House Apostolate. God bless you all.

The Heavens Declare the Glory of God

2011-12-30T21:03:00.000-05:00

I took the following photographs tonight at St. Simeon Skete in Taylorsville, Kentucky. The sun was dropping behind the clouds, slipping into position to set for the night. It was time for Vespers. Consistently, evening after evening, here at the skete, the setting sun and rising moon manage to amaze us with a spectacular view.

The heavens declare the glory of God;
   the skies proclaim the work of his hands

Day after day they pour forth speech;
   night after night they reveal knowledge.

They have no speech, they use no words;
   no sound is heard from them.

Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
   their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.

It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,

like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

It rises at one end of the heavens
   and makes its circuit to the other;
   nothing is deprived of its warmth. -Psalm 19:1-6

Revelation 4:1
After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven:

Revelation 12:12

Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! ... Therefore, rejoice,
O heavens! And you who live in the heavens, rejoice! ...

Habakkuk 3:3

... Selah His glory covered the heavens and his praise filled the earth. ... His brilliant
splendor fills the heavens, and the earth is filled with his praise. ...

Psalm 148:1

Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD from the heavens, praise him in the heights

above. ... Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens! ...

Ephesians 4:10

He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all
the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe ...

1 Corinthians 15:41

The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars
another; and star differs from star in splendor. ...

Photographs by Vicki Hicks

James' Christmas Message to me....

2011-12-27T07:39:00.000-05:00

Warning, the photos below are graphic. Use discretion in allowing young children to view.

We all look forward to receiving our messages from loved ones on Christmas morning. We expect to hear excitement, joy ... but that's not the case, especially in Sierra Leone. Tragedy doesn't discriminate between Holy Days or any other day. On Christmas morning, James and I were having difficulty connecting - phone lines in Sierra Leone were overloaded, Internet server intermittent - typical frustrations of working together separated by an ocean. Still and all, we did make connection and enjoyed a Christmas Phone Conversation. However, just prior to our telephone call, James managed to fire off the following quick email to me with photos.

As many people were opening an over abundance of gifts under the tree, these words opened my Christmas morning...

"Hello Mama Hicks,

the pic of the old man was an accident. he was returning from the BO hospital to visit his sick wife together with his son and grand children. On their way home late at night to raise remaining money to pay his wife hospital bill, he was pushing his old bicycle when an Okada rider riding a motor bike with no head lights hit this poor man. I was in a car with some friends visiting his village (to bring Christmas cheer from NHA) so we help rush with him to the hospital, he lost so much blood and with no urgent help, nor ambulance to bring him to Freetown, he died this morning. So so sad.

MERRY CHRISTMAS."

This is how James' spent his Christmas Eve,

struggling to save a man's life,

fighting against all odds to make a wrong into right.

James begs for medical attention for this man......there is none available...

And as we close another year, James tells me.... "mama, we still need so much here, it is so different from America, it no easy"

And since the goal of NHA is to make a village self-sufficient, not in need of our help..... we have a lot of work to do. Join NHA today, become a regular monthly contributor. We can't change it all, some things are so battered and messed up we can only bear witness to it and bring awareness to the need. But we can give love, person to person, bit by bit and that will seed the change.

2011-12-25T09:25:00.000-05:00

As children all over the world are waking up to find gifts under the tree,

there are many children in Sierra Leone who will celebrate Christmas by enjoying a meal with maybe an extra portion of rice.

However, continuing the tradition in NHA, the Children's Sunday School of St. Mark's Anglican Parish in Portland, Oregon organized a project to send the candy canes for us this year.

James received them in plenty of time and yesterday on Christmas Eve he was out distributing some of the canes to outlying villages.

Because of the children of St. Mark's these children received a real treat, a real Christmas present. To kids in America it may seem as only a simple candy cane but to these children in Sierra Leone it is amazing and they are totally delighted.

There are plenty more candy canes and we will be reporting on their distribution later this week in the blog.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T02:44:00.000-05:00

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus,

the author and perfecter of our faith,

who for the joy set before him endured the cross,

scorning its shame,

and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Prayers for Kadijah

2011-12-21T07:54:00.005-05:00

Imagine being 8.5 months pregnant, feet swollen, belly extended.

You are excited that the pregnancy is about complete and soon your little bundle of joy will arrive.

Suddenly you are roasting, yes, the West African heat is beating down on you... but there's more... you have fever, chills and it feels like a train is traveling through your head... pounding, roaring...

MALARIA.

Please keep Kadijah in your prayers as she struggles with late term pregnancy complicated by this dreaded disease mosquito born disease.

2011-12-07T15:24:00.001-05:00

On December 1, two of the three packages we sent to Sierra Leone arrived. One box was missing.

Inside the boxes were the medications collected and sent by the Anglican Church Women of St. Augustine of Canterbury Anglican Church in Chico, California.

When these packages arrived, Roo was beginning to recover from the first batch of distress from this mysterious illness he has been suffering.

We thought we were on the upswing with his illness and things looked brighter.

In the missing box there was a backpack (a free gift from Staples) stuffed with worm medication and hospital strength ibuprofen.

It was disappointing that one box was missing. For the first time in many years, postal boxes have not been coming through to Freetown. Later is better than never and the boxes have now arrived. The photo below is of Lucy sporting the new backpack (sent filled with worm pills).

Recently, another box has arrived - a critical box filled with the iron tablets that Roo so desperately needs. It came just as he suffered yet another relapse with high fever.

It breaks my heart to look at Roo in these photos as I see the loss of strength and weight in him. He looks small for his age compared to the guitar.

But James reports that he is showing signs of improvement and hopefully he'll bounce back. I had fear that it was something more serious but it could very well be a severe case of vitamin and mineral deficiency. We are working to correct that.

Nazareth House makes monthly shipments of medication from Taylorsville to Freetown. We encounter tremendous needs in Sierra Leone, yet we ask that people resist the urge to donate items to this cause unless specifically requested.

It’s actually prohibitively expensive to export goods from the United States to Sierra Leone. Rather cash donations are preferred and greatly appreciated.

This approach benefits the local economy (local skills, labor & materials) - for example our NHA School uniforms: when the material is bought in Freetown, the seamstresses are hired to make the uniforms which keeps the Material shop in business and allows the seamstress to provide for her family. This is a win, win situation because our students get a uniform as well as others benefiting from the process. If we make the uniforms here in America and send them, they would cost much more per uniform since we'd have to pay shipping ...and the Material Shop (local business in Freetown) and the skilled laborer (Seamstress) would have not had the opportunity to actively use their trade. This allows NHA to concentrate on more immediate needs such as filling hungry bellies and medical assistance.

This is something NHA feels strongly about, it is our goal to provide the tools and opportunities that bring about the change and education for a community to rise above their current status and stand on their own. NHA doesn't want, nor does the people they serve want us to constantly be giving humanitarian aid. Our long term goal is to serve a community to the point of no longer being needed. As the community functions on their own, we can then move on to help another community, knowing the first one is self-sufficient.

"Bear one another's burdens, and so be filled with the law of Christ" (Gal. 6:2).

These are the reasons we ask for funding, rather than items - plus it also assures your tax deductible donations go directly to support needs and projects and reduces administration costs especially shipping.

We try to limit the items that we send to items necessary for survival - that which are unavailable in Sierra Leone, especially in Kabala. From time to time, we do accept donations of over the counter medications but please refrain from sending these items to us in Taylorsville without first checking with us. Contact us via the email listed on our website.

With the completion of the NHA Compound and the building contractor completely paid off we have been asked, "What's next?" There are always needs to be met, both in Sierra Leone and at the heart of our operations - St. Simeon Skete.

2012 Projects, Needs, Goals

John 16:24

Matthew 7:7

~~Kadijah will be delivering her baby in about 6 weeks or less. The cost for her delivery will be $500~~ (PAID Yesterday by ACW of St. Augustine: Chico California)
Maintenance.The buildings at St. Simeon Skete (The Chapel, The Kellia and Anna House) are wood and require immediate painting and sealing this Spring. This was the wettest year in history in Kentucky and it certainly did not help the wood at the Skete. Much of the wood on the decks is warping and beginning to rot. We have received several estimates, however the best was an estimate for ALL three buildings of $15,000. This includes power washing, the paint, the sealant and repair of deteriorating wood and the labor. For three considerably sized buildings with a lot of wood, this is an excellent quote.
Lucy, James daughter, plans to become a doctor. Considering the troubles we experience trying to find a honest qualified doctor, to see her through the schooling is one of the most positive projects NHA can set out to accomplish. To have our own resident doctor within the NHA team can mean wonders to the betterment of the village we serve. Our NHA school has not reached the level of education that Lucy already has. We add levels each year, but Lucy is far beyond that. We struggled with homeschooling but with the insufficient Internet service in Sierra Leone and no electricity in Kabala, Lucy was being held back and losing the quality of teaching she was receiving before. After much prayer and investigation we found a Boarding School in Freetown where Lucy can get the accelerated education and tailor her studies to that of becoming a physician. We have been unsuccessful in convincing American Doctors to come and live in Kabala so far, so the quicker we can get Lucy on the road to becoming a doctor the better. The cost for her education, room and board runs just at $3,000 per year. (Payments made so far this year for her school from The Millers, Kirkland, WA; St. Bartholomew's Anglican Church: Redmond, WA; L Burwell, Louisville, KY) We still owe $900
James must travel long hours crammed in unmaintained taxis operated by dangerously careless (many times intoxicated) drivers on treacherous roads to and from Kabala to obtain the post and financial support each month. Every time he is in this situation, his life is in jeopardy. We need a car owned by NHA that James can operate and maintain in a safe manner. We don't need a large car or an expensive new car - just a safe, maintainable car. James says he thinks we can find one anywhere $6,000 to $10,000
We are at 300 students at the NHA School today, hundreds more are wanting to attend but we do not have adequate room or teachers to support such an influx of students. To expand the school, adding more classrooms it will costs just at $17, 500. We pay the teachers $100 per month, we currently have 8 teachers. Each month it would be an additional $100 with every teacher we add.
St. Simeon Skete of Nazareth House Apostolate is the heart from which ongoing prayer beats the life into all that we do, especially the work in Sierra Leone. Without this prayer, there would be nothing accomplished. Those in residence stand before Our Lord as intercessors for every man, the whole of mankind. They are not there because they ran away from others, but so they can become closer to others by deepening their relationship with Christ as they serve him. This is why it is important to pray for vocations for the Skete. In years past, people counted on those with vocations to hold them up in prayer as they went about the necessary duties of daily life. In India they believe that the sages that do nothing but sit in prayer, high in the mountains, are the reason the world continues. Abraham asked if the Lord would spare the cities if fifty righteous people lived there. The Lord said yes. Boldly, Abraham kept bargaining down, until God agreed not to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah if even ten righteous people lived there. God was mercifully willing to spare the cities for the sake of a few righteous people, but none lived there. Vocations of prayer such as at the skete or at monasteries are dwindling and I believe we see the results of this in the depravity of today's world. Being called to be a religious at the Skete involves community, but most importantly revolves around that person's deepening of their relationship to God. We consider the Skete "the grand experiment" - only time will tell if the life of prayer, a deepened relationship with God lived for others will find support. In the Fall of 2010 the skete property became available. Nazareth House Apostolate had no funding, no credit and no idea how to make this happen. Nazareth House's funds are twofold - that designated for Sierra Leone and that for administration & operations of the headquarters, etc. in the States. The bulk of our funding is for Sierra Leone and these funds come in and go straight back out to tend to the needs of the mission work. We had nothing to show a banker to obtain a mortgage for the Skete. Nevertheless, we stepped out in faith and applied for a loan.There was one miracle after another miracle in obtaining the skete property and they have not stopped once we are here. After a week or so, with silence from the bank, I began to think we would be declined but gave them all that they asked for - highlighting what could be rather that what had been. I made it clear that donations for Sierra Leone must go to Sierra Leone and could not be counted towards a mortgage payment for the skete. Finally one day, the phone rang and it was the banker. He told me he wanted to talk with me about the "loan structure". I asked "what does that mean?" He told me that the loan had been approved. (Miracle) I began to cry, because there was no logical reason the loan should have been approved. The banker said "are you okay?" I replied "I am crying." "I didn't expect to be approved" The banker replied (now keep in mind this is a BANKER) "What Nazareth House Apostolate is doing is a good thing, and we want you to do it Taylorsville". This was a declaration that someone in the world believed it is worth the support. An organizational interest free loan was obtained for $350,000 (miracle) and the mortgage through the bank for $250,000 for a total of $600,000. So we are asking our readers to pray for another miracle that we can retire the mortgage.
There is no electricity in Kabala provided by the government or any other means. Therefore, it is necessary for the work of NHA in Kabala to obtain a generator for the NHA Compound. James has checked out the available generators in Freetown and has concluded that there is one that would do adequately for us. Its price tag is $4,500.
We are also working to secure internet via satellite to the school and the compound. There is a little building next to the school that NHA is in the process of buying. It cost $7,000, we've paid $1,000 for it so far. Once we own the building we'd like to turn it into a small teacher's study/Internet cafe. The Cafe would charge reasonable rates for use of the Internet and proceeds would go for the benefit of the school. (Another step in self-sufficiency) I have made inquiries for donations of satellite equipment and am waiting positive response.

Millions and Millions of dollars in donations are asked for everyday by many organizations. Our goals are modest compared to many of these requests, however, the impact of their fruition is beyond measure.

"Where there is no vision, the people perish (Proverbs 9:18)".

As NHA strives to fulfill the needs listed above, we continue to meet the regular monthly requirements to sustain both the life of prayer at St. Simeon Skete and the life of those struggling without food, medical care, proper sanitation, running water in Sierra Leone. Each month we pay our teachers and provide rice and medical assistance for an ever-growing number of families.

We cannot stress enough that Nazareth House Apostolate relies totally on God as he expresses Himself through our supporters’ prayers, compassion and generosity. This allows us to work together as a team, a family (The NHA Family) to reach thousands of lives by the act of prayer, love and touch.

“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

“Come and see.”

John 1:46

Donkey Bells and a soft bed for Jesus

2011-12-02T00:30:00.000-05:00

Denny and Joanie's donkey

Another tradition that Nazareth House Apostolate continues during Advent is that of pinning a tiny silver bell (one that actually rings) in the sleeve of the left arm of our clothing (the left arm because it is closer to the heart).

Vicki's Advent Bell pinned in her sleeve

The bell represents the bell on the donkey that Mary rode into Bethlehem, ringing with every step the donkey takes.

Joanie and Denny's donkey

With the bell hidden in the sleeve, every time we move our arm we hear it’s tiny tinkling ring. Every ring reminds us that this is Advent and Jesus is coming. The bell has a very gentle non-offensive sound and can be worn all day, wherever you are.

There are other traditions from around the world. Catherine Doherty is well known for reviving many holy Christian Traditions. Nazareth House Apostolate recommends her book: “Donkey Bells”

In Seraphim’s family, an empty creche was placed in the living room. A box filled with 2 inch strands of golden yarn sat next to it.

Every time a family member performed a good deed during Advent, they took a strand of yarn (representing hay) and placed it into the manager creating a soft bed for the Child Jesus to lie in. In other words, the place that Christ comes to rest in is our good deeds.

They were encouraged that the good deed and the placing of the yarn (hay) into the creche should be done in secret. “That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.”- Matthew 6:4

THE ADVENT WREATH

2011-11-30T00:30:00.000-05:00

In Sierra Leone, James and family are making their way back to Kabala after spending a week in Freetown,

braving the busyness of the city to seek medical attention for Roo,

receive packages from the post and stock up on supplies. They are excited to return to the peacefulness of Kabala, especially as they prepare their hearts during this penitential season of Advent.

As I type this post, the rain is falling hard and Seraphim is outside rebuilding and repairing the newly developed ditches in the gravel road at the skete. He is drenched.

In order to prepare for the cold Winter, we are filling the gas tanks for the buildings in use at the Skete.

Preventative measures and preparedness are imperative to maintain our buildings, our properties and daily life. Advent calls to attention the fact that as we give attention to the physical preparations - things that are temporary, it is even more important that we prepare our hearts and souls which are eternal.

Nazareth House Apostolate began the Advent Season as we begin everything - in prayer.

As the first Advent candle was lit in The Chapel of the Presentation, the Liturgy began. It is the custom of NHA at St. Simeon Skete to place the Nativity Scene in the chapel on the first Sunday of Advent, highlighting the empty creche - signifying the Season’s reason for preparation and expectation - the coming of Christ.

The Wisemen are placed far to the East in the Chapel ... journeying closer each Sunday of Advent, finally making their way to the site of our Lord’s Nativity after Christmas.

After the Liturgy on this first Sunday in Advent,

we had a wonderful time of fellowship

at Anna House,

a sharing and celebration as we begin the fasting and penitential observations the next day.

The materialistic “Santa Season” serves to distract us from having a meaningful, preparatory Advent. Consumerism, Self indulgence, Keeping up with the ‘Jones’ (people haven’t realized that the “Jones” aren’t happy, but they still want to be like them), mammon illness - all these things take away from having a real Christmas. There are many traditions and customs that help us to ignore these distractions and put them in proper perspective.

One tradition, the Advent Wreath, serves to keep us focused on The Important. Each night at the dinner table one candle for each week of Advent is lit, ending with all four candles lit by the week leading into Christmas. Usually the youngest child of the family lights the first candle. There are many prayers that can be found on the internet search engines to be said at the lighting of the candle, but it can be more personal and meaningful (especially to the children) to incorporate your own prayers.

The first candle is the candle of Hope (expectation). This points attention to the anticipation of the coming of Christ. As God’s people were exploited by power hungry kings, led astray by self-centered prophets, and assuaged into apathy by half-hearted religious leaders, people began to crave a new king who would teach them how to be people of God and not of the world. They longed for the return of God in their midst.

So, God revealed to some of the prophets that He would not leave His flock without a true Shepherd. While they expected a new earthly king, their expectations fell far short of God’s revelation of Himself in Christ. The world continues to be lead by dominative powers. We remain in expectation, with hope, for the coming of Christ. Our hope starts with the birthing of Christ in our own hearts.

The sequence of lighting the candles for the remaining Sundays of Advent are that of Love, Joy, and Peace.

And so this is Advent

2011-11-27T19:15:00.001-05:00

Today begins the preparatory Season of Advent.

Advent wreath at table in Holy Trinity Kellia, St. Simeon Skete

The Gospel for 1st Sunday of Advent
St. Matthew xxi. 1.

WHEN they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, and brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name 'of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Jesus tells His disciples to go into the city AND He tells them to find a tethered colt that no one had ridden.
Think about that image: "a tethered colt which no one has ridden..."

Young mule of Denny & Joanie Markwell, members of St. Simeon Skete

Of course the people are waiting for a dominative, powerful, substantive image - a King, A Ruler who is going to change everything from the outside (the surface).

But Jesus says "I'm not going to come in on a horse, in triumph but ...as Zechariah 9:9 prophesied... I'm coming in on a donkey to redefine what power is, worth is, strength is, trust is...

This colt/donkey, THIS powerless image is a tethered colt, its been tied up in all of history. No one's ever wanted to use it, no one's ridden this kind before but Jesus is going to ride it into the city to show the world a different way, a new way, the way of trust, the way of vulnerability, the way of powerlessness.

When your generosity has been tied up, loosen it and when greed rises up and asks "what are you doing?", say, "The Lord has need of it" When your humility is tied up, loosen it and when pride questions you, say "The Lord has need of it." When your forgiveness is tied up, untie it and when mercilessness asks you "why?, say "The Lord has need of it."
As Jesus rides into the city in this "different way" the people wonder "Who is this?" "What is this new way?" Jesus upsets the system and says: "its prayer".

Jeremy Lopez, in prayer before his Confirmation. Nazareth House Apostolate, Athens, Georgia

Of all the battles that God has with human consciousness, the battle to get rid of those things (furniture) that keep us from making our souls a house of prayer must be God's most difficult battle. Culture wants to rearrange the "furniture" by dominative power - the ability to influence others through coercion, hiring and firing, punishing, threatening, lawsuits, money, position. This will rearrange the "furniture" and most will respond to it. But at best, this is all we can do: re-arrange the "furniture". But Jesus doesn't re-arrange the furniture, He pitches it - throws it out - opting for a House of Prayer! Anything in your life that is keeping you from prayer needs to be pitched!
As the Holiday Season approaches many will be re-arranging their living rooms to prepare for Holiday guests or give a new look but only PRAYER can change the living room into a LIVING room.

Personal milagro of Seraphim, housed where he hangs his prayer beads

Advent Collect

ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal, through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, now and ever. Amen.

Our Supporters

2011-11-18T07:52:00.001-05:00

Nazareth House Apostolate is blessed to have friends that support the work all over the world. We remain small in number but HUGE in heart and spirit.

As this post is being published, there are many outlets of Nazareth House busily working together to pray and provide beyond themselves. We are most grateful. The needs increase daily and we are thankful for the continued support. You are all named daily in the prayers at St. Simeon Skete .

Today we feature our chapter housed in the C.S. Lewis Student Center & St. Theodore's Chapel located on campus of University of South Carolina in Columbia.

Seraphim and I recently made a trip to visit the C S Lewis Center and we are amazed by their care and support for the work and the love they show for NHA and the people of Sierra Leone and us.

Tonight they will be doing a FAST to raise awareness and funding for the work of Nazareth House Apostolate. If you are able, join them in the fast and/or donate to NHA for the cause.

*********************************************************************************

Their flyer reads:

What: Fast for Africa

When: 6:00 p.m., Friday, Nov. 18, to 6:00 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 19

Where: C. S. Lewis Student Center and on your own

C. S. Lewis Student Center & St. Theodore's Anglican Chapel

1730 College St, Columbia, SC 29201

Why: To raise funds and awareness for Nazareth House Apostolate, Sierra Leone, and to pray for their ministry

GRACE is inviting you to be involved in the ministry of Nazareth House Apostolate in Sierra Leone, West Africa. Many of you met Fr. Seraphim and Vicki Hicks, founders of Nazareth House, last month during their visit to Columbia. This Fast for Africa will allow you to participate in the ministry you heard them speak of.

Nazareth House Apostolate is especially called to pray in areas that have been abandoned and forgotten by the rest of the world. During the horrific ten-year civil war in Sierra Leone, Nazareth House went there to pray and and share God’s love. Today, Nazareth House operates a free school in Kabala, Sierra Leone (along with one meal a day to students) as well as providing medical help to those who fall between the cracks. All of this started simply with prayer! Read more at www.NazarethHouseAP .org.

Attached is a sheet for supporters to pledge a certain amount for each hour you fast. At the bottom of this page is a handy table to compute several different levels of giving, but any amount helps, and donors are free to choose their own. Ordinarily, you should collect the gifts after you have finished the fast (no fair accepting funds, and then not following through on the fast). Check off the right column when you collect the donation. If you have medical issues that preclude you from a total fasting from solid food, just do as much as you can, but be upfront with your donors. The normal fast would mean only consuming water during the 24-hour period, but if you need to adjust it to your own situation, then do as much as you can. It really only means missing two meals (breakfast and lunch on Saturday, assuming you eat just prior to the 6:00 p.m. start on Friday), and very few people have ever had to be rushed to the hospital for missing two meals! You may also choose to fast from something besides food, but it should be a real sacrifice of something you ordinarily partake of (tv, computer, etc.).

As with any fast, use the hunger pains as an opportunity to remind yourself that your hunger for God is more important than any physical hunger you may experience. When your stomach grumbles, turn it into a prayer. You may want to use the following prayer, which is recited by the students daily at the Nazareth House School:

“Merciful God, receive the prayers we offer for our anxious and troubled world. Send thy light into our darkness and guide the nations as one family into the ways of peace. We, together on the earth, belong to you. May we see one another as you see us. Help us to love one another, teach us to understand each other, just as you understand us. Make us as fresh as the morning, make our hearts free of fear. May we forgive each other and forget the past. Strengthen in us, day by day, the desire for you. Amen.”

You will be able to participate in the fast completely on your own, but we will have group activities at the beginning and end of the fast, if you would like to participate. Friday, we will start with Evening Prayer at 6:00, praying especially for Nazarath House, and our efforts in this fast. We will follow that by a screening at 6:45 of Blood Diamond, the 2006 film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Djimon Hounsou, which tells the story of Sierra Leone’s brutal civil war (Location TBA).

Saturday, we will end the fast with Evening Prayer at 5:30, followed by an African supper at 6:00.

(Help us support Nazareth House Apostolate in Sierra Leone, West Africa. Please download this sheet for more information: http://www.sttheodoresc.org/fortnight/Fast%20for%20Africa%2011-11.pdf)

*********************************************************************************During our visit, The C.S. Lewis Center offered a Taste of Africa dinner to raise awareness and support.

Groundnut Soup with Rice as well as the cucumber and smoked fish dish were big hits with everyone - the students at USC

and at the subsequentTaste of Africa dinner at the Cathedral of the Epiphany Church in Columbia, SC.

What a welcome we received!

The fellowship was wonderful.

The "Freetown Fridge" remains (drinks are offered for a donation to NHA) in place at the C.S. Lewis Center.

It has been raising awareness and funding for Nazareth House for many years now.

One of my favorite events of the visit was the High Tea

on the porch of the Center.

We enjoyed great togetherness and mutual support.

We were quite pleased at the brilliance of the students

and their eagerness to help those in need.

If you find yourself in the Columbia area, look the C.S. Lewis Center and/or the Cathedral of Epiphany up - you are sure to find a gracious welcome.

Join in the love of Nazareth House Apostolate...

See us in action on our Youtube Channel; www.youtube.com/SaloneNHA

2011-11-15T07:49:00.001-05:00

We received a lab report on Roo and it showed he was severely anemic. Everything else seemed okay and no malaria showed in the blood.

From these photos we can see he is thin and doesn't feel well. We are starting him on iron vitamins as we do not trust the blood supply for transfusions.

Thank you for your prayers for Roo and the work in Sierra Leone by Nazareth House Apostolate. Its not easy, but we don't give up.

Eleven. Eleven. Eleven. Updates: bits & pieces

2011-11-11T11:11:00.000-05:00

In the spirit of Eleven, we give thanksgiving for the Eleven Patronal Saints of St. Simeon Skete and NHA.

Holy Prophet, Elijah, who heard God in the stillness
Holy Simeon, the God Receiver & Confessor, who found God to be enough
John the Baptist, Forerunner & Baptizer of Jesus in the Jordan River where Heaven opened
Saint Mary of Bethany, who chose the better part
Saint John the Beloved who with Mary Magdalene & Mary, the mother of our Lord, bore witness at the foot of the cross
Saint Paul, the Apostle, who showed us the Way of the Name
Saint Pachomius of the Rule who gave us the Angel's holy Rule of Prayer
Saint Arsenius, who fled, found solitude and prayed always
Saint Mary of Egypt, for whom repentance was enough
Saint Isaac the Syrian, who showed us the beyond to be in our midst
Saint Gregory of Sinai, who stayed with the prayer

"Lord, Jesus Christ our God, by the prayers of your saints, have mercy upon us and save us."

Today's blog post will be a bit of a "catch up" on recent events.

At this writing James and Kadijah are tending to Roo who is experiencing a very high fever of 104. Please keep him in your prayers.

The NHA Matching Fund campaign has ended and was a success. We have now received the matching funds to match all the donations. Thank you so very much for all the support. You'll be hearing more about this very soon.

Nazareth House Apostolate has purchased 100 worm pills ($319) and they are on their way to Sierra Leone along with medications received from the Anglican Church Women of St. Augustine Church in Chico, California.

We want to send our love and congratulations to Mohammad Sanu and his family.

His wife gave birth (successfully) to their youngest child.

Last year they lost a child at birth - it was too premature.

Sanu has joined the NHA team and works with James to provide and do the work of Nazareth House in Kabala.

James reports after Sanu's wife's surgery - c-section (thanks to NHA's provision) that he met up with an adorable little dog sporting only three legs.

"Old school is this dog's name. Some say he suffered the amputation during the war, some say he was hit by a car but no matter what his history is, he is the sweetiest dog I have ever met in my life. Whilst trying to help Sanu out as he struggle to get his wife out of the hospital after her operation, we met Old School. I was so worn out but was so moved to play with him and there he comes wagging his tale as if I was his owner. He did make my day and every one told me so much good stories of him. Old School, as he is called, living his life as a Freetonian and had no choice but to keep his three legs going and making life happen as it is. No complain at all....... To me he represents a lot of my people, they have nothing, many times not even their limbs, but they smile, they are genuinely happy and they make life go on as if they were richest of the world" -James Mansaray

After prayerful consideration and much research, we have decided to transfer Lucy to a Boarding School in Freetown.

Lucy, (James daughter) plans on being a doctor and with the scarcity of that vocation in Kabala we felt it was our duty to see that she gets the adequate education and training without delay. Our NHA School in Kabala provides very qualified education however, we are just now growing into the high school level that Lucy has already obtained, therefore we didn't want to hold her back. We tried the excellent homeschooling but since the internet in Sierra Leone is so intermittent these days, her learning was not consistent. The boarding school tuition, room and board (including food) is right at $3,000 a year. We have provided $500 of that as a downpayment and this has allowed her to begin school. The school has asked that we pay $1100 this month and the rest within the next month. We are taking donations for this cause. If you wish to give please indicate "Lucy" on your contribution.

Nazareth House again paid the yearly rent for Marianna Barrie, the wife of the late sufi saint, Pa Barrie.

We promised Pa Barrie that we would take care of his widow and we have kept our promise.

Thanks be to God.

Back at St. Simeon Skete, we are preparing for Winter.   The skies have been as colorful as the changing leaves. Finally, the grass mowing is over until Spring.

   There is over 17 acres of grass to cut on the property and Seraphim has been keeping up with it.

   When time came for Louisville Tractor to come and take away the lawn mower for Winterizing,

Seraphim was like a boy having his toy taken away.

He explained to me that the Cheetah (Scags Zero Turn) was the best working tool he's had in a long time. "Its a fine machine" He is very thankful for it, especially with this much grass to cut.

And as they drove off with it, Seraphim watched it to the very end of the road. Men and their tools. ...smile...

We cannot stress enough that Nazareth House Apostolate relies totally on God as he expresses Himself through our supporters’ prayers, compassion and generosity. Through this assistance we are able to reach hundreds (families and individuals, doctors and hospitals, teachers and students). Join us, today.

donations should be made through the Paypal button on our website

www.nazarethhouseap.org

mailed to

NHA

185 Captains Cove Drive

Taylorsville, KY 40071

The Wailing Wall at St. Simeon Skete

2011-11-07T08:13:00.000-05:00

As Autumn settles in at St. Simeon Skete,

we’ve now completed a full year in Taylorsville, Kentucky.

Much has been accomplished in establishing this space of prayer, yet; there is still much yet to do.

Upon purchasing the property, there was (and still is) many physical projects necessary to aesthetically conform the grounds to the atmosphere necessary for a skete. That is ... an atmosphere of prayer.

We are working on these projects one at a time as funding, labor and weather permits.

It cannot be said too often, or stressed enough that St. Simeon Skete is about prayer, everything we do stems, circulates and grows from that prayer.

It is the heart of Nazareth House Apostolate which enables the blood to circulate through the body.

Without the work at the Skete, the mission work in Sierra Leone could not continue.

That work, the ongoing prayer, has been going on way before we relocated to Taylorsville, there has been no change in that, only the location is different. It is at this new setting that we hope to expand that prayer with vocations. Those who will give up all of the world to come and live this life of prayer at the Skete.

There was a time when people believed that prayer at this level was necessary and vocations were plentiful. As the world became more materialistic, vocations began to drop.

At Nazareth House Apostolate we believe that it is the lack of places such as St. Simeon Skete, that the world is in such decline.

People need to know that there is somewhere in the world where people are praying.

When they are stuck in traffic, already late for work and suddenly their car overheats

- people need to know that in the midst of their struggle there are those who are praying for them at the skete.

On Sunday, November 6th, we officially opened the Wailing Wall of St. Simeon Skete.

The Wall, containing a shrine with pieces of mortar from the original Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, lies hidden beyond the fencing

overlooking Taylorsville Lake.

Yesterday, it was blessed and the first prayers were inserted into the cracks.

The Notice on the Wailing Wall at St. Simeon Skete reads:

“This wall is inspired by another wall, the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem.

Here generations have cried and prayed out their needs before God.

Indeed to this day little pieces of paper with prayers and petitions are rolled up and inserted in the broken mortar between the bricks of the wall.

This wall serves the same purpose.

It is here in order that needs, prayers and petitions may be stuck in the crevices that as they’re seen they will be prayed for.

Also, you may take a petition from the wall, keep it for a week and pray for the unknown writer whose heart may be broken.

Then you might initial and date it and put it back again so that the person who put it there originally may know that he or she is not alone; that someone gave comfort, sympathy and concern.

In any case, the Wailing Wall stands here as a shrine, a special place at St. Simeon Skete

where we stand with deep devotion with you as we raise our hearts and minds to God with longing, tears and confidence.

Feel free to stick your needs in the cracks and look over other’s needs.

Most of all, stand, kneel or prostrate here with reverence, faith and quiet that deep sympathy and mercy always demands of us.

Jesus Mercy dear friend.

Now it is time to go into the marketplace, do so with this commission: “...go ye and learn...I will have mercy, and not sacrifice.” -St. Matthew 9:13”