As Christmas approaches here in America, it shows so much of what life here is like compared to third world countries like Sierra Leone where I come from.
I can sense the spirit of love, giving and sharing as I visit the malls with everybody wanting to get something for someone, long traffic jams finding their way to these huge market places to buy more gifts for their loved ones. I am dumbfounded just looking with nothing in my pocket to buy for a friend. So many choices that even if a dollar or two was there, I will would first consider the most pressing issue – that is, feeding a whole family in one of the remote villages in Sierra Leone where it is always difficult for a mother to make a meal for a day.
Where I come from, there is nothing like all this. Christmas is considered complete if a whole family could at least get one great meal on that particular day with a good amount of fish or meat in it.
I have seen, tasted and experienced a lot here in America. Let’s say, I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly. I expect life to be more challenging and colorful in other States but so far, so good here in Kentucky. it is a fine world, well planned and good, no taste or sign of the horrible war and bad experiences of hardship that my Country is plunged into.
Every other day is born to a new experience making me so puzzled at times thinking that I was in a movie, forgetting the fact that it is real. Not even those driving me around knew what’s in my mind for I sometimes answer a question by just nodding to them without knowing what I was nodding for, being carried away and most times lost trying to compare where I came from to where I am now.
For those living in America, I consider lucky, very very Lucky. Good roads with thousands of good cars, never in my life had I thought of a single truck carrying ten more vehicles on its head. Good food, no blinking of the electric bulb since I I’ve been here. Clean running water, Fresh cool air with no sign of a mosquito since I ‘ve been here, going to bed every day with a over filled belly with more in the refrigerator making it no worries for tomorrow.
It bothers me thinking of the fact that it will soon end as a return back home. People in America enjoy eating habits that I wish were a reality forever, not only for me, but the hungry populace in Mama Salone.
Making do with whatever bit that lands in the hand day by day a term we called “from hand to mouth”. Thanks to Nazareth House for making life much more better for several poor homes in Sierra Leone.
Missing my family, dreams of going back, struggling with the fact that here I am well feed everyday when thousands are roaming the streets of Freetown with no free soup kitchen to run to, but still sitting there open handed several hours waiting for a coin to at least buy a packet of water to quench their thirst.
Kids with no knowledge of what Santa is nor hopes of a Christmas presents instead continuing to help make provision for their family by carrying heavy loads on their heads to the rough markets places under the sun to make a living.
More beggars everyday with no choice but to continue begging in other to making a living.
Thanks to our handful of donors who with their monthly donations are making it possible for us to buy bags of rice every month to feed those around us. In fact this is one of the more reasons why I have become so accustomed in checking the mail box every day with the hope of finding a gift that could at least save a life back home or send a poor kid to school when I return. With NHA you can see it happen as more homes are being fed, hundreds of kids getting a good education in a better environment. This will improve if more people continue to support us.
Looking back at what is left there, NHA has some much more to get done. There is no way we can abandon the good work we’ve all started.
Remember those in need, especially in Sierra Leone this Christmas – support Nazareth House Apostolate.
God bless you all,
James
