When I die

When I die



When I die
when my coffin is being taken out
you must never think
I am missing this world


don’t shed any tears
don’t lament
or feel sorry
i’m not falling
into a monster’s abyss














when you see my corpse is being carried


don't cry for my leaving


i'm not leaving


i'm arriving at eternal love







when you leave me in the grave
 don’t say goodbye
 remember a grave is
 only a curtain
 for the paradise behind

you’ll only see me descending
 into a grave
 now watch me rise
 how can there be an end
 when the sun sets
 or the moon goes down








it looks like the end


it seems like a sunset


but in reality it is a dawn


when the grave locks you up


that is when your soul is freed






have you ever seen a seed fallen to earth


not rise with a new life


why should you doubt the rise


of a seed named human



have you ever seen a bucket
 lowered into a well
 coming back empty
 why lament for a soul
 when it can come back
 like Joseph from the well


when for the last time
 you close your mouth
 your words and soul 
will belong to the world
 of no place no time


~RUMI, ghazal number 911, translated May 18, 1992, by Nader Khalili.



Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

When I die

When I die



When I die
when my coffin is being taken out
you must never think
I am missing this world


don’t shed any tears
don’t lament
or feel sorry
i’m not falling
into a monster’s abyss














when you see my corpse is being carried


don't cry for my leaving


i'm not leaving


i'm arriving at eternal love







when you leave me in the grave
 don’t say goodbye
 remember a grave is
 only a curtain
 for the paradise behind

you’ll only see me descending
 into a grave
 now watch me rise
 how can there be an end
 when the sun sets
 or the moon goes down








it looks like the end


it seems like a sunset


but in reality it is a dawn


when the grave locks you up


that is when your soul is freed






have you ever seen a seed fallen to earth


not rise with a new life


why should you doubt the rise


of a seed named human



have you ever seen a bucket
 lowered into a well
 coming back empty
 why lament for a soul
 when it can come back
 like Joseph from the well


when for the last time
 you close your mouth
 your words and soul 
will belong to the world
 of no place no time


~RUMI, ghazal number 911, translated May 18, 1992, by Nader Khalili.



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The Moment

As James detaches from the things of life 
that once devoured the day in the hustle and bustle of the “got to make it big” city life, 

he is now settling into the wisdom and joys of simplicity.  

Each moment becomes a cherished event, good or bad.

Its the quiet ordinary moments, 

 like learning to weave a prayer mat with a friend

  that make us understand the importance of not wasting a single moment 
and the realization that what we’ve already been given is enough for God 
to do what he wants to do in our lives.   The hard part is trusting that…
and that’s where faith comes in…

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The Moment

As James detaches from the things of life 
that once devoured the day in the hustle and bustle of the “got to make it big” city life, 

he is now settling into the wisdom and joys of simplicity.  

Each moment becomes a cherished event, good or bad.

Its the quiet ordinary moments, 

 like learning to weave a prayer mat with a friend

  that make us understand the importance of not wasting a single moment 
and the realization that what we’ve already been given is enough for God 
to do what he wants to do in our lives.   The hard part is trusting that…
and that’s where faith comes in…

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Its all about LOVE

As the Nazareth House Compound in Kabala continues slowly,

bit by bit,  towards completion,

there remains the inconveniences of living out of the city

and away from the things that many of us take for granted.

However, James and Kadijah see this as a minor interruption but definitely not a major hinderance.

For in many ways, the move out of the busy city of Freetown,

has brought far more to their life than it has taken away.

Kadijah washes clothes with Albert

 It has brought them back to a place of simplicity,

Albert putting up clothes lines for Kadijah, while the construction workers continue working on the Compound

a place of stillness

where the hospitality reaching out from your neighbor’s heart can be heard.

In Kabala, the people (of all ages, young and old) work hard and long,

but it is with goals and purposes

– much different from the frantic busyness of Freetown and other large cities of the world.

Kadijah tidying up the dirt path in front of Compound, each sweep a prayer

In the stillness, through the bond and love of our neighbors,

Sanu & Kadijah delivering rice

we can make a home in the hearts of one another and not have to try to be who they want us to be…

or what society thinks we should be …

we can simply “be” who God made us to be.

No airs, no pretending – just living life.

Nazareth House is in Kabala to be of service to the people around us

but the people, at first word that James was down with a severe case of Shingles and with Kadijah in her pregnancy; the neighbors bring water to us at the Nazareth House Compound.   Bucket after bucket of water fetched from streams a good distance away,  arrives on the heads of our extended family – the Nazareth House Family.     Love …. its all about love….



Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:38

Donations to this worthy cause can be sent to:
NHA
185 Captains Cove Drive
Taylorsville, KY 40071
or made through the Paypal Donation Link on our website
visit us on Facebook
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Its all about LOVE

As the Nazareth House Compound in Kabala continues slowly,

bit by bit,  towards completion,

there remains the inconveniences of living out of the city

and away from the things that many of us take for granted.

However, James and Kadijah see this as a minor interruption but definitely not a major hinderance.

For in many ways, the move out of the busy city of Freetown,

has brought far more to their life than it has taken away.

Kadijah washes clothes with Albert

 It has brought them back to a place of simplicity,

Albert putting up clothes lines for Kadijah, while the construction workers continue working on the Compound

a place of stillness

where the hospitality reaching out from your neighbor’s heart can be heard.

In Kabala, the people (of all ages, young and old) work hard and long,

but it is with goals and purposes

– much different from the frantic busyness of Freetown and other large cities of the world.

Kadijah tidying up the dirt path in front of Compound, each sweep a prayer

In the stillness, through the bond and love of our neighbors,

Sanu & Kadijah delivering rice

we can make a home in the hearts of one another and not have to try to be who they want us to be…

or what society thinks we should be …

we can simply “be” who God made us to be.

No airs, no pretending – just living life.

Nazareth House is in Kabala to be of service to the people around us

but the people, at first word that James was down with a severe case of Shingles and with Kadijah in her pregnancy; the neighbors bring water to us at the Nazareth House Compound.   Bucket after bucket of water fetched from streams a good distance away,  arrives on the heads of our extended family – the Nazareth House Family.     Love …. its all about love….



Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:38

Donations to this worthy cause can be sent to:
NHA
185 Captains Cove Drive
Taylorsville, KY 40071
or made through the Paypal Donation Link on our website
visit us on Facebook
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

James is improving

James has suffered a rather severe case of Shingles, However,  as these pictures show,
 he is beginning to heal. 

The Shingles started at the navel and spread

across the back.    The whelps are drying up, finally.   Yet, the pain (stinging) still remains.   We had only a few cipro and ibuprofen for him to take.  There are anti-viral medications for Shingles, but you must take them within the first 72 hours of onset.   Shipping from America to Sierra Leone takes a minimum of 10 days (if we are lucky), there was no way to get it to him.   So James endured this painful disease with ibuprofen.  He took cipro for three days to inhibit the infection, but it was the anti-inflammatory qualities of the ibuprofen that saw him through – and continues to do so.  I’ve had to convince him to take it every four hours as he is always worried that they will run out of the stock they have at the Compound (So he would only take one or two pills a day).   Rest assured James, you can take the pain reliever – we have sent you more.

And from all of us at Nazareth House Apostolate to James:

We love you and are praying for your speedy recovery!   Thanks for all you do!

Posted in Lazarus Sierra Leone Nazareth house death freetown salone Outreach, NHA, Shingles | Leave a comment

James is improving

James has suffered a rather severe case of Shingles, However,  as these pictures show,
 he is beginning to heal. 

The Shingles started at the navel and spread

across the back.    The whelps are drying up, finally.   Yet, the pain (stinging) still remains.   We had only a few cipro and ibuprofen for him to take.  There are anti-viral medications for Shingles, but you must take them within the first 72 hours of onset.   Shipping from America to Sierra Leone takes a minimum of 10 days (if we are lucky), there was no way to get it to him.   So James endured this painful disease with ibuprofen.  He took cipro for three days to inhibit the infection, but it was the anti-inflammatory qualities of the ibuprofen that saw him through – and continues to do so.  I’ve had to convince him to take it every four hours as he is always worried that they will run out of the stock they have at the Compound (So he would only take one or two pills a day).   Rest assured James, you can take the pain reliever – we have sent you more.

And from all of us at Nazareth House Apostolate to James:

We love you and are praying for your speedy recovery!   Thanks for all you do!

Posted in Lazarus Sierra Leone Nazareth house death freetown salone Outreach, NHA, Shingles | Leave a comment

Nazareth House Syntactic Tree

There is so much to be done and so many depending on us.  As we continue to pay down the construction costs  of the NHA Compound (balance due $6,000) in Kabala, we must also keep up with our other responsibilities.  We continue to pray for compassionate folks who will commit to monthly support of Nazareth House.  For as little as $25 per month you can make a huge difference in many lives and enable the work of NHA to continue and grow.   Please consider doing so today.   



The first twenty people that sign up to be a NHA Monthly Sustainer -giving regular monthly donations to provide for the work of NHA, will receive this tote bag.  


 St. Simeon Skete (prayer) is the heart of Nazareth House Apostolate from which all that we do begins, circulates and is pumped out.  


Nazareth House Kabala is our field house in which the mission work is accomplished.  Together the two exemplify the teamwork we have in our supporters and the beneficiaries – working together with great love,  to do the work of Nazareth House.   


The teamwork of Nazareth House is amazing. 


In fact it is more than amazing…


it is  TREEmendous


Last week as we ended the day at the Chapel at St. Simeon Skete with the service of Compline, we noticed the branches had formed together a syntactic structure in strings of leaves to spell out the letters:  N.  H.  for Nazareth House.


We had been considering cutting the tree down as it seemed to be dying.


As we got a closer look, we noticed that the letters were made up of new growth in the midst of the dying leaves and branches.   






Part of the Rule of Nazareth House is that you must daily do manual labor, this is carried out at the Skete in Kentucky, USA


 and also in Sierra Leone.  

The NHA School was in severe need of protective paint as is the buildings at St. Simeon Skete.  Even though we haven’t paid the Compound Construction work off, we were able to squeeze a little money to paint the school

and we hope to raise the money for St. Simeon Skete very soon as the buildings are wood and must be sealed and protected before Winter sets in.  The wood is a past due a treatment and we don’t want further deterioration to set in. 

In the meantime, in Kabala, the school is being prepared for the new year…

 “He must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.”-  Ephesians 4:28

“There is no substitute for hard work.”- Thomas A. Edison 

“For the people worked with all their heart.”  Nehemiah 4:6

“We work to become, not to acquire.” – Elbert Hubbard 

“May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us– yes, establish the work of our hands.” – Psalm 90:17

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. ” – Thomas A. Edison 

“There is joy in work. There is no happiness except in the realization that we have accomplished something.” – Henry Ford 

“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” 
–  2 Chronicles 15:7
Our enrollment is growing and we have ran out of room at the NHA School.  This year we are adding room dividers in the old classrooms to generate additional classrooms. 

“Work is love made visible. And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy.” – Khalil Gibran 

“Whatever you do, work at it with all of your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”
 – Colossians 3:23 (see Colossians 3:22- 4:1)


“Work is not man’s punishment. It is his reward and his strength and his pleasure.” – George Sand 


It’s all about love…
       Come join us.

Nazareth House Apostolate
185 Captains Cove Drive
Taylorsville, KY 40071

Posted in Humanitarian Africa, James B Mansaray, Kabala, Love, Nazareth house apostolate, NHA, NHA school, Sierra Leone, vicki hicks | Leave a comment

Nazareth House Syntactic Tree

There is so much to be done and so many depending on us.  As we continue to pay down the construction costs  of the NHA Compound (balance due $6,000) in Kabala, we must also keep up with our other responsibilities.  We continue to pray for compassionate folks who will commit to monthly support of Nazareth House.  For as little as $25 per month you can make a huge difference in many lives and enable the work of NHA to continue and grow.   Please consider doing so today.   



The first twenty people that sign up to be a NHA Monthly Sustainer -giving regular monthly donations to provide for the work of NHA, will receive this tote bag.  


 St. Simeon Skete (prayer) is the heart of Nazareth House Apostolate from which all that we do begins, circulates and is pumped out.  


Nazareth House Kabala is our field house in which the mission work is accomplished.  Together the two exemplify the teamwork we have in our supporters and the beneficiaries – working together with great love,  to do the work of Nazareth House.   


The teamwork of Nazareth House is amazing. 


In fact it is more than amazing…


it is  TREEmendous


Last week as we ended the day at the Chapel at St. Simeon Skete with the service of Compline, we noticed the branches had formed together a syntactic structure in strings of leaves to spell out the letters:  N.  H.  for Nazareth House.


We had been considering cutting the tree down as it seemed to be dying.


As we got a closer look, we noticed that the letters were made up of new growth in the midst of the dying leaves and branches.   






Part of the Rule of Nazareth House is that you must daily do manual labor, this is carried out at the Skete in Kentucky, USA


 and also in Sierra Leone.  

The NHA School was in severe need of protective paint as is the buildings at St. Simeon Skete.  Even though we haven’t paid the Compound Construction work off, we were able to squeeze a little money to paint the school

and we hope to raise the money for St. Simeon Skete very soon as the buildings are wood and must be sealed and protected before Winter sets in.  The wood is a past due a treatment and we don’t want further deterioration to set in. 

In the meantime, in Kabala, the school is being prepared for the new year…

 “He must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.”-  Ephesians 4:28

“There is no substitute for hard work.”- Thomas A. Edison 

“For the people worked with all their heart.”  Nehemiah 4:6

“We work to become, not to acquire.” – Elbert Hubbard 

“May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us– yes, establish the work of our hands.” – Psalm 90:17

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. ” – Thomas A. Edison 

“There is joy in work. There is no happiness except in the realization that we have accomplished something.” – Henry Ford 

“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” 
–  2 Chronicles 15:7
Our enrollment is growing and we have ran out of room at the NHA School.  This year we are adding room dividers in the old classrooms to generate additional classrooms. 

“Work is love made visible. And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy.” – Khalil Gibran 

“Whatever you do, work at it with all of your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”
 – Colossians 3:23 (see Colossians 3:22- 4:1)


“Work is not man’s punishment. It is his reward and his strength and his pleasure.” – George Sand 


It’s all about love…
       Come join us.

Nazareth House Apostolate
185 Captains Cove Drive
Taylorsville, KY 40071

Posted in Humanitarian Africa, James B Mansaray, Kabala, Love, Nazareth house apostolate, NHA, NHA school, Sierra Leone, vicki hicks | Leave a comment