Today is Ann Marie’s birthday

Posted on February 20, 2011 by vicki
To learn more about Ann Marie: click on this link 
Click here for previous blog link giving the story of Ann Marie
Happy Birthday, Ann Marie.  


We love you and 



…and we are very proud of you!

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Bye America, Hello Sierra Leone. Fun as it was, It is good to be home.

Posted on February 20, 2011 by vicki
James Mansaray, our director in Sierra Leone recently returned to his country
 after a visit to America.  
He learned a lot,
James has first swim in a pool
traveled a lot, 
experienced a lot.
So many of the NHA Supporters, James already knew 
and loved through your acts of compassion
in supporting the work in Sierra Leone.  
But finally he was able to meet several of you in person.
 As much as we wanted to meet with everyone, 
time limited us.  
so it was like a whirlwind, meeting people…

 going here, going there

seeing this, 

doing that, 
a time full of many “firsts”,
new experiences…
so we tried to fit it all in before
he had to leave for Sierra Leone.   
Dinner at Fr. Ben & Sharon Brown 
James hung onto every moment,  
experiencing all this new land had to offer -especially all the food.  He was amazed that there is always some kind of food available in our homes and “if you go to bed, you wake up and there is still food!”  Its not like that in Sierra Leone.   Most people are lucky to find one meal a day.

 He actually gained 11 pounds during his visit.  In fact, the day James left to go home, as he was loading his bags in the car to go to the airport, he turned back, took a final look into the refrigerator and said “Good bye, food”
______________________

He learned about various forms 
of transportation…
He negotiated ice…
He realized how the Nazareth House circle of friends ripples out into the world…..
He met up with old friends from Kabala now living in the States.

He went back home, eager to be with his family, yet he was full of memories and fondness for those he left behind in America.  He has always been aware of the impact the supporters of NHA have on his people in Sierra Leone. He has seen lives changed for the better.  However, he now knows, first handedly,  the selfless giving and compassion.  He understands that all Americans are not swimming in an excess of money and that NHA people are hard working people, with struggles of their own, yet sharing what they can to help out friends in need. 
NHA sent James home with bags full of medication, supplies, gifts and provision for the work.  His first order of business, once on Freetown soil, was to get to the Landlord and pay the rent on the St. Laurence House in Freetown.   
We have been granted a stay until May 14th.  
Please understand, there are NO more extensions to be given, we have exhausted all delays.  We must vacate on May 14th and move into the Compound that we are in the process of building in Kabala. 
The landlord at St. Laurence House in Freetown, asked for $2,200 and an additional $800 to repair any damage to the building.  James negotiated that this would not be necessary.  Only thing needed to do at St. Laurence House is paint, as we have always kept the place up spotless and in the best of condition.    Paint and labor will not cost $800! ..besides James and the family can handle doing this on their own – saving us the extra money.  
The following is a brief report of what has been spent so far this year.  This does not include the expenses of James visit which include the supplies, medications, equipment, etc he brought home with him.   

January 2011:
  • $5,000 includes $2,200 for rent of current St. Laurence House in Freetown; plus monthly support  $2,200 for teacher salaries, rice & supplies, school supplies, utilities for St. Laurence House); remaining used to catch up needs in James absence

February 2011:
  • $2,200 monthly support (includes teacher salaries, rice & supplies, school supplies, utilities St. Laurence House)
  • $3,000 for contractor, applied towards Kabala Compound
  • $2,000 for contractor, applied towards Kabala Compound
Our average receipts per month are at $2,500.   This does not provide for a quick end to the NHA debt of building the Compound in Kabala. The monthly expenses of keeping people alive, paying the school teachers, upkeep and utilities of St. Laurence House, medications, shipping, etc is $2,200.    We need your help.  If you are already making regular contributions to NHA, please spread the word of this work that is being done – after all this is YOUR work through Nazareth House. Tell your friends, relatives, neighbors, co-workers – maybe even the company  you work for would want to be a part of this beautiful team of people.  And..  if you have not yet committed to regular monthly donations yourself, won’t you please consider doing so today?   



  










































Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Bye America, Hello Sierra Leone. Fun as it was, It is good to be home.

Posted on February 20, 2011 by vicki
James Mansaray, our director in Sierra Leone recently returned to his country
 after a visit to America.  
He learned a lot,
James has first swim in a pool
traveled a lot, 
experienced a lot.
So many of the NHA Supporters, James already knew 
and loved through your acts of compassion
in supporting the work in Sierra Leone.  
But finally he was able to meet several of you in person.
 As much as we wanted to meet with everyone, 
time limited us.  
so it was like a whirlwind, meeting people…

 going here, going there

seeing this, 

doing that, 
a time full of many “firsts”,
new experiences…
so we tried to fit it all in before
he had to leave for Sierra Leone.   
Dinner at Fr. Ben & Sharon Brown 
James hung onto every moment,  
experiencing all this new land had to offer -especially all the food.  He was amazed that there is always some kind of food available in our homes and “if you go to bed, you wake up and there is still food!”  Its not like that in Sierra Leone.   Most people are lucky to find one meal a day.

 He actually gained 11 pounds during his visit.  In fact, the day James left to go home, as he was loading his bags in the car to go to the airport, he turned back, took a final look into the refrigerator and said “Good bye, food”
______________________

He learned about various forms 
of transportation…
He negotiated ice…
He realized how the Nazareth House circle of friends ripples out into the world…..
He met up with old friends from Kabala now living in the States.

He went back home, eager to be with his family, yet he was full of memories and fondness for those he left behind in America.  He has always been aware of the impact the supporters of NHA have on his people in Sierra Leone. He has seen lives changed for the better.  However, he now knows, first handedly,  the selfless giving and compassion.  He understands that all Americans are not swimming in an excess of money and that NHA people are hard working people, with struggles of their own, yet sharing what they can to help out friends in need. 
NHA sent James home with bags full of medication, supplies, gifts and provision for the work.  His first order of business, once on Freetown soil, was to get to the Landlord and pay the rent on the St. Laurence House in Freetown.   
We have been granted a stay until May 14th.  
Please understand, there are NO more extensions to be given, we have exhausted all delays.  We must vacate on May 14th and move into the Compound that we are in the process of building in Kabala. 
The landlord at St. Laurence House in Freetown, asked for $2,200 and an additional $800 to repair any damage to the building.  James negotiated that this would not be necessary.  Only thing needed to do at St. Laurence House is paint, as we have always kept the place up spotless and in the best of condition.    Paint and labor will not cost $800! ..besides James and the family can handle doing this on their own – saving us the extra money.  
The following is a brief report of what has been spent so far this year.  This does not include the expenses of James visit which include the supplies, medications, equipment, etc he brought home with him.   

January 2011:
  • $5,000 includes $2,200 for rent of current St. Laurence House in Freetown; plus monthly support  $2,200 for teacher salaries, rice & supplies, school supplies, utilities for St. Laurence House); remaining used to catch up needs in James absence

February 2011:
  • $2,200 monthly support (includes teacher salaries, rice & supplies, school supplies, utilities St. Laurence House)
  • $3,000 for contractor, applied towards Kabala Compound
  • $2,000 for contractor, applied towards Kabala Compound
Our average receipts per month are at $2,500.   This does not provide for a quick end to the NHA debt of building the Compound in Kabala. The monthly expenses of keeping people alive, paying the school teachers, upkeep and utilities of St. Laurence House, medications, shipping, etc is $2,200.    We need your help.  If you are already making regular contributions to NHA, please spread the word of this work that is being done – after all this is YOUR work through Nazareth House. Tell your friends, relatives, neighbors, co-workers – maybe even the company  you work for would want to be a part of this beautiful team of people.  And..  if you have not yet committed to regular monthly donations yourself, won’t you please consider doing so today?   



  










































Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Bye America, Hello Sierra Leone. Fun as it was, It is good to be home.

Posted on February 20, 2011 by vicki
James Mansaray, our director in Sierra Leone recently returned to his country
 after a visit to America.  
He learned a lot,
James has first swim in a pool
traveled a lot, 
experienced a lot.
So many of the NHA Supporters, James already knew 
and loved through your acts of compassion
in supporting the work in Sierra Leone.  
But finally he was able to meet several of you in person.
 As much as we wanted to meet with everyone, 
time limited us.  
so it was like a whirlwind, meeting people…

 going here, going there

seeing this, 

doing that, 
a time full of many “firsts”,
new experiences…
so we tried to fit it all in before
he had to leave for Sierra Leone.   
Dinner at Fr. Ben & Sharon Brown 
James hung onto every moment,  
experiencing all this new land had to offer -especially all the food.  He was amazed that there is always some kind of food available in our homes and “if you go to bed, you wake up and there is still food!”  Its not like that in Sierra Leone.   Most people are lucky to find one meal a day.

 He actually gained 11 pounds during his visit.  In fact, the day James left to go home, as he was loading his bags in the car to go to the airport, he turned back, took a final look into the refrigerator and said “Good bye, food”
______________________

He learned about various forms 
of transportation…
He negotiated ice…
He realized how the Nazareth House circle of friends ripples out into the world…..
He met up with old friends from Kabala now living in the States.

He went back home, eager to be with his family, yet he was full of memories and fondness for those he left behind in America.  He has always been aware of the impact the supporters of NHA have on his people in Sierra Leone. He has seen lives changed for the better.  However, he now knows, first handedly,  the selfless giving and compassion.  He understands that all Americans are not swimming in an excess of money and that NHA people are hard working people, with struggles of their own, yet sharing what they can to help out friends in need. 
NHA sent James home with bags full of medication, supplies, gifts and provision for the work.  His first order of business, once on Freetown soil, was to get to the Landlord and pay the rent on the St. Laurence House in Freetown.   
We have been granted a stay until May 14th.  
Please understand, there are NO more extensions to be given, we have exhausted all delays.  We must vacate on May 14th and move into the Compound that we are in the process of building in Kabala. 
The landlord at St. Laurence House in Freetown, asked for $2,200 and an additional $800 to repair any damage to the building.  James negotiated that this would not be necessary.  Only thing needed to do at St. Laurence House is paint, as we have always kept the place up spotless and in the best of condition.    Paint and labor will not cost $800! ..besides James and the family can handle doing this on their own – saving us the extra money.  
The following is a brief report of what has been spent so far this year.  This does not include the expenses of James visit which include the supplies, medications, equipment, etc he brought home with him.   

January 2011:
  • $5,000 includes $2,200 for rent of current St. Laurence House in Freetown; plus monthly support  $2,200 for teacher salaries, rice & supplies, school supplies, utilities for St. Laurence House); remaining used to catch up needs in James absence

February 2011:
  • $2,200 monthly support (includes teacher salaries, rice & supplies, school supplies, utilities St. Laurence House)
  • $3,000 for contractor, applied towards Kabala Compound
  • $2,000 for contractor, applied towards Kabala Compound
Our average receipts per month are at $2,500.   This does not provide for a quick end to the NHA debt of building the Compound in Kabala. The monthly expenses of keeping people alive, paying the school teachers, upkeep and utilities of St. Laurence House, medications, shipping, etc is $2,200.    We need your help.  If you are already making regular contributions to NHA, please spread the word of this work that is being done – after all this is YOUR work through Nazareth House. Tell your friends, relatives, neighbors, co-workers – maybe even the company  you work for would want to be a part of this beautiful team of people.  And..  if you have not yet committed to regular monthly donations yourself, won’t you please consider doing so today?   



  










































Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Back to Sierra Leone, Back to work

Posted on February 18, 2011 by vicki

James Mansaray’s has returned to Sierra Leone from his visit to America.   Once back home, he spent a good bit of time reuniting with his family.  It was a sweet reunion.

Not wishing to waste time in tending to the people of Sierra Leone who depend on the work of Nazareth House to pull them through these times of extreme poverty; James and Kadijah have returned to the full swing of activity – spreading the aid provided by  our wonderful Nazareth House Team of supporters.

One Hut Village:  Photo taken in March 2010
The first matter of business, was to get to our beloved One Hut Village to make sure they were surviving well.  
photo taken March 2010
They are isolated and must depend on the bush to provide their existence.  
They all rushed out to greet James and gave thanks for his safe return.  
Photo taken February 2011
They checked him out to see if

America had treated their brother well…

Seeing that he had gained weight and looked good, it  pleased them.   America had indeed given him good treatment.

Kadijah immediately set about distributing much needed Worm pills.

This family, as are most families in Sierra Leone, is constantly plagued with internal parasites.

Our thanks to Dr. Baumann and Clark County Family Health Center for helping NHA to provide this much needed medication.  

After administering the worm medication,

Kadijah supplied the family

 with over-the-counter medications from NHA.

Denny and Joanie Markwell of Laurenceburg, Kentucky are a part of Nazareth House Apostolate and St. Simeon Skete.  It happens that they are the deer processors for the area.

They made up a batch of deer jerky for NHA and James carried it over for the One Hut village. What better way to fill hungry bellies in Sierra Leone than to provide them with this protein?  The perfect meat for the family at One Hut, it needs no refrigeration, no cooking.  Its ready to eat.  

James gives a piece of jerky for trial.
slowly chewed,
you can tell by the smiles 
this treat is met with approval.  

What a happy reunion, thanks to everyone!
The Nazareth House Team is simply the best in the world
What a picture of loving your neighbor.  
God bless you all!!!!!!!!!!!

James & Kadijah are wearing tee-shirts purchased from WHY LOUISVILLE.  Artist Melody Dennison


Posted in Deer Jerky, Laurenceburg, Markwell Deer Processing., Nazareth house apostolate, One Hut Village, St Simeon Skete, Taylorsville Kentucky, Why Louisville | Leave a comment

Back to Sierra Leone, Back to work

Posted on February 18, 2011 by vicki

James Mansaray’s has returned to Sierra Leone from his visit to America.   Once back home, he spent a good bit of time reuniting with his family.  It was a sweet reunion.

Not wishing to waste time in tending to the people of Sierra Leone who depend on the work of Nazareth House to pull them through these times of extreme poverty; James and Kadijah have returned to the full swing of activity – spreading the aid provided by  our wonderful Nazareth House Team of supporters.

One Hut Village:  Photo taken in March 2010
The first matter of business, was to get to our beloved One Hut Village to make sure they were surviving well.  
photo taken March 2010
They are isolated and must depend on the bush to provide their existence.  
They all rushed out to greet James and gave thanks for his safe return.  
Photo taken February 2011
They checked him out to see if

America had treated their brother well…

Seeing that he had gained weight and looked good, it  pleased them.   America had indeed given him good treatment.

Kadijah immediately set about distributing much needed Worm pills.

This family, as are most families in Sierra Leone, is constantly plagued with internal parasites.

Our thanks to Dr. Baumann and Clark County Family Health Center for helping NHA to provide this much needed medication.  

After administering the worm medication,

Kadijah supplied the family

 with over-the-counter medications from NHA.

Denny and Joanie Markwell of Laurenceburg, Kentucky are a part of Nazareth House Apostolate and St. Simeon Skete.  It happens that they are the deer processors for the area.

They made up a batch of deer jerky for NHA and James carried it over for the One Hut village. What better way to fill hungry bellies in Sierra Leone than to provide them with this protein?  The perfect meat for the family at One Hut, it needs no refrigeration, no cooking.  Its ready to eat.  

James gives a piece of jerky for trial.
slowly chewed,
you can tell by the smiles 
this treat is met with approval.  

What a happy reunion, thanks to everyone!
The Nazareth House Team is simply the best in the world
What a picture of loving your neighbor.  
God bless you all!!!!!!!!!!!

James & Kadijah are wearing tee-shirts purchased from WHY LOUISVILLE.  Artist Melody Dennison


Posted in Deer Jerky, Laurenceburg, Markwell Deer Processing., Nazareth house apostolate, One Hut Village, St Simeon Skete, Taylorsville Kentucky, Why Louisville | Leave a comment

Back to Sierra Leone, Back to work

Posted on February 18, 2011 by vicki

James Mansaray’s has returned to Sierra Leone from his visit to America.   Once back home, he spent a good bit of time reuniting with his family.  It was a sweet reunion.

Not wishing to waste time in tending to the people of Sierra Leone who depend on the work of Nazareth House to pull them through these times of extreme poverty; James and Kadijah have returned to the full swing of activity – spreading the aid provided by  our wonderful Nazareth House Team of supporters.

One Hut Village:  Photo taken in March 2010
The first matter of business, was to get to our beloved One Hut Village to make sure they were surviving well.  
photo taken March 2010
They are isolated and must depend on the bush to provide their existence.  
They all rushed out to greet James and gave thanks for his safe return.  
Photo taken February 2011
They checked him out to see if

America had treated their brother well…

Seeing that he had gained weight and looked good, it  pleased them.   America had indeed given him good treatment.

Kadijah immediately set about distributing much needed Worm pills.

This family, as are most families in Sierra Leone, is constantly plagued with internal parasites.

Our thanks to Dr. Baumann and Clark County Family Health Center for helping NHA to provide this much needed medication.  

After administering the worm medication,

Kadijah supplied the family

 with over-the-counter medications from NHA.

Denny and Joanie Markwell of Laurenceburg, Kentucky are a part of Nazareth House Apostolate and St. Simeon Skete.  It happens that they are the deer processors for the area.

They made up a batch of deer jerky for NHA and James carried it over for the One Hut village. What better way to fill hungry bellies in Sierra Leone than to provide them with this protein?  The perfect meat for the family at One Hut, it needs no refrigeration, no cooking.  Its ready to eat.  

James gives a piece of jerky for trial.
slowly chewed,
you can tell by the smiles 
this treat is met with approval.  

What a happy reunion, thanks to everyone!
The Nazareth House Team is simply the best in the world
What a picture of loving your neighbor.  
God bless you all!!!!!!!!!!!

James & Kadijah are wearing tee-shirts purchased from WHY LOUISVILLE.  Artist Melody Dennison


Posted in Deer Jerky, Laurenceburg, Markwell Deer Processing., Nazareth house apostolate, One Hut Village, St Simeon Skete, Taylorsville Kentucky, Why Louisville | Leave a comment

PrayLoveWalk, Chico California

Posted on February 14, 2011 by vicki
Nazareth House Apostolate began in prayer.  It is that “making space for God” that we strive to continue.   
When many think of Nazareth House Apostolate, they think of the humanitarian work we do in Sierra Leone.   

That work, full of compassion, is a portion of what Nazareth House Apostolate is. 

Humanitarian work is noble work but for NHA, as with everything else of NHA, it must be born out of and sustained in prayer.   Without it, we become simply one of many humanitarian organizations. 

There is so much more to Nazareth House Apostolate. 
Without focus, commitment and practice of prayer as the priority, we become nothing than another secular establishment.   Our prayer is not only a precious gift to give others, but more importantly it is for God.   This is why St. Simeon Skete is vital to us all.  
People need a place of ongoing prayer,  a place where God is enough.  Not all of us can live the demanding disciplined life at the Skete, but we can all pray.  And when there are times in which we are unable to pray because of the distractions and dysfunctions of the world, it is comforting to know that there is a place where prayer is constant and where we are taken up into that prayer.  
This blog post is not meant as a suggestion for you to assume we no longer need your donations-quite the opposite.   (Although, if you can only give us one thing, we’d rather it  be prayer.) The goal of this post is a recommitment to the statement you’ve heard so many times from us: 
“Nazareth House Apostolate relies totally on God
as he expresses Himself through our supporters’ prayers, 
compassion and generosity.”
It is to the degree that you are in ongoing relationship with God that you will hear, know and understand what he has put into your heart.  

In the spirit of focusing on prayer, the parish of St. Augustine of Canterbury in Chico, California sponsored a “Walk-a-thon” to benefit Nazareth House Apostolate on New Years Day 2011.  They didn’t want to just WALK through Bidwell Park, they wanted to PRAY through it.  And that is exactly what they did. 

From the beginning, the event was organized in prayer, about prayer and for prayer.  The normal administrative preparations all began and ended in prayer from permits to advertisement.  


Even the name of the Event maintained the focus: PRAY- LOVE-WALK-a-thon.   
On the day of PrayLoveWalk, we’d hoped for a sunny, warm day.  It didn’t happen, we got exactly the opposite – a rainy, cold and dismal morning.  But it didn’t matter.   

The gathering of the people filled with love brought about all the warmth and light we could ask for.  

The teamwork was incredible. 
People helping out to do whatever

 task to make the PrayLoveWalk a reality.  
One after another, they joined in to register the walkers.
Thankful to Augie’s Fine Coffee and Tea,  we enjoyed hot coffee to wake us up and keep our teeth from chattering.  
It was wonderful to see the loving fellowship

 and genuine happiness as people greeted each other and worked together.  
The prayer walk opened (of course) in prayer, 
and then the participants 

dispersed into groups
 or individually to begin the course
 through Bidwell Park.  

Each step a prayer, 
each smile a prayer, 
each conversation a prayer…
In the midst of the prayer walk 

we happened upon the New Year’s Day “Polar Bear” Swimmers 
who brave the icy weather to take a yearly splash in the cold waters in Bidwell Park. 
The prayer walk combined with such great fellowship seemed blessing enough, but St. Augustine Parish being St. Augustine Parish didn’t end the day there – they also fed us. 
Again, teamwork at its best, 
a tremendous breakfast was spread before us.   

Having had a nice prayer walk, a great breakfast 


and lots 



of good fellowship,



 it was now time 
for the Raffle Drawings.   
More fun
More fellowship
and then a little bit more fellowship…

Nazareth House Apostolate is very much in awe of the NHA gathering in Chico.  What a wonderful work you have done.   

We are very pleased to announce the results of the PrayLoveWalk -a-thon:
  • $500 received January 1st; individual check to NHA
  • $1769 received January 17; summary of checks written to NHA
  • $1893.79 received January 27; individual check from St. Augustine to NHA (total of checks written to St. Augustine for NHA)
  • $50 received from out of State donor written to NHA
for a grand total presented to Nazareth House Apostolate: $4,212.79. …and it all began in prayer.    Simply amazing!  


Thank you to everyone who participated, what an awesome work.   Thank you, thank you!
Posted in Chico California, Education in Kabala, NHA, PrayLoveWalk, St Augustine of Canterbury | Leave a comment

PrayLoveWalk, Chico California

Posted on February 14, 2011 by vicki
Nazareth House Apostolate began in prayer.  It is that “making space for God” that we strive to continue.   
When many think of Nazareth House Apostolate, they think of the humanitarian work we do in Sierra Leone.   

That work, full of compassion, is a portion of what Nazareth House Apostolate is. 

Humanitarian work is noble work but for NHA, as with everything else of NHA, it must be born out of and sustained in prayer.   Without it, we become simply one of many humanitarian organizations. 

There is so much more to Nazareth House Apostolate. 
Without focus, commitment and practice of prayer as the priority, we become nothing than another secular establishment.   Our prayer is not only a precious gift to give others, but more importantly it is for God.   This is why St. Simeon Skete is vital to us all.  
People need a place of ongoing prayer,  a place where God is enough.  Not all of us can live the demanding disciplined life at the Skete, but we can all pray.  And when there are times in which we are unable to pray because of the distractions and dysfunctions of the world, it is comforting to know that there is a place where prayer is constant and where we are taken up into that prayer.  
This blog post is not meant as a suggestion for you to assume we no longer need your donations-quite the opposite.   (Although, if you can only give us one thing, we’d rather it  be prayer.) The goal of this post is a recommitment to the statement you’ve heard so many times from us: 
“Nazareth House Apostolate relies totally on God
as he expresses Himself through our supporters’ prayers, 
compassion and generosity.”
It is to the degree that you are in ongoing relationship with God that you will hear, know and understand what he has put into your heart.  

In the spirit of focusing on prayer, the parish of St. Augustine of Canterbury in Chico, California sponsored a “Walk-a-thon” to benefit Nazareth House Apostolate on New Years Day 2011.  They didn’t want to just WALK through Bidwell Park, they wanted to PRAY through it.  And that is exactly what they did. 

From the beginning, the event was organized in prayer, about prayer and for prayer.  The normal administrative preparations all began and ended in prayer from permits to advertisement.  


Even the name of the Event maintained the focus: PRAY- LOVE-WALK-a-thon.   
On the day of PrayLoveWalk, we’d hoped for a sunny, warm day.  It didn’t happen, we got exactly the opposite – a rainy, cold and dismal morning.  But it didn’t matter.   

The gathering of the people filled with love brought about all the warmth and light we could ask for.  

The teamwork was incredible. 
People helping out to do whatever

 task to make the PrayLoveWalk a reality.  
One after another, they joined in to register the walkers.
Thankful to Augie’s Fine Coffee and Tea,  we enjoyed hot coffee to wake us up and keep our teeth from chattering.  
It was wonderful to see the loving fellowship

 and genuine happiness as people greeted each other and worked together.  
The prayer walk opened (of course) in prayer, 
and then the participants 

dispersed into groups
 or individually to begin the course
 through Bidwell Park.  

Each step a prayer, 
each smile a prayer, 
each conversation a prayer…
In the midst of the prayer walk 

we happened upon the New Year’s Day “Polar Bear” Swimmers 
who brave the icy weather to take a yearly splash in the cold waters in Bidwell Park. 
The prayer walk combined with such great fellowship seemed blessing enough, but St. Augustine Parish being St. Augustine Parish didn’t end the day there – they also fed us. 
Again, teamwork at its best, 
a tremendous breakfast was spread before us.   

Having had a nice prayer walk, a great breakfast 


and lots 



of good fellowship,



 it was now time 
for the Raffle Drawings.   
More fun
More fellowship
and then a little bit more fellowship…

Nazareth House Apostolate is very much in awe of the NHA gathering in Chico.  What a wonderful work you have done.   

We are very pleased to announce the results of the PrayLoveWalk -a-thon:
  • $500 received January 1st; individual check to NHA
  • $1769 received January 17; summary of checks written to NHA
  • $1893.79 received January 27; individual check from St. Augustine to NHA (total of checks written to St. Augustine for NHA)
  • $50 received from out of State donor written to NHA
for a grand total presented to Nazareth House Apostolate: $4,212.79. …and it all began in prayer.    Simply amazing!  


Thank you to everyone who participated, what an awesome work.   Thank you, thank you!
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

PrayLoveWalk, Chico California

Posted on February 14, 2011 by vicki
Nazareth House Apostolate began in prayer.  It is that “making space for God” that we strive to continue.   
When many think of Nazareth House Apostolate, they think of the humanitarian work we do in Sierra Leone.   

That work, full of compassion, is a portion of what Nazareth House Apostolate is. 

Humanitarian work is noble work but for NHA, as with everything else of NHA, it must be born out of and sustained in prayer.   Without it, we become simply one of many humanitarian organizations. 

There is so much more to Nazareth House Apostolate. 
Without focus, commitment and practice of prayer as the priority, we become nothing than another secular establishment.   Our prayer is not only a precious gift to give others, but more importantly it is for God.   This is why St. Simeon Skete is vital to us all.  
People need a place of ongoing prayer,  a place where God is enough.  Not all of us can live the demanding disciplined life at the Skete, but we can all pray.  And when there are times in which we are unable to pray because of the distractions and dysfunctions of the world, it is comforting to know that there is a place where prayer is constant and where we are taken up into that prayer.  
This blog post is not meant as a suggestion for you to assume we no longer need your donations-quite the opposite.   (Although, if you can only give us one thing, we’d rather it  be prayer.) The goal of this post is a recommitment to the statement you’ve heard so many times from us: 
“Nazareth House Apostolate relies totally on God
as he expresses Himself through our supporters’ prayers, 
compassion and generosity.”
It is to the degree that you are in ongoing relationship with God that you will hear, know and understand what he has put into your heart.  

In the spirit of focusing on prayer, the parish of St. Augustine of Canterbury in Chico, California sponsored a “Walk-a-thon” to benefit Nazareth House Apostolate on New Years Day 2011.  They didn’t want to just WALK through Bidwell Park, they wanted to PRAY through it.  And that is exactly what they did. 

From the beginning, the event was organized in prayer, about prayer and for prayer.  The normal administrative preparations all began and ended in prayer from permits to advertisement.  


Even the name of the Event maintained the focus: PRAY- LOVE-WALK-a-thon.   
On the day of PrayLoveWalk, we’d hoped for a sunny, warm day.  It didn’t happen, we got exactly the opposite – a rainy, cold and dismal morning.  But it didn’t matter.   

The gathering of the people filled with love brought about all the warmth and light we could ask for.  

The teamwork was incredible. 
People helping out to do whatever

 task to make the PrayLoveWalk a reality.  
One after another, they joined in to register the walkers.
Thankful to Augie’s Fine Coffee and Tea,  we enjoyed hot coffee to wake us up and keep our teeth from chattering.  
It was wonderful to see the loving fellowship

 and genuine happiness as people greeted each other and worked together.  
The prayer walk opened (of course) in prayer, 
and then the participants 

dispersed into groups
 or individually to begin the course
 through Bidwell Park.  

Each step a prayer, 
each smile a prayer, 
each conversation a prayer…
In the midst of the prayer walk 

we happened upon the New Year’s Day “Polar Bear” Swimmers 
who brave the icy weather to take a yearly splash in the cold waters in Bidwell Park. 
The prayer walk combined with such great fellowship seemed blessing enough, but St. Augustine Parish being St. Augustine Parish didn’t end the day there – they also fed us. 
Again, teamwork at its best, 
a tremendous breakfast was spread before us.   

Having had a nice prayer walk, a great breakfast 


and lots 



of good fellowship,



 it was now time 
for the Raffle Drawings.   
More fun
More fellowship
and then a little bit more fellowship…

Nazareth House Apostolate is very much in awe of the NHA gathering in Chico.  What a wonderful work you have done.   

We are very pleased to announce the results of the PrayLoveWalk -a-thon:
  • $500 received January 1st; individual check to NHA
  • $1769 received January 17; summary of checks written to NHA
  • $1893.79 received January 27; individual check from St. Augustine to NHA (total of checks written to St. Augustine for NHA)
  • $50 received from out of State donor written to NHA
for a grand total presented to Nazareth House Apostolate: $4,212.79. …and it all began in prayer.    Simply amazing!  


Thank you to everyone who participated, what an awesome work.   Thank you, thank you!
Posted in Chico California, Education in Kabala, NHA, PrayLoveWalk, St Augustine of Canterbury | Leave a comment