OUR BLOG | Nazareth House Apostolate | A Community of the Ordinary

Posted on March 3, 2012 by vicki

Yesterday, many areas of the Eastern United States experienced severe and dangerous storms.

There were those who lost their homes and things …and those who lost their lives.

At St. Simeon Skete in Taylorsville, Kentucky a *wall cloud approached from the South. The Warning Sirens began to sound.

As the bellowing cloud crossed Taylorsville Lake it gently swirled into the form of a funnel cloud that stayed in the sky and crossed directly over the Holy Trinity Kellia.

Large hail pelted the roof, sounding like artillery fire as it hit. Within minutes the threat had passed.

Our border collie is terribly afraid of storms and had been shaking in the basement most of the morning as the storms came through, one bout after another.

The Warning Sirens ceased and I ran the dog outside to do his business as the sun began to peek out of the clouds and brighten the sky.

Looking to the East, I noticed a rainbow.

As my dog ran around finding and gobbling up the remaining unthawed hail left on the ground,

I noticed the rain puddles and I remembered Seraphim’s thoughts on seeing rain puddles, some years ago.

I asked him to share those thoughts again.

“One day after a large thunderstorm in Louisville, I walked out towards the pond and noticed there were rain puddles all over the ground. It seemed as if most of the ground was one small lake.

As I walked around I noticed each puddle reflected a different part of the sky. One revealed a sky with two clouds, one with only one cloud and yet another contained a glimpse of the sun passing through the clouds – but they were all reflecting the same sky.

I thought of our different denominations, each saying that this is the sky (this is God), but forgetting that they are reflecting part of the sky, not the whole sky.

As the ground began to dry up, the more separation there was between the rain puddles. The distance between the puddles and the dry land was great. Like the land between the puddles, denominations become territorial, the more there are – the further the distance between us. Finally, there was just a few tiny pools of water, here and there.

God will send a “rain” on earth and blend all the “rain puddles” and we’ll be one body of “water”. But for now God unites us in our hearts.” – Seraphim+ -recalling thoughts after a rainstorm

“Throughout his life he (Lev Gillet) continued to display a fixed aversion for all forms of ecclesiastical aggression and polemics. He did not believe that reunion could be achieved through theological confrontation through controversy and formal discussion.” -“The Jesus Prayer” by A Monk of The Eastern Church. pg. 8,.

“The Monk of the Eastern church concluded that the “Communion of Saints” transcended confessional and institutional barriers and that a genuine and intense spiritual life is the shortest and safest way towards reunion.” – pg 277 of T”he Biography of Lev Gillet”, by Behr-Sigel

“If I can unite in myself the thought and the devotion of Eastern and Western Christendom, the Greek and the Latin Fathers, The Russians with the Spanish mystics, I can prepare in myself the reunion of divided Christians. From that secret and unspoken unity in myself can eventually come a visible and manifest unity of all Christians. If we want to bring together what is divided, we can not do so by imposing one division upon the other or absorbing one division into the other. But if we do this, the union is not Christian. It is political, and doomed to further conflict. We must contain all divided worlds in ourselves and transcend them in Christ. – Thomas Merton: Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander, pg 21.

*A wall cloud (or pedestal cloud) is a large, lowering, and rotating base of a cumulonimbus cloud that potentially forms tornadoes. It is typically beneath the rain-free base (RFB) portion of a deep cumulus cloud (normally cumulonimbus but on rare occasion cumulus congestus), and indicates the area of primary and strongest updraft which condenses into cloud at altitudes lower than that of the ambient cloud base. Most strong tornadoes form from wall clouds.

Posted in Nazareth house apostolate, NHA, PDS, St Simeon Skete, Taylorsville Kentucky, Wall Cloud | Leave a comment

A Friday of Anticipation

Posted on March 2, 2012 by vicki

Here in Taylorsville, Kentucky at the Nazareth House Apostolate center, St. Simeon Skete, we await the arrival of some intense storms.

map from Wave3 Weather

Most of the warnings have been telling us that the chances of tornadoes are very high.

SPC REPORT: THE VERY STRONG VERTICAL SHEAR…MODERATE INSTABILITY…A MOIST

LOW-LEVEL ENVIRONMENT…AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF A FEW DISCRETE WARM SECTOR SUPERCELLS / AND SUPERCELLS WITHIN THE LINE ALONG THE FRONT/…ALL APPEAR SUPPORTIVE OF A POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT TORNADO EPISODE WITH A FEW LONG-TRACK/STRONG TORNADOES. THE MOST PROBABLE AREA FOR DAMAGING TORNADOES WILL BE SE OF THE SURFACE LOW TRACK IN THE MORE ESTABLISHED WARM SECTOR…OR NEAR AND S OF THE OH RIVER FROM EXTREME SRN INDIANA INTO CENTRAL KY/NRN MIDDLE TN. BOTH PRE-FRONTAL AND FRONTAL SUPERCELLS ARE MOST PROBABLE IN THE HIGH RISK AREA…AND SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD SPREAD AS FAR NE AS SW OH AND WRN WV BEFORE EXITING THE WARM SECTOR THIS EVENING. OTHERWISE…DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED WITH THE PRE-FRONTAL AND FRONTAL STORMS THROUGH THIS EVENING.

While we wait to see what today’s weather will bring, the students at the NHA School, Kabala are waiting themselves.

They have been asked to wait outside while the teachers prepare the report cards.

Each student anxiously waits to see the scores that indicate the progress of their studies.

As times ticks away, they ponder and hope for the best.

Looking across the way, they see friendly faces at the NHA Compound and decide to go over and wait it out there.

hanging out at the Compound proves to be a good distraction from the wonder and wait.

Its a happy place. And these students and all of us from Nazareth House Apostolate want to thank you for your prayers, love and support …and for making possible so many smiles. God bless you all.

Posted in Kentucky tornado, Nazareth House Apostolate School, NHA, St Simeon Skete | Leave a comment

A Friday of Anticipation

Posted on March 2, 2012 by vicki

Here in Taylorsville, Kentucky at the Nazareth House Apostolate center, St. Simeon Skete, we await the arrival of some intense storms.

map from Wave3 Weather

Most of the warnings have been telling us that the chances of tornadoes are very high.

SPC REPORT: THE VERY STRONG VERTICAL SHEAR…MODERATE INSTABILITY…A MOIST

While we wait to see what today’s weather will bring, the students at the NHA School, Kabala are waiting themselves.

They have been asked to wait outside while the teachers prepare the report cards.

Each student anxiously waits to see the scores that indicate the progress of their studies.

As times ticks away, they ponder and hope for the best.

Looking across the way, they see friendly faces at the NHA Compound and decide to go over and wait it out there.

hanging out at the Compound proves to be a good distraction from the wonder and wait.

Its a happy place. And these students and all of us from Nazareth House Apostolate want to thank you for your prayers, love and support …and for making possible so many smiles. God bless you all.

Posted in Kentucky tornado, Nazareth House Apostolate School, NHA, St Simeon Skete | Leave a comment

Coffee Spilled…

Posted on February 28, 2012 by vicki

I recently came across an article of Seraphim’s, written many years ago about the time he spent in India. He was invited to a Christian Ashram in the Himalayas for dialog on the enculturalization of prayer.

Written by Fr. Seraphim

❖Coffee spilled into my lap as I heard, “Oh, I’m sorry, please forgive me.” Grabbing a napkin, I assured the person who had bumped into me that it was okay. As I refilled my cup, I was reminded of a day on a dusty street in New Delhi, India, and how I learned one of the great spiritual lessons of my life.

Some years ago, I travelled to the Jeevan Dhara Ashram located in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains. I went to pray and spend time with the head of the ashram. My cell looked out on the majestic peaks which were breathtakingly beautiful. The air was fresh and scented with mountain flowers; it was a truly idyllic setting. Each morning I would rise at 3 AM to pray the Divine Office, remaining in prayer as the sun ignited the majestic peaks with heavenly golden light.

Then, with Jesus beads in my hands, I would take a prayer walk which would eventually lead me to the chapel of the Ashram. My time in the mountain paradise seemed to blend into one continuous, ongoing prayer. One day I was talking to a pilgrim who had just arrived from Germany. As we discussed the beauty and calm of the ashram I said “It sure is easy to be holy in a place like this,” and he said, “Yeh, it sure is,” as we gazed on the valley below.

A week later I made my way to New Delhi, where I spent my days walking the streets, silently praying the Jesus Prayer. I was still swimming in the holiness of the ashram when a motorized rickshaw ran up on the walk, heading straight for me! As the driver was bearing down on me I thought, surely he wouldn’t hit me on purpose! How wrong I was – I bounced off the front of the rickshaw. I landed on the ground and yelled, “You idiot!” as he drove off waving his arms and blowing his horn. Dusting myself off I said, “Oh well, forget it,” and walked on, keeping careful eye open for ricks.

Suddenly the noise of the city faded as my thoughts turned inward to the space where God speaks to us beyond words and images. A week before I had been in a Himalayan bliss, so “close” to God, so spiritual and saying, “It’s easy to be holy in a place like this.” Now, the first time I”m with someone since then I get angry and call him an idiot! I suddenly realized it’s easy to think you can be holy in a place like an ashram. The test of holiness, however, is not being in an ashram, on a mountain, or in one’s set times of prayer. The real test is carried out in the marketplace where life bumps us literally and figuratively.

Looking at this old photo, it proves that there was a time when Seraphim actually was young! (Tall man, back roll, left) ©2101 NHA

Back in the present, as I took another sip of coffee, I thought, the reason coffee was spilled on me was not because I was accidentally bumped but because there was coffee in the cup to begin with. What’s inside a person is what comes out when they are bumped. We are to be filled with Christ so that when we are bumped, out come forgiveness, understanding, encouragement, compassion, love and whatever the present moment demands. (Col. 1:27). ❖

During this Lenten Season, as we fast, prepare our hearts, deepening our prayer lives, and attempt to take our spiritual disciplines more seriously, – its easy to think we are holy. But its what we do when life knocks us around and we get jolted.

We will get bumped. What is inside? What will come out? anger? revenge? mean-spirited, hurtful words? jealousy? If that is what is inside you, then that is what will come out.

However, if forgiveness, love, words that offer redemption, …if those are the things that are inside you – then that is what will be unleashed on whatever jars us out of our comfort zones. May this Lenten Season be one in which the overflow within us is emptied of everything that isn’t rooted in love.

Posted in Delhi India, Himalayas, India, Jeevan Dhara Ashram, Nazareth house apostolate, St Simeon Skete, The Jesus Prayer | Leave a comment

Coffee Spilled…

Posted on February 28, 2012 by vicki

Written by Fr. Seraphim

Looking at this old photo, it proves that there was a time when Seraphim actually was young! (Tall man, back roll, left) ©2101 NHA

We will get bumped. What is inside? What will come out? anger? revenge? mean-spirited, hurtful words? jealousy? If that is what is inside you, then that is what will come out.

Posted in Delhi India, Himalayas, India, Jeevan Dhara Ashram, Nazareth house apostolate, St Simeon Skete, The Jesus Prayer | Leave a comment

James takes Venison to the Village

Posted on February 27, 2012 by vicki

Last week, one of the boxes that NHA sent to Sierra Leone arrived at its destination. There were others that were mailed together with it, but sometimes things are released at different times depending on how the postal workers in Lungi process the shipment. Once the packages arrive in Freetown, the Postal Workers there understand the value of the boxes and the needs of the people and they try their best to get them to James. Last week when the single box arrived in Freetown, the postal worker (a friend to James) took the care to have it delivered to James in Kabala.

Box in hand, James set straight out to put the box’s contents to use. Squeezed in among the medications in the box was some deer jerky. In villages with no electricity, no form of refrigeration, the jerky is a great source of protein.

As James approaches the village, the residents wonder what he is up to and why he is coming their way.

He is watched as he steps closer.

The children are shy,

unsure of this visitor.

James begins to pass out the jerky.

At first, no one understands.

What is this dried out strip this man is giving us?

One taste of jerky at a time,

the uncertainty on their face is replaced by a smile.

Smile after smile after smile

after smile.

The Hunting Season in and around Anderson County in Kentucky

has now brought joy

to many people

in and around Kabala, Sierra Leone. Thank you to Denny and Joanie of

Markwell’s Deer Processing for sending the jerky.

It certainly is a real treat in Africa.

See your donations in action, check back on this NHA Blog often! Let’s pray that the remaining boxes arrive soon, there is some extremely important medications – like Roo’s Iron pills – in them.

Please spread the word, invite your friends to be an NHA Sustainer! Thank you.

Posted in Anderson County, Deer Jerky, Hunting Season, Kentucky, Markwell Deer Processing., Nazareth house apostolate, NHA, St Simeon Skete | Leave a comment

Posted on February 26, 2012 by vicki

As James approaches the village, the residents wonder what he is up to and why he is coming their way.

He is watched as he steps closer.

The children are shy,

unsure of this visitor.

James begins to pass out the jerky.

At first, no one understands.

What is this dried out strip this man is giving us?

One taste of jerky at a time,

the uncertainty on their face is replaced by a smile.

Smile after smile after smile

after smile.

The Hunting Season in and around Anderson County in Kentucky

has now brought joy

to many people

in and around Kabala, Sierra Leone. Thank you to Denny and Joanie of

Markwell’s Deer Processing for sending the jerky.

It certainly is a real treat in Africa.

Please spread the word, invite your friends to be an NHA Sustainer! Thank you.

Posted in Anderson County, Deer Jerky, Hunting Season, Kentucky, Markwell Deer Processing., Nazareth house apostolate, NHA, St Simeon Skete | Leave a comment

Barrka Village

Posted on February 24, 2012 by vicki

Blog Post written by James Mansaray, Kabala Sierra Leone

After a long day of work around the NHA Compound, and assisting at the NHA School, and since Kadijah, Baby Vicki and ROO decided to spend time with her family,

I decided to skip out and visit the gold fields around Kabala for the first time.

Here a seventeen old boy lost his life and was buried with falling dirt

but his colleagues cant stop finding the hidden treasure that enables them to fight the severe poverty.

For them it seems a chance to be able to provide for their families.

The first thing they asked me for is Pain tabs (Advil) as they continue their hard labor.

Women and children patiently wait to see what the end of the day will bring them.

A hard days work brings very little results, but they keep at it – day after day.

Here in Barrka village people have nothing, I mean they really have very little to keep life going.

I will return to visit them from time to time and bring them much needed medication and supplies

thanks to the supporters of NHA that will make this possible.

Its such a rough road so we used a motor bike.

I’m always happy to add new friends to the NHA Family

and now we have another village – Barrka Village.

Please pray for them.

I had just received some deer jerkey

from Denny and Joanie Markwell of Lawrenceburg, Kentucky

and I was pleased to be able to share some with the children.

Its always a struggle here and there are so many needs. Thank you for your continued prayers and support – everything – every gift – large or small makes a difference.

Oh, yes, I know you pray for my family and the work here. Please keep special prayers for Lucy, my eldest daughter, as she is away from us in boarding school in Freetown. Thank you.

Posted in barrka village, gold fields, gold mines, Kabala, monkey, Nazareth house apostolate, NHA, Sierra Leone | Leave a comment