We count our blessings
A message from Paul Momsen to all the benefactors of Abraham Kriel Bambanani.
At the beginning of December, everyone was still optimistic about the end of the first wave of Covid-19 and Langlaagte Campus, Maria Kloppers and satellite homes all agreed that children could visit their own families and host families for the holidays. They needed a break and so did our staff.
When the children started to return the situation had changed though and the health of the returning children was uncertain. Every child therefore had to be isolated for eight days to see if he or she developed any symptoms.
We are deeply grateful to report that not a single child returned with any sign of Covid-19. This is an incredible blessing. To date no staff member or child in care has passed away, although a small number have contracted Covid-19. With the havoc that the virus still wreaks around us, we can only raise our voices in thanks for the protection of God.
Having said this we recognize the loss of loved ones of staff, beneficiaries and our friends in the community. This disease is cruel, especially in the way it keeps people apart and disallows people in distress the comfort of their loved ones.
Unfortunately the current levels of infection once again prevents us from allowing any visitors to children in residential care. We do accept donations, but we will disinfect all donations after delivery and direct contact with beneficiaries will not be allowed.
We still cannot allow children to come together at drop-in centres for their daily meals. Management has decided however that food parcels will continue to be provided to the whole family of beneficiaries for as long as we can or as long as it is needed.
Thank You for your support of these children in need. Our donors and friends have been central to the incredible blessing that came our way. We do not take it for granted!
Ons tel ons seëninge
‘n Boodskap van Paul Momsen aan al die vriende van Abraham Kriel Bambanani.
Met die optimisme aan die begin van Desember 2020 dat die ergste van Covid-19 oor is, het personeel van Langlaagte, Maria Kloppers en ons sewe satelliethuise saamgestem dat kinders toegelaat kan word om by hulle eie families en vakansievriende te gaan vakansie hou. Hulle het die wegbreek nodig gehad en so ook ons huisouers.
Die situasie was egter heel anders toe die kinders begin terugkom het en daar was groot onsekerheid oor hulle gesondheid. Elke kind is dus vir agt dae in isolasie geplaas en gemonitor om te sien of hulle simptome ontwikkel.
Ons is intens dankbaar dat nie ‘n enkele kind enige teken van Covid-19 getoon het nie. Dis ‘n ongelooflike genade. Tot op hede het geen kind of personeellid afgesterf as gevolg van die pandemie nie, al het enkeles die siekte opgedoen. Met die verwoesting wat die virus steeds rondom ons saai, kan ons net ons stemme verhef in dankbaarheid teenoor God vir Sy beskerming.
Dit misken egter nie die hartseer wat ons ervaar wanneer personeel, begunstigdes en ons vriende in die gemeenskap geliefdes verloor nie. Die siekte is wreed, veral omdat dit mense weghou van mekaar wanneer hulle die grootste behoefte het aan die troos van hartsmense.
Ongelukkig verhoed die huidige vlakke van infeksie ons weereens om besoekers toe te laat by kinders in residensiële sorg. Ons aanvaar wel donasies, maar dit word ontsmet na aflewering en direkte kontak met begunstigdes word nie toegelaat nie.
Ons kan ook nog nie kinders toelaat om saam te kom by Instapsentra in die gemeenskap, waar hulle gekookte etes sou kon ontvang nie. Bestuur het egter besluit dat kospakkies steeds voorsien sal word aan die hele gesin van kinders wat daarvan afhanklik is. Dit sal voortgaan vir so lank dit nodig is of so lank as wat ons in staat is om dit te doen.
Dankie vir Jou ondersteuning aan die kinders in nood. Ons donateurs en vriende staan sentraal in die ongelooflike seën wat na ons kant toe gekom het. Ons neem dit nie as vanselfsprekend nie!