May I take this chance to wish you and all friends a Happy Easter! It is another moment we all rejoice at the resurrection of Christ. We can now build our faith in hope. All has been well with our daily care of babies throughout the Lenten season.
Our staffs and children are glad to convey for you greetings and best wishes during this festivity period. May God bless you all!
Sr. Mary Esther Okome,
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Dear Hans and friends of Vlierden,
Greetings to you and all dear friends! It is our joy to convey a Merry Christmas love to you all dear friends. . You did us a lot, we appreciate you! Also thanks for the recent donation that we received through MHM office Nairobi. God bless.
At the same time we thank God for taking us through the year 2023, with all our strength and weakness trust His mercy.
It is therefore, our pleasure to sincerely wish you a Prosperous New Year 2024. Thank you for a wonderful journey together, may it continues through God’s love next year. Regards to all our benefactors.
Sr. Esther.
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Dear Hans van Huisseling and Friends,
May I acknowledge your previous mails and the recent donation of Ksh 153,780.00 received through Mill Hill Office in Nairobi. We really appreciated the donation and may God bless the hand that gave or offered! It is important, more so that we should be giving more information and how our activities move on. At the moment we are doing fairly well with the daily care and protection of our babies. Warm regards from Baby Home family, and especially from our orphaned children.
We are just coming from very cold period, and the month of July we had common cold and malaria affecting our children. We had more movements to hospital but now the situation seems relaxed. When such situation happens our care takers do a lot of work with very few hours off duty. They have to stay in hospital when the baby is admitted. Other than that we have few cases of babies with health complications and needs constant care and monitoring, eg those with HIV AIDS, two cases mental unstable. Bearing in mind their age, they need specialist consultation but we at times fail due to financial constraints. Currently we experience cold/cough but being managed. This makes some of the have fever.
Even though we give priority to feeding, at times we receive new babies and they depend on tinned formula milk. In the last three months we had more infant babies; and for the desired feeding program we put them on tinned formula milk for six month. It is not easy, because every month we purchase 100tins of infant milk at the cost of Ksh.60,000.00. This makes our budget fail, and we cannot save any coin. Baby Nappies/pampers is a special cost!
COVID19 really affected our individual friends. This has lowered strength in terms of support.The lowest paid staff earns Ksh 10,000 and highest earns Ksh25,000.00 per month. Our last salary increment was done 5 years ago. I may say that the staffs’ looks like as if they do voluntary services. In the last one year the prices of essential commodities have really gone up. In your provisions, we request that you urge friends to support the area mentioned of welfare of caretakers.
We get very little from our gardens to supplement our store, but we have a big farm 6 hectares but we do not have attendant due lack of funds to pay and till the farm. We appeal for support here because if we can produce more, surplus can support another area.
It is therefore a concern that; maintenance, provision of food, health, farm, salaries, electricity/water, Office, Insurance facility (Ksh 87,000), vehicle maintenance, clothing and other social matters cannot be fully achieved with the support from all our donors. That is why when we are affected in a particular area we normally send you special appeal, facility repair-painting. I wish also to acknowledge your previous many helps in particular the recent when our roof was affected. We have settled back in main premises and the work now runs smoothly. The picture of children playing in front of the facility (the front face looks neat and well painted after that repairs)
At the moment we got 42 children in our care; 10 are abandoned, 25 orphaned and 7 neglected by either mother or father due to hard life, conflicts.
So, with above cases, most families or guardians are unable to care or take the child back home thereby creating abandonments in the home again. The children now stay long, more so if was abandoned.
It is therefore our appreciation that you have been supporting our work/care but needs are more than what we receive. Do not hesitate to share our plight, let more friends and individual come up to our aid. We also would wish that in future one representative from your parish to visit us and see what we talk about and our situation. It can inform also our accountability.
Attached separate, are pictures showing our children, some activities and some events. Convey our appreciation and concern to the Parish council,. We cannot do without your support and prayers. I have expressed you a feeling of baby in our custody, they need more smile, joy and we are just servants who will keep on knocking at your support.
Thanks and God bless you all!
Sr. Esther.
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Dear Hans van Huisselin and Friends,
Greetings and best wishes from Rangala baby Home! It is our joy to convey a Merry Christmas love to you all dear friends. At the same time we thank God for taking us through the year 2022, with all our strength and weakness. You did us a lot, we appreciate you!
It is therefore, our pleasure to sincerely wish you a Prosperous New Year 2023. Thank you for a wonderful journey may it continues through God’s love. Regards to all!
Easter greetings to you and all our dear friends! I want to wish you joy and strength of risen Christ. We thank God for you for being a gift to us. We are doing well with the care, love and protection of our little babies.
I wish also to sincerely thank you for the prayers and recent financial support for our activities. Many thanks to the little children who participated in collection during play of Epiphany. About COVID19, the restrictions have been relaxed; we can now move freely, no mask, no curfew. Still a lot of challenges due to effects of COVID19 but God willing we shall be lifted to gain our lost activities. At the moment serious challenge is fuel price and high prices of essential commodities. Our staffs who come far from the home find it very difficult to pay fare.
Otherwise, may you have glorious hope as we celebrate Christ resurrection! Regards from babies, and staff members.
Sr. Esther.
Datum: 22 december 2021 om 11:05
Onderwerp: Merry Christmas
Dear Hans van Huisseling, parishioners and friends,
On behalf of Rangala Baby Home family, receive our warm regards. We thank God for you, and for being a gift to us. I want to sincerely thank you for journeying with us in 2021 regardless of the many challenges which the COVID19 pandemic is confronting us with.
We appreciate your efforts that has enabled us care and protect our babies. I therefore, wish you a joyous Christmas full of love, hope and a happy inspiring New Year 2021. Thanks too for your wishes.
Merry Christmas to you and all dear friends!
Yours faithfully,
Sr. Mary Esther Okome,
Sr. incharge R.B.Home.
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Datum: 13 april 2021 om 11:09
Onderwerp: Easter greetings/thanks Dear Hans and friend of Vlierden,
May I take this moment to wish you and all our dear friends Easter greetings! Christ is risen we are elevated in faith and love. We had good Easter celebration in our region, though in some parts of Kenya there was lockdown and no gatherings (Nairobi, Nakuru regions) due to COVID 19. We continue to pray that the power of the risen Christ may wash away this bad disease, to enable us do our activities normally.
In our area still we observe restrictions and measures. Staffs are trying their best and the babies are doing well. I want also to thank you for the donation we received in 29th of January Euro 1000 that transferred to our account. We are also grateful for your recent financial support, Ksh 130,400.00 transferred into babies’ account, through Mill Hill M. Nairobi office. Thank you for standing with us during this hard time of COVID 19 pandemic. I know many families or friends were affected in your country but we remember you in prayers.
The COVID 19 vaccination had been rolled out but people still have mixed feeling on its effects, but about 500,000 already vaccinated.
Convey our regards to all dear friends. At the moment we got 39 babies at our care. They are doing well. At the moment it is raining, so we are now planting and there is a lot of work in the field/garden.
Otherwise, we are happy regardless of challenges, and remain to love and care for babies. God bless.
Sr. Esther.
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Datum: 24 december 2020 om 12:03
Onderwerp: Thanks/Best wishes for Nativity festivity
Dear Hans van Huisseling and all friends,
Merry Christmas greeting to you and all our dear friends! It is our hope that you are doing well and God gives you all his care and love. It has been a strange year universally. With COVID 19 affecting us in many ways, we thank God for life and living to witness such happenings. Also we unite with many families who were hard hit and lost loved ones because of COVID.
On behalf of the Baby Home family and especially the little orphaned babies, and staffs, I acknowledge your support and love for us all. Big thanks to God for enabling you, friends at Vlierden to care for our needs. All staffs and their families are very grateful. May God grant you favours to continue supporting many children and the needy in society.
As we come to an end of year 2020, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous, Happy New Year 2021. Keep healthy and good festivity.
Regards and blessings!
Sr. Esther.
Verzonden: vrijdag 19 april 2019 12:38 Aan:'Tony van Rijssel'; 'Mill Hill Admin' Onderwerp: HAPPY EASTER
Dear Friends, Greetings from Rangala Baby Home. The entire staff and children of Rangala Baby Home are wishing you a Happy Easter. May God continue to bless you and your family.
Yours, Sr. Mary Esther, Sr. in charge R.B.
Sent: maandag 24 december 2018 13:10
I wish you A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2019. I would like to share with you how we spend the money you send us from time to time. This money is used to buy infant tinned formula milk, which is quite expensive and needed most. Others essential commodities we buy are cereals (maize, beans, sorghum, millet, rice and sugar. We also buy clothes, nappies, beddings, body oil, cream. Fruits and other foodstuffs which older children can easily eat; meat, fish and chicken.
At the moment we have 35 children under our care aged 2 weeks to 5 years old. Most of the children are abandoned or their mothers died at birth or shortly after, and nobody is ready to care for the at their home at that age. Recently a baby was born 20th November 2018, the mother decided to throw her in a pit latrin. The baby was rescued by a good Samaritan with the help of other people, they destroyed the toilet and removed the baby out. She had already been burnt by feaces. The baby was taken to hospital treated and when she became stable was brought to us for further care and protection. The mother was arrested and put in police custody. She is called Precious Pendo.
Even though we got 35 babies/children at our care, any time we can received new ones coming in. For our children we prepare them food which suit their age. We can smash them or prepare the food be taken in liquid- fruits (mangoes, avocado, oranges etc.) our children play with toys, which we buy from shops or donated. Older ones have small bicycles, ropes shakers etc. for now they only know here( baby Home as their home). Those who have reached over three years will ask to be taken home – back in the villages.
We do receive visitors but not many. Perhaps we now get visitors from Vlierden, see what we do, help us take care of them and play with them. Otherwise feel free to know more of what we do. Attached are some pictures of our children. I wish all the children happy moments during this festivity period. I hope their big day (Epiphany will be very wonderful) Regards to all and God bless.
Sent: Sunday, December 24, 2017 2:50 AM
Dear Friends,
I wish to sincerely thank you for the season of 2017, and all the support you provided to our orphaned babies. On behalf of the Rangala Baby Home, I wish you all at Vlierden a Merry Christmas and a blessed 2018 New Year.
Thank you and may the festivity period bring us blessing.
Sr. Mary Esther
Sent: Sunday, December 24, 2017 2:48 AM
Subject: Sunken staff toiletGreetings!
Attached is a picture showing
challenges we experience. It is a staff toilet that had sunken.
This information was missed but was supposed to be part of the first letter.
Sr. Mary Esther
Sent: Friday, December 15, 2017 4:56 PM
Subject: Information about Rangala baby Home
Dear Tony,
Greetings from Rangala Baby Home! It is my hope that all friends from Vlierden are doing well. Regards to all! I wish to sincerely thank you and all people of good will for the concern and prayer support you offer to our orphaned babies/children. Thanks also for the financial support received through Ko Klaver.
At the moment we got 42 babies/children at our care. About 20 are still under one year with 10 of them below 7 months old. So we got serious feeding and care, constant attention all through. Basically the most demanding needs are formula tinned infant milk mostly consumed, nappies and pumpers regularly used. Six children have also gone out/discharged to stay with relatives especially those who have reached 3-4 years old. They do settle gradually, we do follow up and visit them.
For those children who attained 2-3 years we let them join children from the neighbourhood at our nursery school in the compound. This gives them opportunity to integrate in school activities, learn from other children.
We had a problem with our main water tank; leaking and worn out parts. Now it is repaired after 3 months work and no water wasted as before. We are at the moment lucky to get milk from our dairy farm cows. This supplements our tinned milk especially the older children over two years can get milk as well, and cereals enriched with milk. The weather was good and we had good carrots and vegetable supply from our garden. Challenges are repairs, sudden prices increase of commodities especially the last few months during elections.
The staffs work so hard, dedicate their time and love the babies so much. They work extra time but the Home is unable to pay for their extra hours. They care for them day and night, stay with them (babies) in hospital, take them to school, play with them etc. We got 13 ladies, 8 men and 2 Sisters. This team takes charge of daily care of babies in room, kitchen, farm, security, office, compound and garden, washing clothes, nappies.
The financial area needs support, because what we receive goes basically to the immediate basic needs of the baby, we do not generate funds from our activities, no profit making. We repair vehicles and fuel, insurance but from same pot. When we get visitors from abroad, we tend to be lucky to get little support but situation in Kenya has made it difficult, no more friends coming.
It would be our appeal that individuals can come up and support a particular area to easy financial constraint; supply of milk, support even one or two staffs, insure for us a vehicle etc. In a year we insure our two vehicles Ksh 140,000/= about (1400 euro) we got a big garden 4 hectares. Ploughing, harrowing, planting, seeds, a person to manage even for one year. Narrowing support can make us stable and enhance services we offer to babies.
Building especially the roof, section of the main building is not so good leaking a lot during rainy season. It is now a priority I need immediate support before start of long rainy season march next year.
Otherwise we appreciate your concern, and welcome your ideas/support to see us offer the best care, attention, love to babies and be happy, dedicated staffs. We wish you all good time as we prepare for the coming/Christmas. God bless.
Sr. Mary Esther Okome,
Sr. incharge R.B.Home.
