In recent years, Synod Staff have foregone the office tradition of the “secret santa” gift and have instead chosen Christmas gift recipients from outside the office confines.
Last year the staff donated money in order to buy department store gift cards to send up to St. George’s Church in Kingcome Inlet, hoping to help provide that community with a little Christmas cheer in the aftermath of the devastating floods that all but destroyed the church and the village, September 25th, 2010.This year the staff decided that they would raise money to buy a digital camera for the Reverend Fr. Steven Sikoti of Holy Cross Anglican Church, Chilomoni Parish, Malawi.
Frequent Topic and website readers will recall the article in the September 2011 issue (page 8-9) that covered the story of the collection and shipping of vestments and liturgical hardware items donated by the churches of the D of NW to benefit Father Stephen and his flock in Chilomoni Parish.
Through email conversation with Father Steven it was discovered that they do not have access to a digital camera. Communications officer Randy Murray asked Father Steven if a camera would be useful and he enthusiastically responded that it would be.
A few more emails went back and forth with links to various current models of point and shoot digital cameras with Father Steven ultimately choosing a Sony Cybershot DSC-WX model. Randy sourced and purchased a DSC-WX9 model and Synod Office receptionist Rhiannon Hillis was more than happy to wrap the camera and prepare it for shipping.
We have asked Father Steven to send us some photos of his community once he has the camera. We will certainly share any photos that arrive with Topic readers.
Images: Rhiannon Hillis before and after photos of the wrapping.