The news that the bishop (myself) would be 60 this year had been around for some time and together with it, the question about how to celebrate this special change of decade in the midst of COVID19.
I was blessed being able to say a word about it. "If we want to celebrate the gift of life, let us do it by giving life to others".
I always had in mind organising a blood donation event but I was aware of the challenges. Would the National Blood Transfusion Services come to us on a Saturday? How would the people in the diocese react to the idea? Would there be enough people to justify coming to the bishop's house?
There was really no need to worry about it even if we shared the idea just 48 hours before the event through our diocesan social media. The response was really overwhelming.
- The event planned to be held between 9:30 AM and 1:00 PM lasted until 2:30 PM as people kept on coming. The national media welcomed the idea and wrote about it before and after in the local newspapers;
- The Swaziland Bible Society surprised me with a gift of 60 Bibles to be offered to everyone who would donate blood;
- Young people from the National Cancer Control Unit encouraged each other to come together to donate blood;
- Some of those who donated blood felt that it should not be limited to one event but a diocesan initiative should be developed planning blood donation in each one of our parishes;
- Two priests from the diocese were among those who came during the day.
The Blood donation campaign was the main event of the day but we also planned others aware of the struggles many families are going through:
- Food parcels
- Blankets
- School fees
These two were supported during the day and the month of May.
Click HERE for photos of the event
