Thanksgiving celebrations open hearts and deepen impact
Thanksgiving weekend was busy here in Basque Country! We wanted to express our gratefulness to our friends who have become especially dear to us and who have helped us feel so welcome here in our new country. As we started talking to our friends about the holiday, they were all so enthusiastic about experiencing an American tradition, the Thanksgiving meal, and especially the turkey! In fact, several weeks earlier, the conversation about Thanksgiving led to a deeper discussion about what it means to us to be a Christian, and we have now been meeting with one couple weekly for discovery Bible study since October.
We prepared Thanksgiving dinner for 20 adults and 22 children. It was such a fun evening with everyone. Even better, the celebration created a natural opportunity to go a little deeper with our friends. Before dinner, we told everyone the story of the first Thanksgiving and why the pilgrims left England in search of freedom in America. We also shared about the importance of having a thankful heart at all times—first with God, and also with our family and those around us. Then we asked each person to fill out a slip of paper with something they are thankful for and then hang it on a tree branch.
We have not stopped receiving comments from our friends about how much they enjoyed the experience! We are thankful for natural opportunities such as this to reveal a little more about ourselves and our relationship with God. We are excited to share the difference that relationship makes in our lives. Please continue to pray for open hearts and minds to receive this message!
