FRM News
Jamie McKinley: Thanksgiving in Kenya
| FRM News
I always love this time of the year. I have so many great memories of how my mother would just open her house to anyone who needed a Thanksgiving meal. The Lord just blessed her with a heart to share the joy of the season with anyone who might not have a home or family to be with. Thanksgiving in a foreign country is not the same for sure. First of all there isn’t always the traditional foods available, it is NOT considered a holiday, but we as missionaries have learned to make things from scratch or creatively experiment with things to make it seem like tradition. This Thanksgiving I was so blessed to celebrate it twice. On Thanksgiving day I spent the day with my mission family here in Kenya and met new missionaries as well. It was a big feast and full of great fellowship that lasted until late.
That week before Thanksgiving I had been talking with a fellow member of the worship/sound ministry and we were talking about what family traditions or memories we loved. It was then I talked about Thanksgiving and he (of course as a Kenyan) had never celebrated it and didn’t know what it was about. I explained the best memories I had and why I enjoy going back for furlough at Christmas time. Well every saturday we have worship practice all day and normally have a small lunch of chapatis and avocados with tea. Well this last Saturday we celebrated Thanksgiving as family in Christ. The whole worship team, sound, and a few other brothers joined me as we had a thanksgiving lunch at church. They tried all the food I brought and to my surprise enjoyed all of it. It was such a great NEW memory, explaining the holiday and then going around the table and each of us giving thanks to God for what He has done this year.
Hope your Thanksgiving was sweet time with loved ones. I am so thankful to be a part of God’s family, no matter where I am in the world I am always with family and it is such a blessing to be a part of His Agape love and united in His great family. Happy Thanksgiving!
We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks! For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near. Psalm 75:1
