Around tables every November, many gather for feasts and fellowship, for reflecting upon all life’s blessings, and for giving thanks to the One who sustains through life’s challenges. As Serge missionaries serve around the globe, their Thanksgiving tables and the people around them serve as a beautiful picture of what is to come.
For now, cultures may clash, but despite the collision, when we set the table and join together for a singular purpose—to give thanks—our hearts become full. This is evident in the stories missionaries tell as they set the table for their local communities in the name of Christ.
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
Colossians 3:15-17 (NIV)
East Africa
Ben* and Nicole* know what it’s like to host a ton of people for Thanksgiving.
Last year, their backyard was filled with all kinds of people—Africans, Indians, and Americans; Muslims, Christians, and converts. They celebrated, gave thanks to God, and enjoyed good food (for many of the people there, it was their first time eating turkey!).
But it was also an investment.
This holiday gave Ben and Nicole an opportunity to invest in the people who mattered deeply to them, giving those friends a space where they know they are valued, loved, and safe. It is the purest form of evangelism.
“So much of our work here is about creating relational spaces where people can know they are loved,” said Ben. “From these spaces grows the ability to enter into loving conversations about who Jesus is and why we follow Him.”
Inviting people into your home for a meal is a significant gesture in African culture. Doing so strengthens friendship bonds, and Thanksgiving gave them that opportunity.
“It was a chaotic, busy, messy, and incredibly beautiful day,” Ben said. “Our now annual tradition of hosting a ‘Friendsgiving’ celebration is always such a joy.”
“Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Ephesians 5:19-20 (NIV)
Another East Africa Team (in Burundi) celebrates Thanksgiving with the annual tradition of a big potluck. They feast and give thanks together by welcoming friends and fellow missionaries from all over Burundi, as well as national partners within their immediate community.
Prague
Matt and Anna are fairly new to the field, and this past year was their first Thanksgiving abroad. They quickly learned that celebrating in their traditional way was harder than expected since a turkey is difficult to come by and their oven is more the size of an American microwave.
Matt took public transportation for an hour and 15 minutes each way to reach a farm where he could buy half a turkey on the bone.
Still, the effort was worth it for them, as they wanted to celebrate the blessing of friendship and community that the Lord had already provided for them in a short time. They knew they had so much to be thankful for.
Matt and Anna put their hard-earned turkey to good use, feeding people from all around the world in their living room.
They hosted 12 people in their home, and in that group, 10 different countries were represented. The only Americans in that room, Matt and Anna were surrounded by friends from the Czech Republic, India, Italy, France, Nigeria, and many other parts of the world, all gathering to give thanks together.
“It was a testament to the Lord’s hand in our lives and that He is at work in ways we do not always see,” said Anna.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
James 1:17 (NIV)
Eastern DR Congo
Patrick and Anna LaRochelle are seasoned vets when it comes to navigating holidays abroad. They normally celebrate with their teammates, but last year those teammates were all out of town, so they got the chance to celebrate with their Congolese loved ones.
They worked hard with their kids to prepare a variety of food: pumpkin cake, apple pie, fried chicken, mashed potatoes. They were even able to get a turkey from the United Nations building in their city.
The family and their guests had so much fun talking and laughing, and they even taught their guests how to play the card game ‘spoons’.
“We took time to talk about this funny American holiday,” Anna said. “We call it funny because natives find it weird that people eat turkey and call it our turkey holiday, but once we explain it, people think it’s really fun.”
Anna says their guests loved getting a taste of American culture, and that their Congolese friends were very proud of themselves for trying new dishes. Apparently, people took the event very seriously, even leaving work early to attend.
Patrick and Anna’s kids show DRC natives how to roast marshmallows over a fire and make s’mores, which was a new activity for them!
Patrick and Anna ended the day around a backyard campfire, roasting marshmallows—another American tradition they were delighted to share with their friends.
“We had a wonderful time,” Anna said. “We laughed and chatted well into the evening, and ended the day with really joyful hearts, thankful that we have great friends here and could enjoy celebrating with them.”
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.”
Psalm 107:1 (NIV)
Central Europe
Jake and Melissa have also celebrated Thanksgiving every year they’ve been abroad. They say Thanksgiving is an easy way to bring God into the conversation.
“We’re thankful, not just for the blessings we have, but to our Heavenly Father who pours His grace out on us,” said Melissa.
Every year, Jake makes fried turkey, which alone is enough to draw a crowd of curious spectators to their home.
They had a diverse crowd, and everyone brought something to share, from potatoes to salads to Czech beer. They even had a neighbor ask Google what to bring, who then made a pumpkin pie from scratch!
Guests gathered into Jake and Melissa’s home for feasting and conversation.
“The time was very sweet,” Melissa said. “They asked about every dish and tradition. They even brought gifts for the kids. It was a very warm and sweet time of enjoying each other and the holiday.”
Jake and Melissa witnessed how grateful their guests were for a chance to come into their home. They plan to continue this celebration for the years to come.
“Thanksgiving is a chance to pause and deliberately thank God for all that He has given us over the last year.”
What an important reminder for us all.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Philippians 4:6 (NIV)
True Thanksgiving
As Western Christians serving globally, American Thanksgiving can be an opportunity to participate in our own cultural traditions with a deeper awareness. The reality is that the Christian faith is intertwined with brokenness and the stories many of us grew up with often hold painful truths. This may be something that many national partners can relate to. With this in mind, true thanksgiving is not about focusing solely on an American tradition, but finding common ground with neighbors around the world who understand what it means to pause, take stock, and give thanks.
When we all pause to give thanks, we participate in something sacred and unifying: the breaking of bread in community points to the coming feast when every tribe and nation will rejoice together before the Lord. Until that day, may we continue to set our tables with open hands, full hearts, and a spirit of thanksgiving that reflects the generosity of Christ Himself.
*Some names have been changed to protect the security of missionaries in closed countries.
Explore More Serge Resources on Thankfulness:
Check out this additional blog post. And if you want to hear from missionaries themselves, know that we have multiple books of them telling their stories.
