Happy Thanksgiving Day

Abraham Lincoln, the 16^th President of the United States of America, proclaimed that every last Thursday of November will be a thanksgiving day.

Thanksgiving Day can be traced back to the historic American Christian tradition in 1623. After the harvest crops were gathered in November 1623, Governor William Bradford of the 1620 Pilgrim Colony, “Plymouth Plantation” in Plymouth, Massachusetts proclaimed:"All ye Pilgrims with your wives and little ones, do gather at the Meeting House, on the hill… there to listen to the pastor, and render Thanksgiving to the Almighty God for all His blessings."

painting depicting the origin of Thanksgiving Day

In my opinion, setting aside a day just to give thanks to God is a marvelous idea. The bible constantly emphasis the importance of thanksgiving in our lives. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Paul states that we should give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.

Here in Afri-Lift we have a lot to give thanks.

1.      Osiligi Training Rehabilitation

The projects on the farm that started this year are running smoothly. We are about to have a new house for the Farm Manage and a teacher’s toilet block. The staffs at the farm have had a new member start to work there called Beryl Simuyu. In this we give thanks

Farm Manager's house

2.      Riziki Child Assistance Program

The program has seen more children get sponsored this year thanks to the support of our sponsors. We have also had our candidates for this year complete their exams successfully.

This year, the Riziki Leadership team has adopted a new program from Metro World Child Ministries. The program has equipped the team with great skills and taken their ministry to a whole new level. On 24^th November, they were able to do an outdoor program where they saw 25 children give their lives to the Lord. In this we give thanks

children having fun in the outdoor program

3.      Manyota Program.

The street based program has seen the increase of the number of boys to the 20 maximum limit. Through this program we have seen lives being transformed and young trainees reach their God given potentials.

Boys from the Manyota Program

4.      Touch A Family

Through the generous donations of our sponsors and donors, families have been fed and encouraged. God has worked tremendously in this ministry and brought hope to homes that were in despair.

It is interesting to note that it is through this visits that children have been sponsored to go to school and the Gospel preached to those who do not know Christ as their Savior. In this we also give thanks.

some of our visitors who participated in TAF

5.      Children Worker’s  Training

The ministry has just completed a successful training in Kitale courtesy of Petra Institute for Children’s Ministry for the last two weeks. The training dubbed Walking With the Wounded Children saw lives of their trainees being transformed and friendships built. In this we also give thanks.

Children's Ministry in Burundi 

There is always power in giving thanks. Through giving thanks, one takes their eyes off themselves and their problem and focus on the nature of God. This is where one looks back in their lives and traces the hand of blessing that has clothed them, fed them, protected and provided for them.

Happy Thanksgiving to all our American and Canadian brothers and sisters.  It is not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving-W.T. Purkiser