This November Team SOAR members decided to share Thanksgiving with our Russian friends rather than having a strictly American holiday.
The Hart family hosted a party of 24, a combination of believers and unbelievers from many different walks of life. In addition to enjoying traditional Thanksgiving food, the guests had conversations about thankfulness. One of the highlights of the evening was when an unbelieving family unexpectedly shared that they wanted to give thank to God for the blessings in their life. In addition, one of the Hart girls was able to have a spiritual conversation with a friend from school.
Jessica, Jocelyn, and Amy invited 11 Russian friends, mostly unbelievers, to their Thanksgiving celebration. Over dinner, everyone mentioned something for which they were thankful to God. Later in the evening, two guests who had never met before, discovered that they are both interested in learning more about the Bible. They asked the girls to start a Bible study with them in the near future.
The Ross family hosted two families during the course of Thanksgiving weekend. They were able to share the spiritual history of Thanksgiving and talk a little about spiritual things with one family that they have recently met. The other family joined in setting up a Nativity scene and seemed particularly interested in some spiritual concepts presented.
Jesse and Teri used Thanksgiving as an opportunity to host a local pastor and his family. In addition to eating traditional American foods, the group also enjoyed some homemade Russian dishes. Jesse and Teri even prepared some special Thanksgiving activities for the children. Since the family isn’t able to get out and relax often, the evening was a special treat for them all.
Please join us in praying that this time planted some spiritual seeds in the lives of our Russian friends. (posted 12.02.09)
