Hand in Hand Global Mission Support Blog Digest

Thanksgiving 2008 Bratislava, Slovakia. Check out the turkey art!

  I am 100%, totally, completely all about this Operation Thanksgiving thing. I think what excites me most about it is imagining my friends and former colleagues in Slovakia getting a card in their mailbox at school: getting an unexpected boost of joy first thing in the morning, taking it to their English classes, maybe posting it on the bulletin boards. I imagine them feeling connected and supported by us here in the US during what can be a really difficult month for missionaries. And I love the idea of being part of that connection: praying for and supporting other missionaries the way my husband and I were supported during our year of service in Bratislava.

November was a difficult time for us: we thought we were done with culture shock, only to get hit with another, unexpected wave of it. We felt especially far from home. Our community Thanksgiving celebrations were a welcome source of joy–the kind of joy I imagine those first year missionaries will feel when they receive an unexpected turkey card in their mailboxes: someone from the US, remembering them at a most welcome time.

Sean and I recently did an adult forum about our year of service in Slovakia at St. Luke’s in Park Ridge. At the end of our presentation we introduced Operation Thanksgiving and invited everyone to make cards. Here are some of the messages my congregation is sending out—to the individuals who will receive these cards and to all our missionaries:

“God’s richest blessings to you this day.” “We give thanks for the abundance of your ministry!” “When the world gives you a bunch of turkeys … make Thanksgiving!” “Thank you for all you do!”

Thank you for all you do to support ELCA missionaries!

Click here to learn more about how you and your congregation can participate in Operation Thanksgiving.

 –Anne Edison-Albright now lives in Park Ridge, Ill.

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An Operation Thanks-Giving card from Bethany Lutheran, Star Prairie, Wis.

It’s delightful to open the packages of “Operation Thanks-Giving” cards sent to Global Mission Support to distribute to ELCA missionaries.  Here’s one example of the nine cards prepared by children at Bethany Lutheran in Star Prairie, Wisconsin.    In addition to the “random act of thankfulness” cards, congregations and individuals are busy making cards to send to the missionaries they sponsor and other service personnel.

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This is the next in a series of “Give thanks!” moments offered by ELCA missionaries and sponsors. Learn more about Operation Thanks-Giving at http://www.elca.org/handinhand–Pr. Twila Schock.

Kevin Jacobson (Suriname) writes: “My first Thanksgiving in Suriname was in 2008. The United States Ambassador invited all employees of the US Embassy, Peace Corps offices and other Americans to her home for a Thanksgiving feast.  She, with much assistance from others, cooked a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. It was a blessing to spend the day in her beautiful home along the Suriname River with 200 other people.  With the temperature soaring to nearly 100 degrees, the Ambassador’s pool offered its own refreshment. 

The Ambassador asked me if I would be willing to give grace before the meal. Knowing that the group gathering were people of many faiths and traditions I chose to read Chief Seattle’s prayer. Since that day I have been asked by people of many faiths who were in attendance to lead an opening prayer for various occasions around the city. I give thanks to all wonderful past leaders like Chief Seattle who through their vision and wisdom continue to open the doors for those of us and future generations.

I also give thanks to Any Inkt, the 18 year old son of the caretaker of Martin Luther Church in the center of Paramaribo, for driving me around the city and the streets so that I could learn how to safely navigate them. ”

The Rev. Kevin Jacobson (left) is an ELCA missionary serving in Suriname.  He works in parish ministry and leadership development. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Suriname has four congregations and about 4,000 members. With historical ties to the Netherlands, the people of this country in the northern part of South America speak Dutch.

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This is the first in a series of “Give thanks!” moments offered by ELCA missionaries and sponsors.  Learn more about Operation Thanks-Giving at www.elca.org/handinhand.  –Pr. Twila Schock.

Robin Strickler (Rwanda) writes, “I give thanks to all the church members who have cared so much about education for Rwandans thousands of miles away from their own communities. I give thanks to my parents and sisters who have tolerated me being so far from them. I give thanks to my husband who constantly advises and encourages me.  And, I give thanks to the students and teachers at the school who remind me about what is truly important in God’s kingdom . . .  that we love what is right and walk very humbly with our God!” 

ELCA missionary Robin Strickler serves in Rwanda, working in education development. Started by Rwandan refugees, returning from the genocide of 1994, the Lutheran Church of Rwanda has a 17,000 members. As a new church body, the LCR focuses on training leaders and is building a secondary school and a women’s center.   

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A member of St. Luke’s in Park Ridge, Illinois, offered this sentiment in the card he made for Operation Thanks-Giving:

When life brings you turkeys…
…make thanksgiving.

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Thanks to Our Savior’s Lutheran Sunday school for the 17 handmade Operation Thanks-Giving cards that arrived today. 

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November 1, 2009–All Saint’s Day–marks the official start of  the first annual Operation Thanks-Giving. 

The idea began as  Pr. Twila Schock, Global Mission Support director and my boss, told the story of her first Thanksgiving as a missionary. She told how November in general and Thanksgiving in particular can be downright difficult, especially for first-year missionaries.  One thing led to another and we decided to “seize the thanks-giving” and show missionaries a little love by sending them “I’m thankful for you” cards.  

The “first” of “first annual” is obvious.  Editor types will note that what began as “Operation Thanksgiving Card” became “Operation Thanksgiving” and now seems to have settling in as either “Operation Thanks-Giving” or “OPERATION THANKS-GIVING.”   We’re learning as we go.   The “Q & A” below resulted from great questions asked by Trinity Lutheran Church in Vale, N.C. 

The “annual” in “first annual” assumes “Operation Thanks-Giving” (or whatever name it ends up) will catch on.  It trusts that, if  invited to a thanks-giving party, the good people of the ELCA will come.  They will offer encouraging and sustaining gifts.  They will make Operation Thanks-Giving cards and give ELCA Missionary Sponsorship donations. 

I know we are a thankful people, both blessed and a blessing.  Still, I was nervous.  “Do you think people will send cards?” I asked Twila.  “It could take time to catch on, but we’ll get cards,” she reassured.  Two-hours later I received the e-mail from Trinity Lutheran.  They wondered how many cards the congregation should prepare in order to send one to every ELCA missionary.  Imagine!  We could have an abundance of thanks-giving to share!

Operation Thanks-Giving Q&A

1. How many cards would we need to prepare to be able to send one to each missionary or missionary family?

There are 258 missionaries, 88 of whom are in their first year.

2. Can we put our church name and individual names on the cards?

You bet! You might want to include one e-mail address, too. I can’t promise that you’ll hear back from the missionary who receives the card (we don’t want to tie an obligation-to-respond to these random acts of thankfulness), but I’m thinking you could receive return e-mails.

3. When must you receive them to have time to distribute them?

There’s no deadline for thankfulness, so we’ll distribute the cards as they come in. We’ll scan and e-mail the cards we receive by November 21, so as many reach the missionaries as possible before Thanksgiving. Then, beginning in December, we’ll begin mailing all the cards (even those we’ve e-mailed) once a month.

4. I assume that we will send them to you in a bulk package. Will we need to provide envelopes for each?

You won’t; envelopes are not needed.

5. Is there a fee for postage?

It would be greatly appreciated if you included a donation for ELCA Missionary Sponsorship along with the cards. Make out the check to ELCA Missionary Sponsorship and place “MSG0340″ or “where needed most” on the memo line of your check.

Find Twila’s “My first Thanksgiving as a missionary” story on the second side of the Fall 2009 Hand in Hand newsletter.  Find useful “Operation Thanks-Giving” links at www.elca.org/handinhand.  During the month of November watch the Hand in Hand Blog Digest for “Thanks-Giving” stories by missionaries and sponsors.  E-mail your “Operation Thanks-Giving” stories to globalmissionsupport@elca.org.

Thankful blessings, Sue Edison-Swift

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Join Operation Thanks-Giving!

Make and send “I’m thankful for you” cards to your sponsored missionaries and other service personnel  connected to you and your congregation.

During the month of November, “Hand in Hand” blog posts will share “I’m thankful” stories and reflections offered by ELCA missionaries and sponsors.   Encourage others to subscribe to the blog and receive new posts by email; just follow the link on the right-hand column of http://blogs.elca.org/handinhand.

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