A Heart Full of Gratitude this Thanksgiving Season
As the leaves change and the air turns crisp, we find ourselves in a season of thankfulness. Here at World Relief Sacramento, our hearts overflow with gratitude for each and every one of you.
This year has been a journey filled with both challenges and triumphs. We’ve witnessed incredible resilience in the faces of adversity, and heartwarming generosity from our community. We’ve welcomed new families, celebrated milestones, and walked alongside individuals as they rebuild their lives.
None of this would be possible without you – our incredible partners. To our church partners, thank you for opening your hearts and doors to those in need. To our volunteers, thank you for your selfless dedication and countless hours of service. To our donors, thank you for your unwavering support and belief in our mission.
Your partnership enables us to provide vital services to refugees, immigrants, and vulnerable families in our community. Because of you, lives are being transformed, hope is being restored, and communities are becoming stronger.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Thank you for joining us on this journey. Thank you for being a beacon of hope in our community.
Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed Thanksgiving season filled with warmth, joy, and gratitude.
With sincere appreciation,
Mark Dandeneau
Regional Director
World Relief Sacramento & Modesto
Happy Thanksgiving Season from World Relief Sacramento!
Volunteer Highlight
This month, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, we celebrate Muriel Chiavini, a dedicated volunteer with the Afghan Women’s Program since the fall of 2019. Muriel’s journey of service is deeply rooted in her experience teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) at the Philippine Refugee Center, where she prepared refugees for cultural immersion and integration in the United States. She reflects, “God used my experience to help the Afghan women refugees of World Relief.”
Following her retirement as a Christian school teacher, Muriel joined our team through River City Christian (RCC). She began as a Teaching Assistant (TA) in our first in-person classes, attending weekly integration sessions to build meaningful relationships with Afghan women and providing one-on-one ESL tutoring to enhance their growing English skills.
When the pandemic pushed us to virtual programming in March 2020, Muriel adapted seamlessly. She connected with women through WhatsApp and played a vital role in launching our official tutoring program that summer. As she retrained in teaching methods for non-literate women, she embraced new technical skills and became a core part of our fully online classes’ success.
Since 2021, Muriel has volunteered twice weekly, assisting with testing, leading small group reviews, and offering valuable feedback to strengthen our teaching methods. She describes the Afghan women she serves as “…tenacious, perseverant, patient, grateful, and resilient…” qualities developed through the hardships they endured in their homeland. Muriel shares, “It has been rewarding to watch the Afghan women progress from very little to no knowledge of the English language to emergent language learners at the end of the year.”
During a graduation ceremony, one participant asked Muriel why she helps them. Her response? “God loves me and has done so much for me that I am giving this love back to them.” After five years of service, Muriel reflects on how God has worked full circle in her life: “It is amazing to see how God uses a small act of kindness, compassion, and love to make a big impact in their lives.”
Muriel’s unwavering dedication, adaptability, and heart for service remind us of the incredible impact one volunteer can make. Thank you, Muriel, for being a cornerstone of our mission and for embodying God’s love through your faithful work.
Seeing the Unseen: A Season of Gratitude Beginning This Giving Tuesday
As we gather to celebrate Thanksgiving, we’re reminded of the many blessings we’ve received throughout the year. It’s a time to give thanks and reflect on the ways we can share that gratitude with others. As the season of giving continues, we have an opportunity to move forward with purpose—extending hope and support to those in need.
Jesus saw the unseen throughout his time on earth—and still does. People who had fallen through the cracks of society reached out to Him, and He responded. Some yelled, like blind Bartimaeus. Others didn’t speak, but their actions were loud, like the men who lowered the paralyzed man through a hole in the roof. Remember the woman at the well? Jesus saw her and transformed not only her life but also the lives of others in her town.
Your generosity during this year-end season can make a profound difference. It’s a chance to express thankfulness through action, to see and support the unseen, and to help transform lives for the better.
As part of Giving Tuesday on December 3rd, you’re invited to kick off the holiday season by giving generously. With millions of people worldwide displaced from their homes, this is an opportunity to extend hope and love to those in need. Whether through a financial gift, volunteering your time, or an act of kindness, your support can create meaningful change.
Let’s give in a way that reflects the abundance we’ve received and the compassion we’re called to share. Together, we can make this season truly meaningful.
By Analise York
Analise is the Marketing & Events Coordinator at World Relief Sacramento.