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Every Thanksgiving presents us with the opportunity to pause and reflect on the blessings we enjoy and the opportunity to invite our refugee neighbors to do the same! Their journeys through immense adversity offer powerful reminders of the importance of gratitude. Here are a few things that they are thankful for.
Hilton and Priscila – Refugees from Nicaragua
“I am very grateful because [Spokane] has been very kind and generous to us. And the greatest blessing is to have my family well and united.” (Hilton)
“We never celebrated [Thanksgiving]. We are excited. I think it’d be a new experience. We love to share with the family… In general, the people [of Spokane] are very friendly with us. We feel safe in Spokane. We feel respect because everyone is very kind. I love the streets and the buildings. I think that we will have opportunity. We [especially] love the river front.” (Priscila)
Djouma – Refugee from Sudan
“Here I have more friends. I make new friends here. I make friends with Ukrainian and Russian people and they make me happy… I work every day. My family – they are doing fine… Their lives are doing better…”
Mariia – Refugee from Ukraine
“Thank God He brought us to this place to help us because when we come here we didn’t have any idea how we can move forward with our lives – what to do next, where to find jobs, where to live. We didn’t know anything.”
“Thank God for World Relief! You guys answered all our questions, even those you don’t actually supposed to. They help me know where to go, which direction.”
Diana – Refugee from Venezuela
“It was like a breath for the first time. For me, to be here is a hope for a better life, and new opportunities… I feel that the people – they value us as a person here.”
Jackson – Refugee from Sudan
“I am very thankful for the community I am part of. I am thankful for my family. I am thankful for the opportunities that God presents to me. I’m just thankful for the people that I get to meet every day here at the hospital, the kids that I’m involved with in the community.
“Most importantly I’m just thankful for the freedom to live out Christ in a country that does not persecute people for their faith. That’s a big thing. Thankful for not having to fear, you know. That I can walk down the street and be ok. That I can be outside in my front yard and wave out to the neighbors.”
Inna – Refugee from Ukraine
“I’m thankful to God for my daughter. She’s my best friend. I’m thankful that we’re living in peace. That we live in safety. That He gave us this opportunity.
“We could have ended up anywhere, but we ended up here. It’s safe to say that we are very comfortable… for us this is the best move that we have ever had to make.
“I think the biggest thing I am thankful for… is the people I have met.”
About the Author
Keri Bambock is the Communications Coordinator at World Relief Spokane. Her hobbies include sketching and painting. She likes riding her bike to the office and always gets the best parking spot.