BY SHAWN PLUMMER
On September 30th, we closed the books on another exciting fiscal year working with those courageously overcoming poverty.
This year, FH supported field staff walking with 71 communities, strengthened relationships with committed and generous Canadian partners, responded to the deplorable living conditions of Rohingya refugees through Integral Alliance, and are now providing assistance to disaster relief in Palu, Indonesia.
I guess it’s not surprising I’ve only just now realized that Thanksgiving is upon us!
Although it’s early winter for some (sorry Alberta), I love what fall brings to this weekend: precious time with extended family, turkey dinners, crisp air, trees changing colour, time and space to reflect on the good things in our lives.
It’s easy to get wrapped up in the hectic day-to-day, to focus on the short-falls instead of the gains, to feel the disappointments instead of the successes. When we’re going a hundred miles a minute, it’s easy to rush past the real significance of what’s happening around you.
Over the past many months, I’ve been fortunate to spend time in our partnered communities and share in their unique struggles, heartbreak, vision, and wins.
Pausing now, I recognize the many things there are to be thankful for. I’m thankful for the 3,000 FH staff around the world who uphold our purpose and promise to bring dignity to the most vulnerable. I’m thankful for informed global citizens who choose to partner with FH and use their mission and creativity in business and church life to affect change in their own communities. I’m thankful for artists who raise their voices and leverage stage-time to shape mindsets about healthy poverty alleviation.
At Food for the Hungry, we’re so blessed to not be doing this work alone. It takes all kinds of people pitching in to deliver on our promise—to graduate communities from poverty in 10 years. So, ultimately, I’m grateful and thankful for YOU, our committed friends on the journey, for trusting FH and investing in thriving communities. You inspire me with your abundance mentality, your committed families, and your compassion for others in the Kingdom you’ve never even met.
This Thanksgiving, I invite you to leave work aside, for a moment. Take a break. Refuel. Enjoy your family. Love your neighbour. Express gratitude for what’s important to you. May this weekend refresh and energize you as you continue to fight for those who are voiceless, facing injustice, displaced, and working extremely hard to build resilience and care for their own families.
My hope and prayer is for all of us to flourish.
Happy Thanksgiving!
On September 30th, we closed the books on another exciting fiscal year working with those courageously overcoming poverty.
This year, FH supported field staff walking with 71 communities, strengthened relationships with committed and generous Canadian partners, responded to the deplorable living conditions of Rohingya refugees through Integral Alliance, and are now providing assistance to disaster relief in Palu, Indonesia.
I guess it’s not surprising I’ve only just now realized that Thanksgiving is upon us!
Although it’s early winter for some (sorry Alberta), I love what fall brings to this weekend: precious time with extended family, turkey dinners, crisp air, trees changing colour, time and space to reflect on the good things in our lives.
It’s easy to get wrapped up in the hectic day-to-day, to focus on the short-falls instead of the gains, to feel the disappointments instead of the successes. When we’re going a hundred miles a minute, it’s easy to rush past the real significance of what’s happening around you.
Over the past many months, I’ve been fortunate to spend time in our partnered communities and share in their unique struggles, heartbreak, vision, and wins.
Pausing now, I recognize the many things there are to be thankful for. I’m thankful for the 3,000 FH staff around the world who uphold our purpose and promise to bring dignity to the most vulnerable. I’m thankful for informed global citizens who choose to partner with FH and use their mission and creativity in business and church life to affect change in their own communities. I’m thankful for artists who raise their voices and leverage stage-time to shape mindsets about healthy poverty alleviation.
At Food for the Hungry, we’re so blessed to not be doing this work alone. It takes all kinds of people pitching in to deliver on our promise—to graduate communities from poverty in 10 years. So, ultimately, I’m grateful and thankful for YOU, our committed friends on the journey, for trusting FH and investing in thriving communities. You inspire me with your abundance mentality, your committed families, and your compassion for others in the Kingdom you’ve never even met.
This Thanksgiving, I invite you to leave work aside, for a moment. Take a break. Refuel. Enjoy your family. Love your neighbour. Express gratitude for what’s important to you. May this weekend refresh and energize you as you continue to fight for those who are voiceless, facing injustice, displaced, and working extremely hard to build resilience and care for their own families.
My hope and prayer is for all of us to flourish.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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