Thanksgiving 2020

Dear Agency Partner

Normally we would have a Thanksgiving message here with the expected picture of a turkey and a pilgrim or some variation of that theme. You know the one you will likely see 259 times between now and Thursday.

No, 2020 deserves something more like gratitude. Gratitude for reminding us to appreciate the smallest things. Most importantly, it reminds us that regardless of what is happening in the world, from politics or pandemics, we need to put each other first. We share a common humanity and this Thanksgiving, it seems even more important that we pause and  take a minute to remember that we rebuild with each other, not over each other.

Now I know Canada’s Thanksgiving has already passed, however, it’s very fitting that a person I admire, Lesley Paull, is currently in Tanzania with Big Five and she sent this video. Without hesitation, Lesley and Peter generously donated the glass for windows and the stationery for our long-standing Spirit of Big Five project, Ereto Primary School. More than a school, they are helping to provide those children with a future.

I am grateful to them and so many others who have helped. So, even though it’s passed, I ask that we celebrate both nations’ Thanksgiving this week, in honor (honour for our fellow Canadians) of those children at Ereto.

In the video, they are singing Asante, which means… you guessed it, thank you in Kiswahili.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours in the US, Canada, and beyond.