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On Oct. 4 the Migrant Council met at Alta Vista de la Montana on Highway 50.
Several Karen residents who live at the Alta Vista apartments were invited to join the meeting.
Tanlasay, interpreter and translator, facilitated the discussion among the council members and the Karen residents.
Out of their translated conversations came an idea, enthusiastically embraced by both the council members and Karen residents. Together they would hold a Thanksgiving dinner to share this American tradition with the Karen residents, formerly from Burma (also known as Myanmar).
Migrant Council member Celia Roberts related the origin of Thanksgiving to the Karen residents. As she spoke, the similarity of the Pilgrims and the Native Americans sharing that first Thanksgiving, and the proposed Thanksgiving dinner shared among the Karen residents and council members, became obvious.
That first Delta Thanksgiving dinner happened Saturday evening, Nov. 17. Pastor James Conley and his congregation at First Baptist Church in Delta hosted the gathering. Many Karen residents attend church at First Baptist, having been Christians in their native Burma.
Pastor Conley asked a blessing on the food and those gathered in English, which was translated in Karen by Eh Moe. A team of six beautiful Karen girls danced, songs were sung and a student's school assignment project was shared on screen. Good conversations, sometimes halting because of language, occurred throughout the evening between Karen and non-Karen peoples. Many Karen came in native dress.
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