DAY THREE
Say to your children, “These last two days, we have read about the Pilgrims who celebrated the first Thanksgiving. We
read that they fled their homes in England because they were being persecuted for their beliefs about God. We have also
learned that there are many people today who also have to flee their homes. Some of those people come to America, just
like the Pilgrims did. They are called refugees, and we have the chance to be like Squanto to those refugees. We have the
chance to help them.”
Ask: Do you think that God would want us to help these refugees? Why or why not?
I know that God would want us to help these refugees because the Bible tells us so. When God first gave His Law to His
people, the Israelites, he told them over and over to be kind to the foreigner and stranger among them. He told them to do
this because God loves the foreigner, and because the Israelites themselves were once foreigners in Egypt. There are many
passages in the Law where God says this, but a good one is Deuteronomy 10:17-19.
Read Deuteronomy 10: 17-19 in your Bible.
Many of the Israelites who heard this Law over the centuries were too young to have actually lived in Egypt, but they knew
that their ancestors had. Similarly, we are too young to have come over on the Mayflower, but as Americans, we know that
our earliest settlers did, and they were refugees. We want to be like Squanto and show that refugees are still welcomed in
America today.
Another reason to welcome the refugee is because Jesus tells us that whatever we do for those in need, we do it for Jesus.
Let’s read a quick story where Jesus tells us how important it is to Him that we help others.
Read Matthew 25: 31-46 in your Bible.
Thinking about these verses, how do you think Jesus would want us to treat the refugees who come to
our city?
This Thanksgiving, we have a chance to make a welcome basket for a family of refugees. We are going to pick out some
things that they need, to show them how much we love them, and how much Jesus loves them. Before we do, let’s pray for
the family we are going to help. We don’t know who they are, but God does. Let’s pray that God is with them as they start
their new life.
This Family Devotional Guide is a meant to help you and your family learn
more about God’s heart for refugees, as illustrated through the real-life
story of the very first Pilgrims. This is also a way for you to teach your
children the importance of reaching out to others, especially during the Thanksgiving season.
We hope and pray that your family will be transformed as you serve others through World
Relief’s Welcome to America - Thanksgiving Project.
to live in Nashville to find that refuge. When they come, we have the chance to be like Squanto. What are some ways we
can help refugees when they come to our country?
We will learn more about refugees tomorrow. But first, let’s pray that God uses us to help refugees the same way that
Squanto helped the Pilgrims.”
DAY TWO
DAY ONE
Tell your children that you are going to read about the story of the first Thanksgiving. You
may want to ask them what they already know about this story before you begin. Once
you get their answers, read The Story of the Pilgrims to them.
Tell your children that you are going to read them another Thanksgiving story tonight, and
ask them to try and figure out who are the “pilgrims” in this story. Read How Many Days
to America aloud to your children.
After you have finished reading, ask the following questions:
1. After you have finished reading, ask the following questions:
1. 2. 3.
Why did the Pilgrims come to America?
Do you think it would be hard to leave your home and go somewhere completely new? Why or why not?
What difficulties did the Pilgrims face as they made their new home in America?
Tell your children, “The Pilgrims came to America because they faced religious persecution, which meant people
wanted to hurt them because of what they believed about God. Even today, people face religious persecution—and
other kinds of persecution—around the world. Often, it is so bad that people are forced to leave their homes. Our
country helps many of these people by allowing them to come live in America, just like the Pilgrims did.
Who in the story are the “pilgrims”? Why did that family want to come to
America?
After the children answer, tell them, “Today there are lots of families around the world who are in the same kind of
situation. Their country has become unsafe for them, and people are trying to hurt or kill them because of the color of their
skin or what they believe. These people have to leave their homes so that they can be safe. Lots of these people, these
‘refugees,’ go to camps that are in another country near to their own country. The camps do not have houses or things like
running water or electricity. They are not good places to live.”
4. How did the Pilgrims in the story overcome all the hard things they faced in America?
Possible answers include, God’s help, the pilgrim’s determination, and the help of Squan-to and the Wampanoag tribe. Be
sure that they mention Squanto.
2. How did the family in the story get to America? What kind of troubles did they face on the way?
After the children answer, say, “The refugees that we are going to help came to America a different way. They had to live in
the refugee camps for many years until they were approved to come to America. Our government lent them money for a
one-way plane ticket to fly here, and then gave them a small amount of money for their first few months. These refugees
have to find a place to live, get a job, learn our language, and figure out how to live in this country which is so different
from their own. It is very difficult for them.”
5. What ways did Squanto help the Pilgrims?
After you get the children’s answers, say, “When we read this story, we often relate to the Pilgrims. For many of us, the
Pilgrims were our ancestors. However, today, we are not like the Pilgrims. We live in a country where we are free to have
our own beliefs, even if others disagree with us. Pilgrims still come to our country today, though, from many faraway
countries. We call them refugees because they are seeking refuge from harm. Refuge means safety or shelter. Many come
3. When the family in the story arrived in America, how were they greeted?
Tell your children, “We have the chance to be like the Americans at the end of the story who welcomed the refugees. Refugees always have a long, hard journey to America, and they come with very few possessions. We can make things easier
for them by welcoming them and providing for some of their needs. Tomorrow, we are going to talk more about how to do
that and why it would please God to help them. For now, let’s close by praying for all of the refugees that are in the world.”