The January Sudanese Birthday Party Celebration Most of the eighteen young men sponsored by Thanksgiving! Lutheran Church have birthdays which fall on January 1. In the Sudan, the date of your birth is not significant and most young men recall only the year they were born. Immigration requires a birth date as well as the year and basically just assigned them January 1st as their birthday unless they knew their birthdays or selected a date. As sponsors we wanted these Sudanese men to know about our custom of celebrating birthdays. We decided to host a party at the church and invite all the sponsors, pastors, drivers, educators and volunteers that help with this outreach program. Volunteers brought cakes, punch and fruit trays. The Junior High youth and adults decorated with balloons and other festive colors. A small program in the sanctuary opened with prayer and then allowed each young man to introduce himself, tell his age, where he was working and a few other remarks. The birthday candles and cakes were waiting for the men as they walked into the fellowship hall. The men like apple, oatmeal, and banana cakes, nothing too sweet. Everyone sang happy birthday and they took turns blowing out candles and getting photos taken of the special day. A party game, musical chairs was introduced to the men. They found it fun but became quite competitive in finding an open chair. The youth provided a boom box and tapes of African music. All enjoyed dancing. Birthday Party Organizer/Mentor, Julie Schwandt Daniel Bior and Jacob Gai's Birthdays, October, 2001 David Pandek's Birthday, November 2001

Gabriel Dut is one of fourteen who mark January 1st as their birthdays. Musical chairs! Dear Sudanese Men, We gather here to say, "Happy Birthday!" And may God bless you in every way! You traveled here from afar, Not knowing the land, or who we are. "America!" You hear them say. The land of the free, the home of the brave? So you came across to this country, Knowing soon you would be free. Hearts filled with hope, minds filled with trust, Your old life pushed away, your new life got a thrust. So...Dear Sudenese Men, We gather here to say, "Happy Birthday!" And may God bless you in every way! Written by Nelly Patterson 8th grade Confirmation student For the birthday party held for fourteen of our Sudanese men, whose birthdays were January 1st (2002)