***********
*Lama gathered with 60 other Burmese refugees at a Baton Rouge church to celebrate his first Thanksgiving in his new home, where he is free to live and worship without oppression.
Catholic Charities, which resettled the refugees throughout southern Louisiana, organized the dinner for the group. The majority of attendees came to the U.S. less than a year ago, said Kristi Hackney, director of migration and refugee services for Catholic Charities.
Burma has struggled with political and social unrest since the 1960s. The Burmese people frequently clash with the military, and the Christian minority has been the focus of fierce persecution.
On the day set aside for giving thanks, the refugees held a Christian service steeped in gratitude for their new freedoms.
“We’re thankful for being alive and safe,” Seng Rahkawi said. “It’s not enough to say thank you. Words cannot express how grateful we are.
