A few of the great stories we heard last year. Read. Be encouraged.
A TurkeyFest story
My husband and I drove around tonight trying to agree on a place to stop. We finally did, went to the door with the basket in hand, and were invited in by two women. With them inside, in a living room with only plywood floors, was a woman in a hospital bed. I am suspecting she was in hospice but didn't ask. She had a hard time talking but she asked us how we heard about her. She cried when I told her that no one told us but God led us there.
"Yes Thank You"
We had five people tell us "No thank you". So we drove from Forest Park and God led us to Pippin Rd. Colerain area to an apartment complex. We found a single mother of two who was so happy to have this wonderful gift. This was our first time and we will do it every year now. Thanks to the Vineyard!
A Call From a Turkey Recipient
Listen: mp3 audio.
Thankful
So, I've had my dog groomer on my mind since I picked up my food basket.
She grooms dogs 1/2 mile away from my house. I felt like I might insult her if I took her the basket, but she was heavy on my heart this whole time -- was God leading me to her?
After the food bank told me they didn't need my basket today, we decided as a family to go see my dog groomer. I walked in and asked her to come outside that we had something for her. I told her that our church asked us to buy a Thanksgiving meal for a family and she was heavy on my heart.
She broke down and said you have no idea what this means to us. My husband and I need to go out and get 2nd jobs and I don't know how I'm going to do it with my health. She just cried and so did we.
I really just wanted to hand it off to a Food Bank and feel good about buying someone dinner, but I can't tell you how much more rewarding it was to listen to God and have him lead us to her and have her feel the blessing of God too, because she just kept saying, "This is God, you don't know what this means to me." So thankful that you didn't give me a name and the Food bank didn't need my basket, because my groomer did.
So thankful this year to be a part of Turkeyfest, we'll do it every year.
Awesome Experience
We had an awesome TurkeyFest experience that we had to share! My boyfriend and 3 of the kids and I went to Uptown with our two prophetic turkeys. He thought that someone he used to work with might need one of the baskets and called her to find out. Turns out that she herself didn't need one, but that her daughter and son-in-law certainly did...she had just gotten off the phone with her son-in-law and he had told her that the family had eaten their last meal last night and didn't know how they were going to eat today. We got their address and took the turkey basket to an extremely grateful family.
Amazing story
Hello,
I have to tell you about my small group's turkeyfest experience today. It was amazing! When we found out it was only "prophetic" turkeys, we were all a bit nervous. Today was completely different!
After praying at church, I had seen a bright purple house and some metal fencing. Another girl seemed to get the message of Avondale and another girl got Norwood. Off we went!
Eventually, we decided to turn down a side street, at just the right time. We looked at the house across the street and decided it was definitely odd to have chairs that color. Plus, the house had metal fencing. We decided to give it a go.
I knocked on the door and a woman stepped out onto the upper porch. I said, "Hi! We're from Vineyard Cincinnati. It's a church in Tri-County. We've been praying about a family that might need a Thanksgiving dinner. Do you know anybody who might need it?" She smiled really big and shouted, "Me!" We were all very excited. I said, "Well, it's in our trunk. Do you want us to bring it up?" She came down to open the door and when we came back with the turkey basket, the first thing I noticed was that there were a lot of steps going up to the second floor. We went in and presented her family with the basket. She was overcome with emotion and we excitedly explained that it was totally God. He led us straight to her house.
We asked her name and talked with her for a bit. Prior to the whole event, one of the girls in our group had called us and said, "I'm at Target. I got the milk and, I don't know why, but I just bought some diapers and wipes too." Not one to question God or gut feelings, we went with it. We told her that God had told us to get diapers and asked if she had a use for them. She smiled again and said, "Yes! My son's girlfriend is pregnant and due really soon. We can definitely use the diapers." We held hands and prayed for her family. She kept saying how she knew it was God and how grateful she was. We were all just so excited that we found who God wanted us to find.
I can't explain how thrilling it was to have God speak to us and guide us to such a wonderful family who really needed a Thanksgiving blessing. We had 1 basket, and 1 amazing God who showed up big time today and convinced 1 small group and 1 family that God listens to us, answers our prayers, and guides us to do His work and be His hands and feet.
We had an absolutely amazing time today. I just wanted to share our experience.
Collecting for TurkeyFest
My wife & I lead a Small Group every other week at our home in Colerain Township; our group was formed in Dec 2007 and God has blessed us and has sent many great people over the years.
After last year’s TurkeyFest, the “Cheerleader” of our group, Susie, shared the vision that God gave her concerning TurkeyFest 2012. It was simply that each person contribute $1 at every Small Group meeting; the money would go towards the purchase of food for Thanksgiving Baskets. At the time, our attendance averaged about 12 people per meeting so, our initial goal was to be able to raise enough money to buy food for 6 baskets.
As God blessed our efforts and giving, He stretched our expectations to strive for 8 baskets. At our last group meeting before TurkeyFest, Susie reported that we are able to fill 10 baskets for families in need! This has been a fun-filled and effortless experience and we look forward to increasing the number of baskets to give away in 2013.
We give God all Praise and Thanks, for He is Awesome! (In every way!)
God Bless, Dave, the entire Leadership Team and Staff for the marvelous ways in which they allow God to use them to always be a blessing to others!
Baskets that went to Drop Inn Residents
I arranged with the Vineyard to collect baskets for the residents of Nannie Hinkston House--a Drop Inn Center transitional housing program. The folks that would be the basket recipients have been put through life’s wringer. Most are battered, beaten and bruised by the hardships of life many of us never see. They have all been touched by addiction and experienced homelessness.
By committing to the program at Nannie Hinkston House, the residents commit to move forward in their life journey, making steps toward positive change. As the transitional housing manager, my job is to observe their journey, help if I can, encourage always and celebrate as they succeed.
Here were some comments I received from the TurkeyFest basket recipients:
- the scalloped corn recipe someone tucked into one of the baskets was much appreciated and copied for 5 different people!
- the yams, accompanied by marshmallows and brown sugar are ‘just the way my Mom used to make them’, commented a resident
- ‘did you know someone must have known how much I love green bean casserole- they even put in the French’s Fried Onions in my basket!’
- almost every basket had a personal note or inspirational card tucked in it!
- someone wrapped their basket in beautiful Christmas wrapping- the recipient of the basket commented on how excited she used to get as a child when the holidays came around and how she needed to reconnect with the Church- I saw this as an opening for more discussion…all because of the Christmas wrapping!
- we had two families that just stopped by, put a basket in our truck, gave us a hug and drove away-- we don’t know who they are but thank you!
- one of the baskets had a Christmas novel tucked into it-- what a cool transition into the Holiest of Holidays
- our folks got breakfast cereal and brownies, microwave popcorn and candy bars, hot chocolate and licorice-- these are things you can’t afford to buy when you’re poor but your eyes and tummy still want them
- ‘Thanks for the Bible’
- ‘That’s real butter!’
- ‘I really, really, really wanted a Pepsi when I got up this morning--and my basket has a 2-litre in it--what a coincidence’
- ‘My basket had all of the fixings; I mean, it had everything--even a pie!’
TurkeyFest Info