Starbuck's story by Jessica

Okay, I have to admit I am a little addicted to Starbuck’s coffee. In fact, I often go into the one near my house on Sherwood Forest and order a Grande Raspberry Mocha with Soy no whip in my own Starbuck’s mug. Some of the people who work there now know me and remember my order. It’s great they make you feel special with such a small thing and they always seem pretty happy even at 6am when I often go in.

So, why am I telling you this. Well, Sunday I was serving at the HPC Annex campus and we were selling the dinners to fundraise for the Italy mission trip. Unfortunately we did not sell out so I was forced to take some home by my fellow servers even though I do not eat meat. I figured I could at least feed them to my family or something, since I was going to meet all of them in Ferriday, Louisiana. I was tired and the drive was at least two hours and I needed my cup of coffee from Starbuck’s. On the way there I decided I was going to give the workers at Starbucks the dinners, well, it was more like God told me to because normally I am not that bold outside of church.

I went in to order my coffee and asked the girl taking my order if they had all eaten lunch, and she had said some but not all. I asked if she and the rest of the crew would want chicken penne pasta dinners for free. She looked a little puzzled, but said yeah. At the same time one girl saw my Elevate tag, because I forgot I still had it on, and asked what that was. Come to find out she attends Healing Place too. I bring in the dinners and the whole crew changed completely. They were excited and amazed that I would think of them to bring the dinners to and that a church was willingly to give them away to anyone. Plus, once they opened the dinners and saw and smelled the food they were surprised that a church ministry made it. One guy at first did not want to take them because they were coming from a church, but then realized that it was no strings attached and took two. They tried to give me a free drink, but luckily I had already paid. One girl said they needed to give me something back. I said that I’m fine I don’t need that and that I come in here enough besides you serve me all the time I just wanted to give a little back. On the way out two had asked where the dinners had come from again and I told them Healing Place Church. There response was really a church made this!

I just wanted to let you know that maybe you did not get enough money on this one fundraiser to go to Italy, but through the food the impact was made for some people to know the love of Christ. I was able to make them feel special at their job, just like God makes us feel special when he knows our name and needs. They did not know they gave me a bigger gift in return when I was able to see the smiles and joy on their faces, knowing I was able to plant a seed in their hearts for Christ. Thank you for letting me be able to bless some people with what was prepared.