:: Real People - Real Stories ::

The following are just a few of the hundreds of real-life stories generated by The Trinity Tribesmen ministry.  Of Course names and locations are excluded for privacy and protection, but the people are real.  Click here for "As the Story Goes..." an account of a typical ministry outreach to a family.

A Freezer for Goat's Milk (and More)
An example of how quickly God has responded to the needs of the poor, one woman approached The Trinity Tribesmen while at the local food pantry and asked them if they had a freezer she could have. They started asking her questions about why she needed the freezer and what else she might need, the woman told them her story. She said she needed the freezer to freeze goat's milk because her husband was very ill and could not keep anything in his stomach but goat's milk. She had bought four goats and she milked them twice a day to get enough milk for him, but she had some left over and wanted to freeze it so he would never be without it. She told them her first house had burned to the ground and took everything they had, then they had their second house also burn down, so they were now living in their third house.

Carol and Lois asked her if she had a bed and she said "no"; did she have a table? "no"; did she have a chair? "no." Then they asked, "What do you have?" She said, “" have two plates, two spoons, and two cups. If our son and his wife come over for dinner I give them the plates and spoons and they eat first, then I wash the plates and spoons and my husband and I eat." Carol told me that before the day was over someone had donated a freezer and they gave it to the woman and her husband, plus other household supplies and furniture so that they could begin to get their lives back in order.

A Young Pregnant Woman and Daughter Must Flee for Their Lives
We received a call that a woman was just leaving a protective shelter. She was pregnant and had a very young daughter. One evening things got so bad in her living situation that she had to take her daughter and run to save their lives. The only thing she was able to take was a diaper bag with some of the toddler's essential items inside.

After getting that call, our staff moved into action. We contacted the woman and got the size of her daughter and a list of her most needed items. Next, we started the massive search for those things. The following is a list of just the things we were able to fit into our cargo van load:

2 boxes of toddler clothes, 1 box of infant clothes, 1 tub of toys (stuffed animals, baby dolls, children's books), a tri-cycle, a baby swing, booster seat, stroller, car seat. We also sent an end table, tablecloths, decorative pictures, plates, cups, silverware, 3 lamps and some night lights. Also we sent baby monitors, plastic storage containers, blankets, sheets and pillows for both the mom and daughter's beds and for the soon to arrive baby's crib. Add infant toys and a vase.

There are really too many things to list, but that is a sampling of what we sent. One very special thing we were able to do: we found a jewelry box amongst some donations. We were able to collect several pieces of costume jewelry and place them inside. This is one of the things that was impressed upon our hearts to do. We presented the hard-working mom with this personally. She was so touched she couldn't speak, she just cried, over costume jewelry that you could find in a dime store. When she finally found the words she said, "I don’t have any jewelry at all, I had to leave everything. Thank you so much, this means the world to me."

When we went to pray for her, God gave us a passage of scripture that is very specific to many of the women we help that have been in her situation. It was: Proverbs 3:23-26 "Then you will walk in your way securely and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden fear nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes. For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught."

This was particularly comforting to her because when you experience a life-threatening situation such as hers and have to take the measures that she had to take, you are constantly living in fear. When you lay down to sleep, it is very fitful and the nightmares never stop. She was constantly looking over her shoulder or avoiding the windows out of fear for her safety.  However, with that verse we were able to show her that she can memorize it and quote it to feel better. We told her she could yell it out loud if she had to, because there is no reason to be afraid and she should sleep without nightmares because God will protect her from evil since He is her confidence.

We called her up a few days later since we had found a few other items she had requested but did not have yet. She was so overjoyed on the phone that she invited us right over. When we arrived, she gave each of us a very strong, warm hug and was all smiles. Most of the things were already placed around the home as if they had been there all along. "Thank you guys, thank you so much," is all she could say.