A Debut Avenue exhibitor at last month's International Christian Retail Show (ICRS) is expressing gratitude to God for a positive outcome despite being robbed after the event.

Teresa Thibault—owner and founder of Heart Gifts by Teresa, makers of hand-painted Christmas ornaments—told Christian Retailing that someone broke into her vehicle in the hotel parking lot June 26, the last day of ICRS in St. Louis.

"They didn't take a GPS or new digital camera, but they took some movies and a bag of orders/invoices in manila folders," said Thibault, whose business began in her kitchen in North Carolina in 1992. "I was devastated because I didn't know how was I going to get in touch with the retailers who placed orders."

After contacting the police, she started driving home to North Carolina, spending the night in Nashville. However, Thibault's office manager called in the morning, informing her that someone who worked in a Rally's hamburger restaurant in a St. Louis suburb found manila folders with Thibault's name in the restaurant's parking lot.

"I was so excited that we turned around and drove back to St. Louis," said Thibault, who took at least 25 orders at ICRS. "Every folder where there was credit card numbers in the invoices was taken, but the business cards weren't taken. The blessing was that I was able to call the customers, tell them what happened and that all of the orders needed to be reordered. As far as I know, no one's cards had been compromised."

Thibault couldn't reach two stores who placed orders—Every Good Gift Store and Gospel Bookstore.

"It's amazing how good God is," Thibault said. "I was able to get in touch with everyone, except two people, and some placed larger orders than before. I think it's a miracle."

The break-in won't keep her from attending ICRS again.

"I had a wonderful experience," said Thibault, who had a booth in Debut Avenue. "I really loved it. I had good contacts and good business. I was very happy with the quality of customers and service. I saw people praying in the aisles. I do gift shows and I don't see that. I will definitely be back to ICRS."

For more information on Heart Gifts by Teresa, visit www.heartgiftsusa.com.

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