Recently, LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Aaron (St. John’s – Napa, California) and his team of handlers reflected on their pastor’s message to their congregation about choosing a word or phrase to focus on for the New Year. His team, through the voice of Aaron Comfort Dog, shares how they will show the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need in 2018:

Katie began by sharing about her first day back after the hurricane and how her lesson plan, which was created before the school year started, was to teach her students that “God’s Got It!” Looking back, she can see how God has been present with her and her family throughout all the trials of losing their home and ongoing struggles with their insurance company. They know He is with them now as they hope to begin rebuilding their home and lives. It is a struggle living in a small motorhome, but they are grateful to be able to stay on their own property to care for their animals and work on their demolition and rebuild. There has been, and probably will continue to be, good and bad times, but Katie is reminded daily that “God’s Got It!”
 
The Bachman family lost most of their belongings as a result of flood waters from Hurricane Irma. Through your generosity, LCC plans on assisting them with beds, bedding and appliances. Please consider donating to help LCC share the mercy and compassion of Jesus to the Bachman family.

Lutheran Church Charities and Pastor Karl Glander, Director of the Amigos Center in Immokalee, thank donors for showing mercy and compassion through their generous donations to help the Amigos Center families who are still recovering from Hurricane Irma. Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, returned from spending a week in Florida using your donations to purchase and distribute bedding and appliances to families who have or will receive their beds. Pastor Karl Glander shares how the families are filled with joy and gratitude as their brand new items were delivered.

Maria

In December, LCC shared the story of Maria and her struggles following the hurricane. Maria lost everything but saw the hand of God putting people in her life to help her. Kathy prayed with Maria, asking God to continue His blessings in her life and give her courage and hope for the future. Last week, Kathy visited Maria who couldn’t wait to show Kathy her new bed and appliances. Maria talked about how she can cook all of her meals now, such as tortillas, rice and beans. She has gained weight because she can cook and sleep in her own home that is almost completed by volunteers and churches that have been giving and helping her generously. Maria told Kathy, “I lost everything, but to see the good in people that want to help just restores my faith.” Maria continues trusting that God will provide and bring blessings when she needs them and praising Him for all He has done.  

Antonina

Kathy returned to the community that was hit extremely hard by Hurricane Irma to visit Antonina. In November, LCC shared what it had been like for her family whose home was severely damaged by the storm. Antonina was excited to show Kathy her new beds, sheets, and mattress protector in the bedroom that her husband had fixed. Speaking through Evelyn, case manager for Amigos Center, Antonina stated they are so comfortable to sleep on and clean. She expresses thanks to LCC for providing them for her family. Even with the language barrier, Kathy could see her smile and hear the gratitude as she showed the beds and bedding stating over and over, “Muchas gracias!”

Brijida

Brijida was so grateful for the new beds and bedding. She can’t believe that LCC and its donors were so good to her. Brijida kept repeating “God bless you” as she held and squeezed Kathy’s hands.

13 Amigos Center Families Still Need Beds and Appliances
 
There are thirteen families still waiting to receive beds with one family needing appliances as well. Twelve live in an apartment building that is still waiting for a new roof to be completed by the end of February. The roof has been tarped since the hurricane, so residents are currently using air mattresses to sleep on. One Immokalee family with three children are rebuilding their home which was damaged beyond repair and then demolished. All of these families are extremely thankful that LCC and its donors are willing to help them after their repairs or rebuilding is done.
 
Please prayerfully consider donating to help complete the Amigos Center family needs!

On Thursday, January 18, the LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry was again invited to be a part of the Quarterly Memorial Service held at the chapel at Hines VA Hospital in Hines, Illinois. The service is held to honor those veterans who have passed in the hospital over the past three months. Additionally, family members are present to honor their loved ones. LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dogs Brutus, Brandy, Blitz, and Flex (LCC Squad), Susie (St. Peter – Arlington Heights, Illinois) and Asher (Faith Lutheran – Lake Forest, Illinois), were on duty to bring the mercy and comfort of Jesus Christ to those present.

On Wednesday, January 17, the LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry was honored to present our mission to the members of American Legion Post 771 in Gurnee, Illinois. LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dogs Susie (St. Peter – Arlington Heights, Illinois), Asher (Faith Lutheran – Lake Forest, Illinois), Tobias (Lord of Glory – Grayslake, Illinois), and Brutus (LCC Squad) along with their veteran handlers, greeted the men and women present and displayed their own special mercy and compassion.

On Wednesday, January 17, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Eddie (Peace Lutheran – Grand Island, Nebraska), Moses (Christ Lutheran – Cairo, Nebraska), Nico (The Rock – Seward, Nebraska), and Amos (Comfort Dog in Training – Grand Island, Nebraska) were blessed to give comfort to students and staff who were saddened by the death of one of their staff members at Emmanuel-Faith Lutheran School in York, Nebraska. “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble."

LCC received the following email from Chaplain Ron Marcell, American Legion Post 3, after an event for American Legion WW2 and Korean veterans held at Brookdale Senior Community in Glen Ellyn, Illinois on Wednesday, January 17, 2018:

“I want to thank the handlers and dogs (Bob Royce with Blitz, Marvin and Yoshi Hanks with Brandy, Fred Vanstrom and Flex). They did a terrific job with the WW2 Veterans and our other guests at our meeting last night. A big thank you to all involved.

Ron Marcell
Chaplain
American Legion Post 3
Glen Ellyn, Illinoi

From January 6–14, forty-one volunteers from Illinois united with sixteen friends from Redeemer Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas for a week filled with a variety of construction and outreach projects, nightly devotions/music, and the opportunity to get out of their comfort zones and experience “Sharing Houston” with one another and those God put in their path. Salem Lutheran Church in Tomball, Texas served as the host site for volunteers with work dispatched through Trinity Klein Lutheran Church in Spring, Texas.

Led by Pastor Phillip Baerwolf of Immanuel - East Dundee and team leaders Sarah Baerwolf, Shelly Davidson, Lark Sanders, Randy Kerkman and Bob Bowne, they  quickly witnessed the incredible need for assistance remaining for the many of the residents who were impacted by the hurricane. The homes that still need assistance with skilled construction are families who had no flood insurance. Mission team volunteers installed, taped and mud drywall; installed new electric, sub flooring, doors and door frames, walls and windows; assisted with organizing, cleaning and providing food pantry items; as well as the listened, shared and prayed with the homeowners.
 
Working with Janice Marut, Top Dog for LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Phoebe (St. Paul – Fort Worth, Texas), LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Levi and his handlers who were coordinated by Terry Sanders, gave cards of encouragement and gift cards to 9 homeowners who needed them the most. These gifts were a welcome relief, a sign of hope, a lift to weary souls and a reminder that our eternal God continues to care for them.

Thank you for your donations to help LCC continue to support families recovering from Hurricane Harvey.