The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has resulted in a dire humanitarian crisis, with thousands of people in urgent need of assistance. Thanks to your steady donations, LCC can continue supporting the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches (SELCU) pastors in their relief efforts to provide critical aid in hardest-hit regions, as well as a sense of hope and stability.

Most recently, they have been providing assistance to the residents affected by the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in the Kherson region. LCC received the following update from Pastor Valerii Verba.

 A Trip to the Flooded Part of Ukraine After the Explosion of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station
The situation is so unusual for us that from the beginning, it was not clear what to do and how to participate. Very quickly, from all over Ukraine, motor boats were taken to the Kherson region, which was flooded after the explosion of a hydroelectric power station, to evacuate people. The water rose more than 6 meters from its normal state. Many houses were completely flooded, and in some settlements, a lot of elderly people and animals died who did not have time to get out of the water danger.

When we were able to go, Pastor Oleg Shevchenko and I bought equipment for pumping water from flooded premises, tools, materials, fuel for motor boats, generators, and just drinking water.
 
War is a terrible problem for all life in the conflict zone, but when the constant shelling of residential areas of settlements is mixed with a flood and mortal danger from water, it becomes really scary. The shelling does not stop for a single day, which greatly complicates the evacuation and rescue work.

Valerii Verba

The convention provided a wonderful opportunity to connect with the more than 5,000 delegates and guests by presenting and promoting LCC’s mission to share the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those who are suffering and in need.

Many in attendance knew of LCC’s K-9 Ministry and were blessed by the presence of LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Charity (Brookfield - Brookfield, Wisconsin), Dora (Lutheran High School Association of Greater Milwaukee - Milwaukee, Wisconsin), Emma (LCC Staff), Mary (St. Paul's - Janesville, Wisconsin), Rhoda (Prince of Peace - Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin), Sage (Concordia University Wisconsin - Mequon, Wisconsin), and Comfort Dog-in-training Saul.
 
Overheard were comments such as, “Seeing the dogs makes me cry – the work they do brings so much love”; “They are truly God’s gift”; “They are better than any medicine”; and often, “I just love the dogs!”

 
Additionally, attendees appreciated learning how LCC’s Hearts of Mercy & Compassion Ministry could provide an outreach tool for their congregation, serving as a bridge to people hurting and in need, as well as LCC’s critical support provided by Disaster Response and the comfort brought through Human Care Ministry.

Many thanks to the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League for hosting such a vibrant, interactive event! As one LCC staff member commented about LWML members, “They are focused and will get things done!”

On Sunday afternoon, June 25, an EF-2 tornado tore through several subdivisions in Greenwood, Indiana. Approximately 75 homes were damaged or destroyed, according to preliminary reports.

One of LCC’s chainsaw team leaders was vacationing at his son’s home in Greenwood when this tornado struck his neighborhood, causing some minor home damage and downing a large tree in his yard. He said the family saw it coming and had to quickly take shelter as it passed close by and could see the damage being done.
 
LCC Director of Disaster Response Kathy O'Day’s son also lives in Greenwood, but fortunately, the tornado missed him. After a call, her son willingly took his chainsaw and personal protective equipment (PPE) to the team leader so he could cut and remove the downed tree from his son’s yard. God does provide in different ways.
 
Lutheran Church Charities has spoken with the Indiana District Disaster Response Coordinator and is available for assistance if needed.
 
Please pray for all those affected by this tornado and for the safety of those helping with recovery efforts.

The devastating storms that hit the Tulsa area June 17, left many people without power and caused much property damage. Many trees where down after the large gusts of wind that tore through the community. Oklahoma and surrounding Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod District L.E.R.T. teams from the area churches have been working alongside Trinity Lutheran Church, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, to assist families and community members. 

Where safe to do so, LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Persis (King of Kings - Glenpool, Oklahoma) has been visiting with families as L.E.R.T. teams assist with clean-up. Persis’ team is there to comfort, listen and pray with families. L.E.R.T. volunteers and homeowners enjoyed spending time with Persis. The L.E.R.T. volunteers were able to visit with Persis as a quick break from their work before going back to their cleanup efforts. Homeowners loved their time with Persis as it gave them a moment of peace and calm from stress and worry of the damage to their property.   

The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry team from King of Kings is honored to work alongside the L.E.R.T. volunteers sharing the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ with those who are suffering and in need.
 
Our prayers for God’s protection and safety as the L.E.R.T. teams continue to work this week during very hot and humid conditions to assist families by cleaning up storm damage, including tree and debris removal.  We lift up in prayer the families whose property was damaged by those intense storms for God’s guidance, peace, and strength as they move forward through those challenges.

It was an early morning on Saturday, June 17, as some of our nation’s veterans were honored by Honor Flight Network who flew them to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials commemorating their service and sacrifice.

Honor Flight Network was created in 2005 by Jeff Miller and Earl Morse with a simple, yet powerful, mission – honoring our nation’s veterans by bringing them to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials built to commemorate their service and sacrifice.

While initially focused on America’s World War II veterans, Honor Flight Network has expanded its mission to include those who served during the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and veterans of any service era who are critically ill.

Transporting approximately 22,000 veterans annually, Honor Flight Network has flown nearly 275,000 veterans to Washington, D.C. since its inception.    

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Charity (Brookfield Lutheran – Brookfield, Wisconsin), Rhoda (Prince of Peace – Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin), and Samson (Zion – Marengo, Illinois) along with their handlers were honored to be at Stars and Stripes Honor Flight at Mitchell Airport, Milwaukee, Wisconsin early Saturday morning to help send off our nations heroes who served and protected our country.  The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog teams were blessed to hear the veterans stories of their service in the military and see their smiles as they departed for Washington D.C. We are forever grateful for their service.

LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dogs Amos (Our Savior's Way – Ashburn, Virginia) and LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Kezia (Emmanuel – Baltimore, Maryland) were at Dulles International Airport to welcome the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight arriving from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

This Honor Flight included one veteran from WWII and veterans from the Korea, Vietnam and Gulf wars. The comfort dogs were especially blessed to enlist veterans from Our Savior's Way Lutheran Church representing the United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States Marines and the United States Coast Guard to join in their ministry of presence. There were many special moments shared between the veterans, their guardians and the volunteers as they experienced Jesus’s love.

It is an honor to be present for the sendoff from Wisconsin as well as welcome our heroes to DC to let them know how grateful we are for their service.

Because of your generous donations, LCC was able to send funds to Haiti this past week to buy food, clean water, and cholera kits for those affected by the recent flooding. We received the following update from Lophane Laurent:

Greetings, everyone, from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
 
There are no words to explain our happiness. My brothers and sisters thank you so much for thinking of these people, and I want you to know that since the storm happened, we are the first and only group who visited them and bring food for them.
 
We are going to another place to bring food and cholera kits because the leaders in this area told me there are a few people already touched by cholera. Please pray for my team, who will be traveling there, to have a safe trip.
 
Thanks again to all of the members of LCC and Mission:Haiti and especially our sponsors for continuing to support Haiti.
 
God bless you all.
 
Lophane