Tiffany and David Lamb, a missionary family located in Papua New Guinea doing work through Wycliffe Bible Translators, were visiting Immanuel in East Dundee, Illinois in December 2018 to talk about their Ministry. While there, they met LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Levi (Immanuel – East Dundee) and the children were thrilled to receive Levi stuffies! Levi continues to bring them friendship and comfort in Papua New Guinea.

On Saturday, July 20, LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dogs Britta, Butch (LCC Squad) and Levi (Immanuel - East Dundee, Illinois) visited the members and their families of the 333rd National Guard Military Police unit in Freeport, Illinois as they prepared for deployment to Cuba. The Kare 9s and their veteran handlers had the chance to greet many soldiers and their families, bring them love and encouragement for the day ahead.

On Saturday, July 20, LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dogs Blitz, Brandy, Britta, Butch (LCC Squad), and Julia (King of Glory - Elgin, Illinois) attended the Pink Heals Freeport Cancer fundraiser in Freeport, Illinois. Amidst the pink trucks, banners and displays, the Kare 9s offered their comfort and love to those who have had their lives touched by cancer.

On Saturday, July 20, LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dogs Brutus (LCC Squad), Nigel (LCC Staff) and LCC K-9 Comfort Dog-in-Training Cyrus attended an Open House to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the Orland Park Fire Protection District. The Open House was held at their Training Center in Orland Park, Illinois. The K-9s greeted hundreds of children, adults and firefighters. Despite the very hot weather, the K-9s were ready, willing and able to deliver their special kind of love and comfort.

On Wednesday, July 17, LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Brutus (LCC Squad) and veteran Gene visited the residents of the Crestwood Terrace Nursing Center in Crestwood, Illinois. This was their second visit and the residents were happy to see Kare 9 Brutus again and receive his love and comfort (and, of course, hear veteran Gene’s Navy stories).

On Saturday, July 20, LCC K-9 Police Ministry Dog Dinah (Trinity - Auburn, Illinois) attended a dedication ceremony at the Illinois State Police Memorial in Springfield, Illinois.
 
The name of Trooper Brooke Jones-Story was added to the memorial. She was killed in the line of duty on March 28, 2019.
 
Police Ministry Dog Dinah and her law enforcement handlers were honored to be there to offer comfort to Brooke's family, friends, and fellow law enforcement officers.

On Saturday, July 20, LCC K-9 Police Ministry Dog Shiloh (Christ Our Savior - Dixon, Illinois) met with the riders and support team during one of the scheduled stops for the Cycle Across Illinois bicycle ride.
 
This 15th annual event consists of law enforcement officers, family members, and friends riding over 300 miles in four days, from southern Illinois to Chicago.
 
The purpose of the ride is to honor and remember Illinois law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. The ride also serves as a fundraiser to help support the efforts of Concerns of Police Survivors, which helps surviving family members and co-workers of fallen officers.
 
It was a blessing to meet the group in Pontiac, Illinois to offer comfort and God's blessings to all.

On Wednesday, July 17, LCC K-9 Police Ministry Dog Abraham (Trinity - Hicksville, New York) attended a meeting of the Nassau County (New York) Critical Response Team, and then visited the Nassau County 9-1-1 Call Center.
 
It was a pleasure to offer comfort to everyone, and thank them for their service!

On Sunday, July 21, LCC Director of Communications, Debra Baran, presented the donations received to date to Rev. Karl Fay, Senior Pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Palatine, Illinois. The funds will be used towards purchasing airfare for seven family members from Pakistan.
 
LCC thanks our donors who have already supported this family in need. However, donations are still needed just to cover the total airfare for all family members!

LCC received a request for donations from Rev. Karl Fay, Senior Pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Palatine, Illinois to help reunite a family from Pakistan.

Please prayerfully consider donating to help Prince of Peace bring Pastor Alfred, his family, and Umbreen to the United States to reunite with the Emmanuel Family, so that they can continue their Christian ministry here. Thank you for your generous donations to help relocate and reunite family members from Pakistan.

Eleven LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs traveled to Minneapolis, Minnesota this past week to be part of the 2019 National Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) Youth Gathering. The gathering occurs every three years and this year's theme was Real. Present. God. It didn't take long for word to spread that the comfort dogs were in Hall E of the Interactive Center, and gathering attendees commented to the handlers that ours was the most popular booth at the event!

Although the primary purpose of being there was to give attendees time to unwind, relax, and meet the dogs (perhaps for the first time!), we were also invited into some situations where youth groups and individuals needed our presence and comfort.
 
It's impossible to estimate how many of the 20,000+ attendees we met, but we pray that those who came to visit were blessed by our time together. We also pray that each of the youth grew closer to our Real. Present. God.