Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, is in extreme civil unrest following the assassination of its president, Jovenel Moïse, on July 7. According to AP News, "Haiti’s economic, political and social woes have deepened recently, with gang violence spiking in Port-au-Prince, inflation spiraling, and food and fuel becoming scarcer in a country where 60% of the population makes less than $2 a day." In addition, there's been a significant uptick in coronavirus cases and deaths, bringing the total to 19,172 confirmed cases and 467 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins University covid-19 tracker. Health experts agree these are probably vast undercounts. Haiti is one of a small number of countries globally that has yet to roll out a coronavirus vaccination campaign — and the only country in the Americas. It is difficult for medical and other supplies to enter the country. Haiti’s airports are closed to commercial traffic. LCC received an urgent plea for help from mission partner Jackie Rychel, Ministry in Mission: Our partners in Jacmel and other geographical areas are without a solution to get food, fuel, and necessary supplies delivered from Port-au-Prince. Gang violence is the latest prohibitor to any form of normal life in Haiti. The only road from Port-au-Prince to Jacmel is blocked, bringing business and employment to a halt because the roads are controlled by the gangs. Now there is no responsible form of government after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise on July 7. Pastor Marky Kessa has called on behalf of his community to ask for donations to purchase food. There is still rice and beans available in Jacmel markets, but it is costly and unaffordable to the general population. PLEASE DIG DEEP INTO YOUR POCKETS TODAY. THIS PLEA FOR HELP IS CRUCIAL TO THE IMMEDIATE NEED FOR THE PEOPLE WE SERVE IN JACMEL, HAITI. Please pray for LCC Haiti Mission partners to show the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.
If you are so moved, please donate generously to help LCC provide food for the most vulnerable Haitians. LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry responded to two emergency visits in Illinois and Wisconsin to bring the mercy, compassion, and presence of Jesus Christ to those mourning their loved ones and friends who died tragically. LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry received a request for the Comfort Dogs to be at the "Time to Remember" event at Washington Community High School, Illinois, for three students and a parent who tragically died in a car accident. Students, staff, parents, and family members gathered together on Sunday, July 11 to remember and mourn their loved ones. People were encouraged to share pictures and written stories with the victims' families. LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Bethany (Trinity - Danville, Illinois), Dinah (Trinity - Auburn, Illinois), Julia (King of Glory - Elgin, Illinois), and LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs in Training Asa and Hagar, along with their teams were there to bring comfort, hugs, and a quiet presence to all those mourning the loss of their loved ones. Many of the students, parents, and staff remembered the Comfort Dogs from their time spent in Washington after the tornado that devastated their community in 2013.
On Friday, July 9, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Candace (LCC Staff), Kye & Bekah (Immanuel - Belvidere, Illinois), and Samson (Zion - Marengo, Illinois) attended the visitation of a 51-year-old woman who passed on July 3rd from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident on June 13. The Comfort Dogs and their handlers spent time with her grieving family and friends and brought many smiles to those shedding tears that afternoon. St. Paul Lutheran Church in Janesville, Wisconsin, presented the family with a Heart of Mercy & Compassion and a marker. The family learned of the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs at a memorial service the previous week in Janesville and had received one of the dog’s business cards at that visit. Because of the peace and comfort that the dogs brought to that family, the brother contacted LCC to see if the dogs would be available for his sister’s visitation. His sister was dearly loved and cherished by many in the community. LCC is very appreciative of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Freeport, Illinois, for donating their L.E.R.T. trailer for LCC use. Immanuel Lutheran in Freeport was pleased to donate the L.E.R.T. trailer for LCC to serve more people around the country during disasters. Pictured are Gary Popp, Chairman of Board of Trustees, Jerry Abramowski, Chairman of the Board of Properties, and Jim Moss, Immanuel member. LCC staff member Wayne Kolweier accepted the generous donation.
Families in Need: Donations Needed for Car Repairs Cost for Salam Christian Fellowship Volunteer7/13/2021
LCC received the following request from Pastor Hesham Shehab, Salam Christian Fellowship, Lombard, Illinois: Friends, One of our volunteers who serves immigrants and helps in their integration, a Vietnam veteran, needs car repairs that cost $900. Please show God's love and your care for those who sacrifice for our country by donating generously towards this Vet's auto repairs. In God's Peace Hesham Shehab Pastor, Salam Christian Fellowship When Judy, her husband Steve, and LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Jewel left their church Christ of Savior, Loudon, Tennessee, to serve the Surfside, Florida community after the condominium tower collapse, the women of the congregation had sent three prayer shawls with Judy to give out. After the team’s first visit to the memorial wall in Surfside, Judy immediately thought of the Red Cross Champlain that was at the site the first day. She wasn’t there that day, so Judy wanted to share one with someone else. There was a gentleman with two ladies. Judy was going to approach them, but they walked across the street before Judy got there. Judy crossed on the other side. After she crossed the street, they had stopped to look back some more, so Judy was able to catch up with them. Judy touched her on the shoulder and said hello. Judy asked if she was personally touched by something. One of the women shared her sister had lived in the tower. Judy gave her the prayer shawl and explained what it was, that she hoped it might provide her with some comfort at some point. The woman was touched and very appreciative. This deployment is not just the handlers and dogs on the ground but also the rest of the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog team back home, their congregation, their community, and all the other K-9 Comfort Dog teams across the country praying for the families and community of Surfside and the Comfort Dog team deployed. With God and together, we are stronger as we share His mercy, compassion, and presence with those suffering and in need in Surfside.
On Wednesday, July 7, LCC K-9 Police Ministry Dogs Benjamin (LCC Staff), Eve (St. John's - Lombard, Illinois), Julia (King of Glory - Elgin, Illinois) with their law enforcement handlers, and LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Samson (Zion - Marengo, Illinois) and his veteran handler attended the 2nd Annual Andrew Whowell Memorial Golf Outing at Villa Olivia Golf Course in Bartlett, Illinois. Andy was a retired Deputy Chief for the Arlington Heights Police Department and an amazing handler for LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Susie (Permanently Deployed Serving the Saints). Both Andy and Susie are missed every day by many. The Comfort Dogs were present to provide comfort and compassion to the golfers who knew and loved Andy. The golf outing brought together many of Andy's friends and family to honor his memory, and was a fundraiser for LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs . Follow us on @K9Comfort (Facebook), @comfortdogs (Instagram), @K9ComfortDogs (Twitter) 36 People Confirmed Dead, 109 People Still Missing After the horrific partial collapse of the 12-story wing of Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida, the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs were invited in by Rev. Dr. Gregory Walton, LCMS District President for the Florida-Georgia District, and Rev. Dennis Bartels, Pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church & School in North Miami. Pastor Bartels has served this community for 35 years and is well connected to the community where we will be serving. Tim Hetzner, LCC President/CEO, and Bonnie Fear, LCC K-9 Crisis Response Coordinator, are working closely with Pastor Bartels to determine where the K-9 Ministry teams will visit.
The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs will serve first responders and their families who are working around the clock doing search and rescue for the 109 people who are still unaccounted for, as well as family members who have lost loved ones. First responders include emergency medical technicians (EMTs), paramedics, firefighters, police officers, city, state, and federal personnel. They are all working tirelessly with the destruction of the Champlain Towers. In addition, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs will serve all in that area who are working selflessly. On Tuesday, July 6, LCC K-9 ministry teams arrived in Miami early and visited the host church Holy Cross Lutheran Church & School. Comfort Dogs Jewel, Mary, and Seth greeted 50 summer school students as they arrived and went to each classroom. The news has been filled with many stories of this tragic event, so the K-9s brought much comfort and friendship during these difficult times. LCC Hearts of Mercy & Compassion sent hearts and markers for the memorial site in Surfside, Florida. One will be placed for everyone who has not survived this horrific tragedy. Currently, 36 people have been confirmed deceased with 109 still missing. Visitors to the memorial site can sign and leave condolence messages. The K-9 Ministry teams will be present to share love and compassion to help everyone who stops by process the grief they are experiencing. Seventy-five volunteers from eighteen congregations plus LCC staff responded very quickly to cut, paint, customize, and load 170+ Hearts of Mercy & Compassion markers that were driven down to Surfside, Florida. CLICK HERE to see LCC volunteers preparing HMC’s for Surfside, Florida. Our LCC K-9 Comfort Dog teams will be driving to and staying in Miami. Travel and accommodations in the area will be expensive. LCC's K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry and Hearts of Mercy & Compassion Ministry never charge those we serve as we bring the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need. Please prayerfully consider a donation to the LCC K-9 Travel and Hearts of Mercy & Compassion, Crosses for Losses Funds as we prepare to deploy to serve the first responders and this devastated community. In the News
Lutheran Church Charities extends a heartfelt thank you to the seventy-five volunteers and LCC staff who responded very quickly to cut, paint, customize, and load 170+ Hearts of Mercy & Compassion markers sent to Surfside, Florida. We also thank LCC volunteer Mike Flaherty for driving the van and trailer, which departed for Florida on July 4th. A total of eighteen congregations from four states were represented by the volunteers:
LCC never charges those we serve! Your donations are needed to help LCC serve these families who have lost loved ones. The project cost is currently at $3,500.
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