This past week LCC was able to provide the resource of a car for Salam Christian Fellowship, Lombard, Illinois, to help one of the lay leaders of Salam. This family of six came from Iran in 2007 and had been among the families that started the Salam Christian Fellowship. Hameed and Salima (fictitious names) were baptized years ago and since had been serving in the ministries of Salam. The family of six was down to one car now, and Hameed needed a small vehicle to commute to work. Salima needs to drive the kids to doctors' appointments (as the youngest daughter has health problems) and to schools. In addition, she drives the kids to church and brings the meals for the fellowship with her while the husband is at work. Their life had become almost impossible. Thank you for showing the love of Christ to this convert family that was ostracized by its Middle Eastern community because of their faith in Jesus. A pass-through donation to LCC of wooden storage cabinets found a new home with one of the organizations LCC partners with to serve the needs of our churches and other ministry partners.
At the end of July, LCC reopened its Food Service Ministry. On Saturday, July 24, orientation and training were held for all the Food Service Ministry volunteers. This year we welcomed 10 new volunteers to the team: Carol Anderson, Kathy Blouch, Debbie Bowen, Eric Graunke, Jennifer Hesse, Kay Kruse, Dawn Odoi Graunke, Lois Prokosch, Joyce Stahl, Lynda Streich. On July 28-30, the food service team catered the first of many upcoming LCC K-9 Ministry handler training events for 2021. Pictured left to right, part of the food service team that served meals for the K-9 teams: Terry Styka, Kay Kruse, and Eileen Desiron. Team members not pictured: Nancy Smith, Dede Thut, and Darlene Schofield. Thank you for a job well done! A Cross and Heart of Mercy & Compassion Continue to Serve as a Place of Mourning and Reflection8/3/2021
In February of this year, St. Michael's Lutheran Church in Bloomington, Minnesota, placed a Cross and Heart of Mercy & Compassion on behalf of the community of Buffalo, Minnesota, following a mass shooting at Allina Health Clinic in Buffalo that occurred on February 9. As a result of the shooting, Lindsay Overbay, a Medical Assistant at the clinic, was killed, and three others were critically injured. In the last week, St. Michael’s ministry team has been back to Buffalo twice to support the community through public events and a sunflower field planted to honor Lindsay Overbay, the Allina Clinic, and the City of Buffalo. The heart marker placed in February still stands at the entrance to the Allina Clinic, and lawn signs were added last Tuesday. On Sunday evening, at a community event to support the clinic and community of Buffalo, the ministry team laughed, cried, and prayed with several of the nurses and staff members of the clinic. They did not know who had placed the marker until last Sunday but quickly associated LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Gideon (St. Michael’s - Bloomington, Minnesota) and the lawn signs with the heart. When the team placed the marker that Sunday in February in -40°F weather, they wondered if it would stand the test of the elements. It did, and it continues to stand the test of time. God has used it far beyond our intent, and now the little memorial is the first thing visitors pass as they enter a field of sunshine and hope. St. Michael’s ministry team received this message via social media: "Thank you for doing what you do. Placing the cross at our clinic allowed us a place to mourn and reflect on what Lindsay meant to each of us. This cross has given so many an important place on their journey to healing. Thank you for your compassion; we felt it." On Saturday, August 31, and Sunday, July 1, LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Salome with twenty-seven K-9 ministry team members were commissioned at Faith Community Lutheran Church in Las Vegas, Nevada. What a wonderful weekend of celebration it was! Salome's sister, LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Gomer (St. John’s - Napa, California) and LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Aaron (St. John’s - Napa, California), and Lois (First Good Shepherd - Las Vegas, Nevada), were present for this big day. The LCC K-9 Ministry team at Faith Community is blessed to have such a wonderful support system in the West Coast Region. Salome and her ministry team are already busy doing ministry and can't wait to bring comfort and invite others to know Jesus! Giving Hope and a Future in an Otherwise Hopeless Situation LCC has supported the education of students from the tent city in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, since 2012. Public and private education in Haiti costs money - there is NO free education. Our Lutheran schools also charge, but they are less expensive than the public schools. The cost of tuition is $50 per month. In 2020 the school year was interrupted by civil unrest in Haiti and then COVID-19. Our students finished the year with online learning. This September, they will all return full-time to their classrooms. This year four students will graduate from high school! Even though there is still unrest in Haiti, with protests nearly every week, the children have been faithful with their schoolwork and have been doing well in their classes. Thank you to everyone who has supported these children as they seek an education. Your generosity provides them with hope for a better life. Please consider sponsoring a child that they may have hope for their future and learn the wonders of the Lord! "Tell to the children the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done." (Psalm 78:4)
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