Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, has been hit hard by the global pandemic and natural disasters in 2020.
 
Thanks to your donations, Lutheran Church Charities continues to send emergency relief funds to Haiti through our Haiti Mission Partners towards critical items.
 
The greatest need is food for the elderly and at risk families, mostly single parent families.
 
Due to a lack of good government financial policies and the international lockdowns of COVID-19, inflation has become outrageous. Food that cost $10 US a year ago costs more than $30 now!
 
Other needs are school shoes for children, and goats for family agriculture cooperatives.

Helen Roenfeldt, Mission Director, Mission: Haiti reports:

We are grateful that during this time of challenging travel our wonderful Haitian staff is able to continue programs so needed by our brothers and sisters in Haiti. Last week they held workshops for 210 expectant mothers, moms with infants and parents with young children. Besides sharing the Gospel, the workshops provided health, hygiene and nutrition education, vitamins, children’s clothing and food for needy families and elderly. Food insecurity is a serious continuing problem in Haiti, particularly for the most vulnerable.
 
This November and December we will be focusing in three areas: school shoes for children, $20 a pair; food for families, $40 for a 2 week package for a family of 4; and goats for family agriculture cooperatives, $85 per goat.
 
Every gift of food, every goat, every pair of shoes, every workshop is given in the Name of Jesus Christ and with His Love. Everything given in the Name of Christ makes a difference because Jesus always makes a difference.
 
Thank you for reaching beyond yourselves and caring for the poor and vulnerable. These are the “least of these”, Jesus reminds us that when we serve them, we are serving Him, and when we ignore them we are ignoring Him.
 
Thank you and God bless you.
 
Because of Christ,
 
Helen Roenfeldt
Mission Director
Mission: Haiti

Jackie Rychel, Ministry in Mission, reports:

Thank you to Lutheran Church Charities for supporting Ministry in Mission through  donating food and masks to the Center of Refuge Orphanage.
 
Ministry in Mission is grateful to have a partner in Lutheran Church Charities. The faithful donors of LCC sewed and shipped masks for Ministry in Mission to deliver to the Center of Refuge Orphanage. Thanks so much!
 
December is a very special time for Christians all over the world. It is very special in Haiti as well. Did you know children in Haiti do not own toys? There is so much need for the basic daily necessities like food and clothing that toys are out of the question.
 
You will find a few young children, mostly boys that will make toy cars out of discarded plastic water bottles, or kites from empty plastic bags with twigs for shape and structure, and a discarded bit of string. Even if a child has acquired a toy they would never take it out in public for fear of it being taken by a bigger kid. For this reason Ministry in Mission does not take toys to Haiti for gifts for Christmas.
 
We do, however, try to provide food for a special meal or new clothes and shoes. Please help us make Christmas special for the orphans we serve. To go to church Christmas morning in new clothes and shoes would be a great blessing for them.
 
Blessings!
 
Jackie Rychel
Ministry in Mission

The NID Parish Nurse Network has been active in encouraging, supporting, and equipping parish nurses within the borders of the district for over thirty years. 
 
The parish nurse must have an active RN license. The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) recommends that the parish nurse obtain their education from a source associated with the LCMS. 
 
The NID Parish Nurse Network provides partial scholarships to as many people as their funds allow. The potential opportunities are many, but the resources are decreasing. Rising costs for continuing education and decreased on-site gatherings due to COVID-19 threaten the solvency of the scholarship fund. 
 
Any assistance that can be provided will be greatly appreciated.
 
CLICK HERE to learn more about the NID Parish Nurse Network.

The NID Parish Nurse Network had the pleasure and privilege of “adopting” Raeda Mansour, parish nurse at Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem (Palestine) and the only parish nurse in all the Holy Land.
 
Marcia Schnorr, parish nurse at St. Paul in Rochelle, Illinois, was serving as Coordinator, LCMS Parish Nursing. Marcia developed a distance learning course that allowed her and Raeda to work together to equip Raeda to become the first parish nurse in the Middle East. There were no role models so Raeda was brought to the USA and completed an internship at St. Paul.
 
The NID Parish Nurse Network has continued to fund a biannual trip for Raeda to come to the USA to attend the annual Parish Nurse Conference at Concordia University Wisconsin and/or a conference hosted by the NID Parish Nurse Network.

The travel cost for the biannual trip is approximately $2000-$2500. This cost is paid for by funds remaining in the NID Parish Nurse treasury after all other scheduled NID Parish Nurse Network Education event expenses are paid each year. However, winter storms and COVID-19 made it necessary to provide some of the gatherings by Zoom instead of on-site. 
 
The decrease in attendance and related fees, and the increase in continuing education application costs has created a deficit, and funds are short. Any assistance that can be provided to fund Raeda's trip to the United States to continue her education will be greatly appreciated.
 
CLICK HERE to learn more about Raeda Mansour, Parish Nurse in Holy Land.

Thank you for your compassionate hearts and generous donations. YOU are making a difference in the lives of the people who are suffering and in need. Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus!

Thank you to LCC Volunteers and Donors

A special thank you to LCC volunteers Mary Aspegren, Bob Desiron, Mike Flaherty, Al Krodel and Frank Vacari, who donated their time to pick up donations. St. John, Mount Prospect, Illinois, was the first pick up site, and then the home of LCC donor Ariel Chen in Lake Bluff, Illinois, who donated a bedroom suite and other furniture.

The Katy Area Safety Fest (Texas) featured a video of LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Damaris (Memorial Lutheran - Katy, Texas) and Gabriel (Messiah - Houston, Texas) providing emotional support during times of crisis all over the Katy area to help people deal with trauma. Their sweet smiles and messages of love and compassion bring comfort to everyone they meet.

Katy Area Safety Fest connects community members to emergency response agencies and provides education and resources to encourage safety preparedness.

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Aaron (St. John’s - Napa, California), Micah (Light of the Valley - Elk Grove, California), and Reuben (First Lutheran - Yuba City, California) and their ministry teams were invited by the principal and counselors from Foothill Adventist School in Angwin, California, which was destroyed by the Glass Fire.
 
On Tuesday, October 20, the Comfort Dogs visited with children and staff at a new temporary location at Pacific Union College Elementary School in Angwin, their first day back at their interim school. The Comfort Dogs and their handlers worked with counselors to help children process a very difficult time.

Many of the students and parents opened up their hearts and shared touching stories with us. For some, the Glass Fire evacuation was their second evacuation in three weeks. One little boy lost his home in Paradise, California, in the Camp Fire just two years ago and is still living in a hotel unable to return home with his grandmother.
 
Aaron Comfort Dog's handler shared "When he sat down, he began to pet Aaron, and was silent at first. Aaron's handler asked him how he was doing and he began to talk. As he talked he felt more and more comfortable with Aaron. Their youth pastor, Pastor Jessie said 'This is amazing. He does not talk. To hear his voice right now brings me to tears. What a special blessing your team is for us.'"

One of the parents shared her story how her family had just moved up from San Diego in May. They had been evacuated twice since then. While she and the children are back in their home, her husband is forced to stay at a hotel in Napa as his business relies on the internet and cell service. She expressed how scared she was and that she just wanted to go back to San Diego. She loved Aaron and we were able to give her and her daughter some quiet time with Aaron. She was so grateful and thanked us for being there.
 
After the students spent time with the Comfort Dogs, it was the teachers’ turn. Many spoke about the stress they are under both privately and professionally with COVID-19, fires, distance learning, etc. And they were so grateful for the support we provided. We left each of the four classrooms with a stuffy of each dog

According to Aaron Comfort Dog’s handler "The school’s seventh and eighth grade teacher sat down to pet Aaron and just began to cry. We sat quietly with her and when she was ready, she began to share her story. She had so much on her mind. She was currently staying with the school’s principal and his family as she was unable to be in her home. She took the teaching position last year after the former seventh and eighth grade teacher had a stroke."

Our visit to Foothill Adventist Elementary School was amazing. It truly showed us that God is at work, and our ministry is such an important part of His work. There were tears shed by some and smiles from others. Most of all, there was an amazing amount of love and blessings for these children, staff and families who have been through so much.

Please keep the school’s families, teachers, staff, and all those affected by the fires in your prayers!

LCC never goes where we are not invited. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry NEVER charges those we serve. We pick up all of our travel and meal costs. We put boots and paws on the ground within 24 hours (often fewer) from the time we get the invite.

Please consider a donation to the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry so that we may continue to show the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.

Thank you for your compassionate hearts and generous donations. YOU are making a difference in the lives of the people who are suffering and in need. Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus!

Thank you to LCC Volunteers and Donors

A special thank you to LCC volunteers Jeff Boberg, Mike Calato, Bob Desiron, Marty Dzik, Mike Flaherty, Rich Habegger, Mike Kostecki, Mike and Roger Plummer, and Sam Woodson who have made numerous donation pick-ups and deliveries over the past month and a half.
 
Just this past Friday, LCC volunteers picked up a piano, table and chairs from donors Jesus and Arlinda Nunez, and table and chairs from Doris and Woody Perry. All donations were passed on to the Midwest Veterans Closet that will help to furnish a home for homeless veterans.
 
Thank you to Jinene Dunne, Christine Rogers, the D’Amico Family, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Glenview and Immanuel Lutheran Church, Des Plaines for their donations that will make a difference in the lives of many people and the Kingdom of God.

Thank you for your compassionate hearts and generous donations. YOU are making a difference in the lives of the people who are suffering and in need. Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus!

Christ the King Lutheran School in Chicago, Illinois, Thanks LCC Donors for Providing Scholarships for 15 Students
 
Geri Brazeal, Principal at Christ the King Lutheran School in Chicago, Illinois, sent a note thanking LCC donors for generous donations of $45,000 to provide scholarships for 15 Christ the King Students.

Because Lutheran Church Charities has reached out to fellow Christians on our behalf, our children are able to remain at Christ the King and our expenses are able to be met. All 15 families have been moved to see the hand of God at work through friends of Lutheran Church Charities that they do not even know.
 
I write this now with tears of joy as I remember all of the things which have been done for our ministry by our friends. I am brought to Sunday’s reading in Philippians 4: 4-6, Lutheran Church Charities has ALWAYS BEEN THERE TO HELP.
 
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand, do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."
 
We are indeed thankful for your friendship and your ministry. God has placed us here in this part of Chicago to make a difference in the lives of those we touch. No matter what the struggles might have been, or no matter what we are doing now to help the children in our school, feed the people who are unable to put food on their table because of situations which occur in their lives or put clothes on their backs because of hardships which arise in their lives.
 
Thank you is not enough. As Morgan, one of our students would say if you were here now: Lutheran Church Charities - You are AMAZING!
 
Geri Brazeal
Principal, Christ the King Lutheran School

Thank you for the generous donation of a car by a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Palatine, Illinois, to a Chicago Police officer and a father of three. The request came from Pastor Jason Pankau from Chicago Hope Church in Chicago, Illinois.
 
Tim Hetzner, LCC President/CEO presented the car to Officer Henry at LCC’s headquarters in Northbrook, Illinois, on Thursday, October 8.
 
Officer Henry was thrilled and very grateful for the donation.

Over the past month, LCC has passed through several donations of household items to the Midwest Veterans Closet in North Chicago, Illinois. This month we will be passing through furniture and appliance donations.
 
Mary Carmody, Executive Director, Midwest Veterans Closet, sent a thank you letter for the donations and the work of LCC.
 
Thank you for your donation to the Midwest Veterans Closet, where it is Veterans Day EVERY DAY! Words cannot express the gratitude we feel for your kind and generous donation. Your caring support of the active-duty military, Veterans, and families living in our community is greatly appreciated.
 
There is no doubt that the need is great. At-risk Veterans may live in your neighborhood, or may even be a family member or friend's neighbor. Yes, these Veterans are folks just like us, who never thought they would be in a situation where they would need a hand-up. But, because of you and folks like you, this year, these Veterans, once proud soldiers, and current military members will have weather appropriate apparel and things they need. These items may include a warm jacket, thermal underwear, boots, gloves, hat, hooded sweatshirt, scarf, dishes, pots and pans, a bed, furniture, and even a job, housing, and automobile! In 2019 we served them with 207,432.2 Ibs. of food from our Food and Nutrition Resource Center.
 
We are truly grateful for your compassionate support and hope that you will continue to partner with us in our commitment to Impact Veterans Lives.
 
With warm regards,
 
Mary Carmody
Executive Director
Midwest Veterans Closet

Hurricane Delta followed almost the same path through several coastal areas and states that Hurricane Laura did six weeks ago. In fact, they hit the shore 12 miles apart. The flooding, wind damage, and power outages have again affected the same homes and businesses that have already experienced devastation.
 
Kathy O’Day, Lutheran Church Charities Director of Disaster Response, has been in close contact with Pastor Ed Brashier, Southern District Disaster Response Coordinator this week. He stated that the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS) had opened three volunteer camps after Hurricane Laura in the Southern and Florida-Georgia districts. Each of these camps had to shut down and teams had to evacuate with their equipment before Hurricane Delta came ashore. They are returning this week to reassess damages and continue assisting affected residents.

Pastor Brashier has extended an invitation to Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response to the camp set up at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fairhope, Alabama, to offer chainsaw and heavy equipment assistance to those impacted on the Gulf Shores as soon as we can be available.
 
Hurricane Delta has caused much destruction, but with your generous donations, Lutheran Church Charities can make a difference by showing the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.

LCC never goes where we are not invited. We NEVER charge those we serve. We pick up all of our travel, lodging, and meal costs. We put boots on the ground within 24 hours (often fewer) from the time we get the invite.