Hank and Amy were also able to share two stuffed Comfort Dogs with two young girls. These young girls are sisters whose parents are both currently serving active duty with the Air Guard. The parents and the girls shared how hard it has been with recent deployments. While Kare 9 Dinah can’t be with them all the time, they now have a little piece of her to love on all the time when things get tough.
Many times we do not know why such senseless acts happen. But we do know that God’s love is always present to comfort those hurting and left feeling hopeless. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs, LCC K-9 Police Ministry Dogs, handlers and ministry teams provided furry faces to cuddle, shoulders to cry on, and prayers for comfort, peace and understanding. Ministry teams that traveled to Sutherland Springs were LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Pax and Phoebe (St. Paul – Ft. Worth, Texas), LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Abner (Bethany – Austin, Texas), LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Damaris (Memorial – Katy, Texas), LCC K-9 Police Ministry Dog Elijah (Our Redeemer – Wichita Falls, Texas), LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Rufus (St. Mark – Edmond, Oklahoma), LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Gabriel (Messiah – Houston, Texas) and LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Barnabas (Holy Cross – Hobart, Indiana). The mother of a first responder shared her appreciation for the presence of the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog teams. Constable Wayne Thompson from Fort Bend County, Texas, joined LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Damaris (Memorial – Katy, Texas) and her handlers in comforting a family who lived directly across from the First Baptist Church where the shootings occurred. He shares how they joined together to minister to this family struggling from what they saw and how they had to respond that day. Please join LCC as we continue to pray for individuals who were injured, their families, all of the first responders, and the Sutherland Springs community during their physical and emotional recovery from this tragic event.
On Sunday, November 12, members and guests gathered at Christ the Shepherd Lutheran Church in Alpharetta, Georgia to celebrate LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Luke’s birthday. A professor from Berry College, Dr. Rebecca Dixon, was invited to speak about the bond between humans and animals (specifically dogs). She spoke about the calming presence a dog can have in high stress situations and how Luke Comfort Dog can positively affect people just by being in the area. Over 100 people attended and all of the extra food was donated to Hands Across Atlanta, a local homeless shelter. The LCC K-9 Ministry at Christ the Shepherd received a beautiful painting of Luke Comfort Dog with his verse as a donation from an anonymous artist. LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Luke has been an amazing blessing to Christ the Shepherd and is already making a big impact in the communities in which he serves.
To help celebrate Gabriel Comfort Dogs passing of the leash, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Pax and Phoebe (St. Paul – Ft. Worth, Texas), LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Abner (Bethany – Austin, Texas), LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Damaris (Memorial – Katy, Texas), and LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Barnabas (Trinity – Hobart, Indiana) and their handlers, along with members from Gloria Dei, Houston (expecting) attended the ceremony to welcome his team to the LCC K-9 Ministry.
On Saturday, November 4, the LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry attended the Annual Splinter's Sports Bar & Grill Vet Fest. This was the Kare 9s third year of involvement in the Vet Fest. Proceeds from the food and drink sales, as well as the various auctions are used to purchase items for veterans at the James Lovell VA Medical Center in North Chicago Illinois. The items purchased are those things the VA does not supply to its patients such as toiletries, TVs, clothing, etc. One of the items up for auction was a beautiful print entitled, "Reflections" by artist Lee Teter. LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Veteran handler Brad Schroeder decided to bid on the print with the intention of donating it to the LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry. The picture depicts a veteran standing in front of The Wall in D.C. placing his hand on it. There is a reflection within The Wall of a combat soldier reaching out his hand to touch the veterans. When Veteran Brad, handler for Kare 9 Susie, saw the picture, he planned on bidding for it and give it to the LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry. When the bidding got above $200, Brad dropped out. According to Veteran Brad, "This picture is very moving. A young man (not a veteran) won the auction for $350. He came over to Kare 9 Susie and me and asked if I was a veteran. When I responded yes, he said he was grateful for our service and wanted to give the print to me. I was stunned, but also amazed at his generosity. I accepted and told him what a wonderful gesture this was. The picture has been given to LCC to be prominently displayed on behalf of the LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry. All who see it will be touched by what it represents." Veteran Fred, handler for Kare 9 Flex, shared that when Brad mentioned that he planned on bidding for the picture, Fred was going to tell him that he would donate half of the cost but got busy greeting patrons and didn’t know the bidding had started and was over. Then Brad shared with Fred how the gentleman who purchased the picture gave it to him. Whereas Brad and Fred may have ended up buying the picture for the LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry, God had another plan to give a generous young man a chance to thank a veteran for his service. LCC and the LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry would like to thank this young man for his generous gift and support for the veterans of the Kare 9 ministry. During this upcoming holiday season those who have lost a loved one sometimes experience an extra measure of grief. On Saturday, November 11, Ridgewood Memorial Chapel conducted a seminar to help those who fit this description. LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dogs Brandy, Flex, and Brutus (Squad) were invited to assist in bringing mercy and compassion to those in attendance. The LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry shared with those present the mission of our ministry. After a presentation by a grief counselor, the Kare 9s shared comfort and mercy to the grieving souls and the staff at Ridgewood. |
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