On Sunday, November 14, the LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry attended a presentation by Lt. Fahim Masoud at Faith Lutheran Church in Lake Forest, Illinois. Lt. Masoud recounted his experiences as a translator for U.S. forces in Afghanistan, joining the U.S. Army and becoming a U.S. citizen. The LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry presented Lt. Masoud a U.S. Army-themed quilt for himself and a patriotic-themed quilt for his family, who recently came to the U.S. from Afghanistan.

Born during the Soviet-Afghan War, Fahim became an Afghan interpreter for the U.S. Army at the age of 17. Within a few years, he immigrated to the United States on a student visa and became a U.S. citizen. In 2018 Fahim joined the Illinois Army National Guard, where he currently serves as an Army Intelligence Officer. Earlier this year, he supervised the Guard’s mission at several suburban Chicago vaccination sites. It was at one of these vaccination sites where he connected with Pastor Jim. Fahim and his wife attended Easter worship at Faith Lutheran Church. His story received national media attention in August when Fahim worked tirelessly to evacuate his family from Afghanistan.

Last month, LCC sent your donations to Rev. Jim Buckman, Faith Lutheran Church in Lake Forest, Illinois, and Chaplain with the United States Air Force Illinois National Guard for Lt. Masoud. The need for this family is great and ongoing.
 
Please prayerfully consider supporting Lt. Masoud, who risked his life to serve our troops in Afghanistan, as he takes care of his family who made it safely to the United States. He is grateful for the support that he has received.

On Saturday, November 13, Redeeming Life Outreach Ministries (RLOM) Illinois expansion committee was honored to host a booth in the 41st Annual Holiday Craft Show at Trinity Lutheran Church of Lombard, Illinois. The craft booth was our first-time craft show event to raise funds for the new maternity home in the Northern Illinois District. This first-time craft show helped raise over $5,000, and this amount is not exact because funds are still coming in. The RLOM Illinois expansion committee thanks all donors who donated baked goods, handmade craft items, knitted or crocheted items, and handmade quilts.
 
Redeeming Life is a Christ-centered maternity home that provides a stable environment for single women with unplanned pregnancies. Their structured program provides mentoring, counseling, and life skills education to help them become independent and provide for their children as single mothers.