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“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” - Galatians 6:2 By the time the evening was over, two big reminders were abundantly clear: The love of God stands supreme above all details and circumstances. And the sovereign LORD had known better all along. Thursday’s Care & Remembrance Gathering at The Coming King Foundation Sculpture Prayer Garden was an ambitious endeavor — 92 Hearts of Mercy & Compassion affixed to white crosses, eight LCC K-9 Comfort Dog teams, 29 LCC staff and volunteers working together to honor the 137 lives lost in the July 4 Texas Hill Country flood and bless those who remained. “Despite our own plans and efforts, I think we witnessed God accomplishing His perfect will tonight in Kerrville,” said LCC President/CEO Rev. Chris Singer. “I’m thankful He had us see His hand at work.”  The curveball came about a half-hour after sunrise on Thursday. After hours of preparation the night before, a dozen Lutheran Church Charities staff and volunteers returned to the work of anchoring 92 white crosses on the rocky soil along the in-progress Texas Hill Country Flood Memorial Wall. Each one would hold a Heart of Mercy & Compassion bearing the names of all 137 lives lost in the tragic flood on July 4, ready to be signed that evening at the Care & Remembrance Gathering. Except when the group arrived, the crosses were gone. A well-meaning construction crew had moved them out of the way to apply mortar in between the limestone blocks of the memorial. LCC’s work was undone. With the event 12 hours away, and mortar work going on through the afternoon, LCC needed a new setup for the HMC interactive display — and fast. Prayers were lifted up and the group quickly landed on an idea. As HMC Director Sarah Sekki consulted with The Coming King Foundation sculpture artist Max Greiner, LCC volunteers began moving the crosses to the walkway of the prayer garden’s centerpiece structure — 77-foot The Empty Cross, a monument visible from Interstate 10 at the base of the mountain and visited by hundreds of thousands each year. The cross bases were rejiggered for a flat surface and were put in position on either side of the walkway path. A powerful visual soon emerged. Two long rows of HMCs affixed to their crosses lined the way to The Empty Cross — a reminder that Christ bids all to come and receive the grace, mercy, and forgiveness His sacrifice affords. “This interactive memorial of HMCs to write upon literally became a pathway to the cross,” Sekki said. “I think we were all humbled by that.” Later that evening, about 125 guests attended the Remembrance Gathering, which featured Scripture readings, prayers, the reading of names, and a message from Rev. Singer.
“As we often do in tragedies, if you are wondering where God is, He’s right here — at the cross,” Rev. Singer said in his remarks. “God promises to be close to the brokenhearted. In your pain, in your sadness, God is here. ... The cross tells the story of a God who came near.” On San Antonio ABC affiliate KSAT 12, Hosanna Lutheran Kerrville relief coordinator Hope Timmer shared how the HMCs at the Remembrance Gathering were “quite sobering,” and prompted her and others to “share the presence of Christ as so many are still reeling and trying to cope.” On Thursday and Friday, LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry and HMC teams visited several sites around Kerrville, Hunt, Ingram, and other towns. In Hunt, college students Savannah and Victoria were volunteering on a cleanup crew near the ruins of The Hunt Store. LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Persis greeted them and provided a nice break from the heat. Handlers Steve and Roxy Hurry invited the girls to the Remembrance. Both attended. Also in Hunt, local rancher David, who loans his equipment and hired help to the cleanup effort, accepted the HMC for The Hunt Store, which was destroyed in the flood. but is offering their parking lot to host responders working in the area. In Kerrville, LCC K-9 Comfort Dog teams shared joy and encouragement to patrons at the Butt-Holdsworth Library. That visit led to another at City Hall by Triton, Pax, Olive, and Phoebe. In Ingram, CityWest Church has been the site of receiving and giving tangible goods including food and clothing. In the immediate days after the flood, the church served 500+ each day. Now, it’s down to a few people sporadically. It also hosts MercyChefs to feed first responders three meals daily. Church administrator Eric received a heart of gratitude for the CityWest’s care for the community. Also in Ingram, Team Persis and the HMC team brought a fire fighter heart to the staff of the town volunteer fire department in honor of Capt. Tony Fernandez, who served for 15 years. He passed away in July from natural causes following his disaster response work. Volunteers serving in Kerrville included: Pax Comfort Dog, St. Paul Fort Worth, Texas Phoebe Comfort Dog, St. Paul Fort Worth, Texas Olive Comfort Dog, St. Paul Fort Worth, Texas Handlers: Janice & John Marut, LuAnn Kelly, Laura Lewallen, Bob Hampton, Veronica Vorva, LaRae Witsaman Triton Comfort Dog, Messiah Plano, Texas Handlers: Marti Martz, Jane & Jerry Baedke Elijah Comfort Dog, Our Redeemer Wichita Falls, Texas Handlers: Kelly Shivertaker (Bethany Austin, Texas) and Ken Wehmeyer (Bethany Austin, Texas) Persis Comfort Dog, Christ The Redeemer Tulsa, Oklahoma Handlers: Roxy & Steve Hurry, Lori Knoepfel Gabriel Comfort Dog, Messiah Houston, Texas Handlers: Janet & Charles Cook Joy Comfort Dog, Gloria Dei Houston, Texas Handlers: Karen & Kim Gastler Hearts of Mercy & Compassion Team, Christ The Redeemer, Tulsa, Oklahoma Eric Wendelbo Care Team, Gloria Dei, Houston, Texas Susanna Franson Roberta Heiner Fred Heiner Dawn Petersen Comments are closed.
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