He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

On Tuesday, January 18, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Charity (Brookfield Lutheran - Brookfield, Wisconsin), Hagar (Faith Lutheran - Appleton, Wisconsin), and Mary (St. Paul's - Janesville, Wisconsin), along with their handlers and ministry partners, made a very special visit to Trinity Lutheran School, Hilbert, Wisconsin. The father of three of the students passed away last week after a two-year battle with cancer. Students, staff, parents, and the community have felt the pain of this loss.

The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and their team responded to give comfort, love, and a listening ear to the students and staff.  Charity, Hagar, and Mary Comfort Dogs and their handlers knew they needed to be there for the three young girls who lost their courageous father. To see the young girls smile and feel the comforting presence of Mary, Charity, and Hagar was such a gift.

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and their handlers will be present at the visitation and funeral for this young father’s family, friends, and community later in the week.

Please keep these three beautiful girls and their strong and loving mother in your prayers for God’s healing, love, and comfort.

LCC received a request from Pastor Michael Liese, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Brimfield, Illinois, for financial assistance for members of his congregation, Mark and Susan:

Mark is a former Lutheran School teacher and principal, and his wife, Susan, daughter of a Lutheran pastor, is a nurse. They have two children.
 
On Sunday, January 9, Susan suffered a hemorrhagic stroke and required emergency surgery. After surgery, Susan seemed to have lost her ability to speak and suffered a loss of movement in her right arm. Mark will be Susan’s full-time caregiver during her long road to recovery and will not be able to work until she is better.
 
They will need financial assistance to cover extensive medical bills and mortgage, utilities, and household expenses of approximately $3,500 a month.
 
Lord have Mercy!
 
Pastor Michael Liese
St. Paul Lutheran Church
Brimfield, Illinois

If you feel so moved, please prayerfully consider donating to help Mark provide for his family while he cares for his wife.

Being an Apprentice Trainer is an unforgettable and rewarding experience. Many of our Apprentice Trainers choose to participate in the training program for many years because of the community of volunteers, their own spiritual growth, the staff they work with, and because they know that the dogs have a greater purpose.
 
Responsibilities include:

• Fostering
• Socializing
• Weekly Training Classes
• Training
• Exercising

Lutheran Church Charities pays all food, supplies, and veterinary care expenses.
 
Please note: You must be at least 18 years old to be a volunteer apprentice trainer.
 
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Weekly Training Classes are held in Barrington, Northbrook, and East Dundee, Illinois.
 
If you live within 50 miles radius of the training locations and would like more information about the volunteer commitment needed, please email k9trainers@LutheranChurchCharities.org or call 866-455-6466 ext. 118.

The fourth and final LCC Disaster Response team arrived at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Paducah, Kentucky, to work in tornado-affected towns again this week. Over the past four weeks, thirty-eight LCC Lutheran Early Response Teams (L.E.R.T.) volunteers were able to assist thirty families in several hard-hit communities of Kentucky begin their long recovery process by removing trees, damaged limbs, and debris with chainsaws, boom lift, bobcats, and tractors.
 
Each of these communities were in the direct path of the EF-3 & EF-4, 270-mile long tornado, which at times was 1-1/2 miles wide. The teams were able to help many families that will be displaced from their homes for some time and to offer the mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those in need.

This week’s LCC L.E.R.T. volunteers were able to assist three families to remove trees and dangerous damaged limbs from their multi-acre properties in Mayfield and Gilbertsville, Kentucky.
 
Each of these homeowners were so thankful that the following LCC Disaster Response team volunteers had come from so far and were willing to help them in their time of need:
 
Illinois
Immanuel, Batavia – Bill Pietsch
Zion, Ottawa – Dave and Cindy Reif
 
Iowa
Trinity, Davenport – Ken Stotmeister
 
Wisconsin
Brookfield, Brookfield – Laura Ciletti, Cheryl DeLair

The LCC Disaster Response Ministry never charges those we serve. Please donate to the LCC Disaster Response General Fund or LCC Equipment Maintenance & Fuel Expense Fund so that we may continue to show the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.

Thank you to LCC L.E.R.T. volunteer Ken Jones who picked up two gas generators from a generous donor for LCC Disaster Response Ministry. The donation will make a difference in the life of someone in the event of a power outage.

On Saturday, January 15, LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dogs Brutus (LCC Squad) with his veteran handler Gene Weisbecker, Flex (LCC Squad) with his veteran handler Fred Vanstrom, and Nigel (LCC Staff) with his veteran handler Jim Morrison were present at the visitation and Celebration of Life Service for Fred Hayden who went home to be with Jesus on December 3, 2021. His family, friends and church members were greeted and comforted by the Kare 9s as they celebrated Fred’s life at St. John Lutheran Church in Mt. Prospect, Illinois.
 
To honor Fred’s service in the United States Navy Reserve at Glenview Naval Air Station, the Kare 9s and their veterans presented a purple Heart of Mercy & Compassion to his wife Joyce of 62 years, daughter and LCC staff member Debra Baran, and son Rev. Steven Hayden. They also participated in the Military Honors at the end of the service. Fred and Joyce supported the LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry by attending many 22 Events at Lutheran Church Charities with other veterans or their family members.
 
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”  John 3:16-17

On Friday, January 7, missing 6-year-old Damari Perry of North Chicago was found dead in Gary, Indiana. Damari turned six on December 30, the day he died.
 
Rev. Jim Buckman, pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Lake Forest, Illinois, is supporting Damari’s Aunt, Delonya, with raising funds to care for his four siblings for her brother, the children’s father. She is a single mother and foster mother through Lutheran Social Services. Delonya has a powerful faith and compassion for children who need a loving, caring home.
 
If you feel so moved, please prayerfully consider donating to help Damari’s Aunt raise his four siblings.

The Colorado Marshall Fire has burned more than 6,000 acres and spread east across Superior, Louisville, and unincorporated Boulder County last week, destroying over 1,100 homes and businesses. The fire is the most destructive wildfire in state history.

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Cubby and Devorah (Redeemer – Fort Collins, Colorado) and their ministry teams were invited by Ascent Community Church in Louisville, Colorado, to be present with displaced families as they learned if their home had survived or was destroyed by the fires. Ascent Community Church is one of the designated resource centers supporting families affected by this tragedy.

The LCC K-9 Ministry teams were present in Louisville last week to bring comfort, love, and hope to the devastated families, and the first responders who serve them.

Chloe from the Louisville Police Department received some love from Devorah Comfort Dog. The Louisville police have been working long hours at the assistance center to help residents get back into their neighborhoods.
 
Cubby Comfort Dog “cuddled up” to Andrew, United States Coast Guard, who grew up in Louisville, one of the areas devastated by the horrific fires that destroyed so many homes. Andrew was distraught after seeing all the destroyed houses in his old neighborhood as he visited his parents over New Year's. Andrew extended his visit to assist the residents who lost so much. Cubby sensed Andrew needed comforting as she cuddled up next to him, making sure he felt loved.

Cubby, Devorah, and their handlers met a woman this past week who lost her home and all three of her beloved dogs in the Marshall fire. One of them was a golden retriever. She was overcome with grief when she saw Devorah the day she walked into the assistance center. She came over to pet Cubby and Devorah, who stayed with her until she felt better. One of their handlers just hugged her and let her cry until she could cry no more. We hope she finds peace someday. Please pray that God comforts her with his blanket of love and understanding only He can give.
 
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry NEVER charges those we serve as we bring the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need. We know that comfort is needed to help this shocked and devastated community and the first responders who serve them.

The week after New Year’s, Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, Jamie Miller, LCC Staff, and the third LCC Disaster Response team arrived at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Paducah, Kentucky, to work in surrounding tornado affected towns. They will be returning with a fourth team this week to continue to serve hard-hit communities.
 
Last week, the LCC Lutheran Early Response Teams (L.E.R.T.) volunteers worked in the hard-hit towns of Mayfield, Benton, Fulton, and Gilbertsville, Kentucky. Each of these communities were in the direct path of the EF-3 & EF-4, 270-mile long tornado which at times was 1-1/2 miles wide. The damage is devastating with many businesses, schools, and homes completely leveled or severely damaged. There are many uprooted trees everywhere, landing on property, homes, and cars. The team helped several families that will be displaced from their homes for some time as they are just beginning the long recovery process.

Helping Displaced Homeowner Remove Large Tree on Roof

Kathy and Jamie met one of these displaced families, Ms. J, at the hotel she has been staying at since the tornado had struck. A large tree had fallen through her roof and her home needs major repairs before she can move back. She asked if we could possibly help her. She did not have the funds to remove the large tree so she could begin roof and home repairs. She told the team how she took shelter in her home and didn’t think she would survive.
 
She also told us how very upsetting and disorienting it is to go back to her home as so much of her town of Mayfield and neighbors’ homes are totally destroyed. She and her parents couldn’t believe that we cut and removed the very large fallen tree and cleaned up all the debris in her yard at no cost to her.
 
LCC received the following thank you note from her parents:
 
Words cannot express our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for your disaster response to the tornado on December 10 in Mayfield, which resulted in the cutting and removal of a very large tree from our daughter’s home. Your team has certainly shown the compassion set forth to those in need. God Bless You!

The team returned to the property of Mr. H this week. He is a young man with a family who was in the process of building a home on his parent’s 55-acre ranch property. He is an excellent woodworker and has his own mill. The tornado destroyed his home, barns, tools, workshop, and vehicles. His mill was spared though but sits very near a creek. Many downed trees were now blocking the water flow of the creek and, with recent rains, was backing up onto his property, threatening his mill. We were able to clear much of the creek bed to open the flow of water again.
 
Mr. H sent this note of thanks to Brian Mead, Volunteer Site Coordinator:
 
I can’t thank you and the ones that came out in the freezing cold and snow enough. I know it may have seemed like why cut trees out in the middle of a field and in a creek. But it saved my mill with the heavy rain we got. I had over 10 feet of trees away from the edge of the creek before the tornado. Y’all saved my building from this rain, no doubt. I still have work to do, and shoring up the bank will be the first thing on my list.
 
If y’all weren’t here to help, I couldn’t have done it. From the bottom of my heart, thank all of you so much. Please let the crew know that their work was the only way I still have a mill now. Thank you, and God bless y’all!!!

This week’s team was able to assist 14 families to remove trees and dangerous damaged limbs from their structures and property utilizing chainsaws, bobcats, and a boom lift.
 
All of the homeowners were so thankful that the following LCC Disaster Response team volunteers had come from so far and were willing to work all day in the cold and snow to help them in their time of need:
 
Illinois
Good Shepherd, Elgin – David Vollrath
Heartland, Normal – Tony Buchberger
Immanuel, Charleston – Gary and Karen Hanebrink
Immanuel, Shobonier – Fran Collier
Lord of Life, LaFox – Larry Zagorski
St. John, East Moline – Ken and Jan Hill
St. John, Wheaton – Marty Johnson, Dave Schlesselman, Rich Wren
St. John, Wilmette – Tom Morrison
 
Indiana
St. John, Dillsboro – Steve Black, Ruth Weisbrod

The LCC Disaster Response Ministry never charges those we serve. Please donate to the LCC Disaster Response General Fund or LCC Equipment Maintenance & Fuel Expense Fund so that we may continue to show the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.
 
Please keep the church and the families affected by the tornadoes in your prayers, including all of the LCC Disaster Response volunteers and staff as we deploy to the hardest-hit areas of Kentucky to help during the long recovery process.