Lord of Life L.E.R.T. volunteers Larry Zagorski, Ken Johnston, Matt Byars, John Griffin, Kristi Farnum, and Terry and Mary Kramer helped an 83-year-old congregation member cut and remove nine large downed trees on her property.

A 70 mph wind shear and storms this past weekend in Elburn, Illinois, caused the trees to fall. The homeowner was very grateful for all of the help and “seeing the servant hearts of all who worked hard.”

Faith – Lake Forest, Illinois
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Asher
Susan Bandman

Lord of Life – Elburn, Illinois
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Chloe
Malissa Straughn

St. Andrews – Park Ridge, Illinois
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Myra
Mike Lawrence

St. Matthew – Hawthorn Woods, Illinois
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Malachi
Christopher Gary

Trinity – Danville, Illinois
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Bethany
Douglas & Michelle Barthalow
Sara Fauser

Zion – Marengo, Illinois
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Samson
Jeff Schulman
Jonathon Ripke

On Thursday, June 25, David and Donna Hoffman, members of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois, delivered a new walking cane and a like-new walker to fill the need for an individual who has been physically impaired after a stroke several years ago. These items will be a great help with mobility and make daily activities safer for that individual. Thank you to David and Donna Hoffman for touching the lives of hurting people in Jesus' Name.

The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry teams at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fort Collins, Colorado, have been busy working on making Mercy Hearts for LCC’s Hearts of Mercy & Compassion, Crosses for Losses Ministry.

Team members have been sanding and painting the crosses, hearts and fish, and writing the calligraphy verses on the fish. Another team member is building the crosses in his basement. So far they have presented seven hearts to those in need in the Fort Collins area and will be providing future hearts for other churches.

Parris Williams, Director of Cook County Sherriff’s Office of Community Outreach, was presented a Mercy Heart with a Thin Blue Line from Hearts of Mercy & Compassion Director Rich Martin for Cook County Sheriff Antoine Jones who died in the line of duty.
 
LCC staff members were also present as the Rev. James Kirschenmann led a prayer for healing, comfort, and guidance. We lift all those who serve and protect our communities and country.

Due to the spread of the coronavirus in Haiti, the country's borders are presently closed indefinitely. Haiti's ability to report, control, and treat the coronavirus is very limited.

Lutheran Church Charities continues to work through our Haiti Mission Partners to send emergency funds to Haiti during the current humanitarian and health crises. Our wonderful Haitian National Team is still working diligently to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ by assisting wherever possible.

Ministry in Mission is grateful for the donation of masks especially in children's sizes for the orphans and school children they serve in Haiti. The administrator of the Center of Refuge Orphanage and Rousse Ecole Montessori School was unable to return to Haiti when the airports were shut down to manage the spread of COVID-19. She will return to Haiti in July and is grateful to be able to take masks with her to protect the children.

If you are able, please send masks to arrive before July 25 directly to the following address:

Damise JN Baptiste
2075 Collier Ave.
Apt 212
Fort Myers, FL 33901

Inflation in Haiti continues to skyrocket and the Haitian gourde/US dollar ratio has risen to 115 HG /$1. Just one year ago the exchange rate was about half that. With the efforts toward social distancing, some businesses have closed and the little money people make does not go very far. We can feed a family of four for two weeks for $40. The school will be out for the next two months, so families are especially vulnerable right now.

Last year we brought our Field Director Lophane Laurent to ECHO Global Farms in Florida for special agricultural training. He is training others now and working with farmers, gardeners, and developing goat cooperatives in villages so people can feed themselves. Each cooperative is about six families and 20 goats. We provide training, goats, supplies for pens, mentoring, seed, and farming tools. Our Haitian brothers and sisters provide the land, labor, and food for the animals. Goats cost $100. Goat pens for 20 goats are $1,000. Farming tools vary in cost from $20-$50.

Most people in rural Haiti and many in cities sleep on the floor which may be dirt or cement. Some people sleep on mats or palm branches. Many simply have a cloth or sheet to lay on. As people age they have more and more difficulty getting up off the floor in the morning, often waiting long periods for someone to come help them rise. An actual bed changes their quality of life immeasurably. One 79-year-old village pastor was overjoyed when we brought a dozen beds into his village. With tears in his eyes, he told Lophane that he had never slept on a bed in his life and he was so excited for him and his wife to have a place to sleep off the ground. A metal bed frame, mattress, and bedding cost $400.

We are still trying to supply handwashing stations. The supplies for each station are a 5-gallon water container with a spigot, three blocks of dry bleach, and a case of soap, with training on how to set up and maintain the station.

Last week King of Kings, Glenpool, Oklahoma (In Process) donated snack items for Mercy Mission. King of Kings will work with Mercy Mission to make them into snack bags so the kids have snack food to eat when school is not in session.

No child should go hungry!

On Tuesday, June 24, LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Myra (St. Andrews - Park Ridge, Illinois) attended the Confirmation Service for nine students.

"They were all given a Bible verse to help them as they continue on their journey of faith. I was so happy to share this special moment with all of them, even though they couldn't pet me. Very 'ruff' for me!"