LCC was blessed to have 10 affiliates from nine states represented at the Replacement Handler training last weekend.  LCC is happy to welcome these wonderful individuals who have been called to go out and serve their home communities to share the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those in need. 
 
The handlers spent a lot of time learning new handling skills and building their knowledge about the ministry.  Each handler worked with either their affiliate’s dog or with a LCC K-9 Comfort Dog in training.
 
LCC welcomes the following new handlers to the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog® Ministry:
 
Diane Fager, King of Kings, Glenpool, Oklahoma with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Persis
Kim Gastler, Gloria Dei, Houston, Texas with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Joy
Heidi Gustin, Immanuel, Joplin, Missouri with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Daniel
Cami Hamer, Peace, Columbus, Nebraska with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Eden
Gerry Lafergola, King of Glory, Williamsburg, Virginia with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Solomon
Jan Slack, King of Glory, Williamsburg, Virginia with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Solomon
Bill Schiller, Christ the King, Lake Ozark, Missouri with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Boaz
John Snow, St. Andrew, Park Ridge, Illinois with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Myra
Debora Jackubcin, St Luke, Oviedo, Florida with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Moriah
Kevin Buckley, Good Shepherd, Las Vegas, Nevada with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Lois
Tom Pinzl, The Lutheran Church of Prince of Peace, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Rhoda
 
Lutheran Church Charities is honored to welcome Navy veteran Kim Gastler to the LCC Kare-9 Military Ministry.

On Saturday, March 4, LCC Kare 9® Military Ministry Dogs Abraham and Beloved (Trinity - Hicksville, New York), along with their veteran handlers spent the day with the men, women and children of the 106th Air Rescue Wing as they prepared for their future deployment. The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program is the Department of Defense's effort to promote the well-being of National Guard and Reserve members, their families and communities, by connecting them with resources throughout the deployment cycle.  

Kare 9s Abraham and Beloved attend these events to help provide some level of comfort to what can be a stressful day.  During pre-deployments the families are encouraged to attend to know what to expect during deployment and what resources are available to them. During the introduction of the dogs and Lutheran Church Charities, John Haines (Kare-9 handler)  assured the attendees that both dogs had top level clearance and would not divulge any secrets shared with them.  

While attendees were in session many of the children were brought over from the daycare to meet the dogs.  One young man, Steven ( 2 years old) shared with the team that he had one golden retriever named Grace and couldn't believe he was seeing two more golden retrievers.

LCC K-9 Police Ministry® Dog Isaac (Redeemer - Spokane Valley, Washington) was invited to the Spokane's Regional Emergency Communications Center through the help of a Spokane County Sheriff's Chaplain. 

We made our way through, visiting the 911 center, police dispatch, sheriff's dispatch, fire dispatch and finished off with the administration.  Isaac was well loved by all.  One of the dispatchers just recently came back to work after losing her spouse to a tragic event.  Being able to spend some time with Isaac made her day. 

It also turns out that the Sheriff's chaplain, who was with us, was the same chaplain who was called out to that dispatchers home the night her spouse died. They have not spoken in a long time. The chaplains response to today's encounter was God used Isaac today to help them both reconnect and heal.
 
Dear Lord help me keep safe those who depend on me.
Give me healthy ears for the are my link with those who need me.
Help me remember that I make a difference, however small it might seem some days and that I matter.
I am a dispatcher, Lord grant me peace.

On Wednesday, February 22, the Northern Illinois area experienced a freezing rain storm that left a quarter to a half inch of ice on roads, homes, trees, and power lines causing widespread power outages. It also caused a lot of damage and downed trees and limbs on roofs, yards, and roads.

Gary Kessler, GEO Missionary to Belize, contacted LCC Disaster Response from Belize to ask if we would look at the roof of his home here in Northern Illinois that had sustained some damage from large falling limbs in the ice storm.
 
A L.E.R.T. volunteer from St. John-Wheaton went to his home the same day as his request. He was able to remove several limbs from the roof and patch a small hole so there would be no leaking. We sent pictures of the repair and clean-up to Gary upon completion.
 
The following note of thanks was received:
 
Sue and I cannot thank you enough. Being so far from home, you can imagine how this incident was weighing on our minds. As we serve others here, you have served us back home. What beautiful Christian symmetry. Much love to all our friends at LCC.
 
God's richest blessings to you all,
 
Gary and Sue Kessler
GEO Missionary to Belize

A congregation member and widow from Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Elburn received assistance from L.E.R.T. volunteers utilizing chainsaws and heavy equipment. They removed a large limb of a tree that had split and fallen across the front of her home and roof. She was very thankful for the help and compassion shown to her by the team as they worked at her home.

Pastor Blackford from Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Elburn had a large tree in his front yard that had split in half during the ice storm. L.E.R.T. volunteers carefully felled the damaged half that was still standing, and cut and moved all tree debris to the curb. He and his wife were very appreciative of our response to make his yard safe for his children and to protect his home from damage.

A Deaconess in Belvidere had two uprooted trees and many limbs come down in their backyard during the ice storm. Five L.E.R.T. volunteers cut and stacked all of the wood from these trees into firewood length and put limbs into a burn pile. The hard work completed by willing hearts and hands to serve a sister in Christ was greatly appreciated.

One neighborhood in Crystal Lake had several homes that experienced tree damage. LCC L.E.R.T. volunteers were able to help nine homeowners clear downed trees, limbs, and dangerous hangers from their properties. All were grateful for the willingness of these volunteers to serve them on a cold and snowy day.

If you are so moved, please donate to the LCC Disaster Response 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.

On Saturday, February 25, LCC held a Basic LCMS L.E.R.T training for new and recertifying team members at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Palatine, Illinois, led by Deaconess Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response.
 
There were a total of sixteen in attendance from the following teams or churches in Illinois:

• Hope, Shorewood
• Immanuel, Palatine
• Lord of Glory, Grayslake
• Prince of Peace, Palatine
• St. John, Wheaton
• St. Peter, Schaumburg

 
It is good to see how the disaster response ministry is continuing to grow with volunteers willing to share the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ in service to those suffering and in need.

On Thursday, February 23, LCC K-9 Comfort Dog® Ministry was invited by WFTV Channel 9 Orlando where many are mourning the death of a news reporter from Spectrum News 13. News crews were on the scene covering a homicide when a shooter shot news reporter Dylon Lyons and a photojournalist from Spectrum News 13.
 
LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Moriah (St. Luke’s – Oviedo, Florida) and Peace (Trinity – Orlando, Florida) were happy to provide a little comfort and God’s love to the news teams and staff. The news community is a tight-knit group, working together as they cover the news to keep us informed. Many from WFTV knew Dylon, who had interned with them.

On Friday, February 24, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Moriah (St. Luke’s – Oviedo, Florida) and Peace (Trinity – Orlando, Florida) attended a candlelight vigil to honor news reporter Dylan Lyons, 9-year-old T’Yonna Major, and Nathacha Augustin, all victims of the gun violence. ICP Orlando Church hosted the vigil to bring the community together and to offer comfort and hope following this tragic loss. What a blessing it was to help provide comfort and to share God’s love with so many people.

We pray for the victims and their families, the news community, the sheriff and police department, the first responders and medical teams, the community as a whole. I know you’ll join us in praying for them, too. Lord, please wrap your loving arms around them, keep them safe, and bring them Your peace.
 
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

This past Sunday, members of Faith Lutheran Church in Marietta, Georgia, showed their love for one of the congregation's truly devoted saints as she recovers from a hospital stay.  The Heart of Mercy & Compassion® was not large enough to hold all the signatures and well wishes!  Adelle's favorite Bible verse on the Heart: Psalm 105:4 "Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always."

In the early hours of February 7, Milwaukee Police Officer Peter Jerving lost his life in the line of duty pursuing a robbery suspect. His death left a void felt across the entire department, almost four years to the day of the last line of duty death.

The LCC K-9 Police Ministry® was invited by Wisconsin Law Enforcement Death Response Team (WI LEDR) to attend critical post-incident debriefs and go on wellness visits department-wide. LCC K-9 Police Ministry Dogs Benjamin (LCC Staff), Charity (Brookfield - Brookfield, Wisconsin), Dora (Lutheran High School Association of Greater Milwaukee - Milwaukee, Wisconsin), Eve (St. John's - Lombard, Illinois) and Julia (King of Glory - Elgin, Illinois), and their active and retired law enforcement handlers were able to aid officers, command staff, communications staff, and administrative staff as they mourned the loss of a fellow officer and colleague.

During these visits, many were offered an opportunity to have meaningful conversations, talk with fellow officers experiencing the same feelings, and sometimes cry into the fur of the K9s. We were honored to be present with the entire department as they process their grief, remember the life and service of Officer Jerving, and take the next steps toward healing.  

"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for another." John 15:13