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Helping Thirty-Seven Homeowners Begin Recovery from Extensive Tornado Damage
The LCC LERT volunteers who traveled to Taylorsville include: Northern Illinois District Cross Lutheran – Yorkville: Derek Kowalczyk Good Shepherd – Elgin: David Vollrath, Mark Handrock Immanuel – Belvidere: Mike Buhl, Wes Johnson, Christine Kolk, Karen Salgado, Galen & Suzan Sollie Lord of Life – LaFox: Terry & Mary Kramer, Ken Johnston, Kevin Krage, Matt Byars, Nick Krywaruczenko, Chris Lewis, Dave Smercina, Rick Mathieu St. John – Wheaton: Steve Chester, Marty Johnson, Anna Piro, Jan Gerveske, Tom Prickette, Dave Mummah, Rich Wren, Palmer Goodwin St. Matthew – Hawthorn Woods: Rob & Jen Fosness St. Peter – Hampshire: Bob Warfel, Mike Hemme, Pete & Christel Springmire St. Peter – Schaumburg: Ken & Vicki Kiviranta, Tom Amundsen, Sarah Blanchard, Trinity – Lisle: Don & Cyndi Totter, Robert Ternand Trinity – Roselle: David Vance Trinity – Tinley Park: Joel Powless
LCC K-9 Ministry teams also deployed to Taylorville, Illinois, as the community starts to sort out their belongings from the debris. Recently placed LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Rachel (Immanuel – Charleston, Illinois) and her team, along with Bethany (Trinity – Danville, Illinois), Dinah (Trinity – Auburn, Illinois), Barnabas and Isaiah (Trinity – Hobart, Indiana), and Comfort Dog in Training Darius visited the MARC as well as visiting people throughout the community.
Please pray for the residents in Taylorville and all of the many volunteers who are helping them recover. This community is strong and has seen how the mercy, compassion, and presence of others in their time of need are making a difference.
A second presentation was given by Pastor Rod Armon and LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Candace (LCC Staff) about the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry and the uniqueness of this ministry in reaching out to share the presence of Jesus in times of stress through the unique gifts that comfort dogs bring. The mission and ministry of LCC to law enforcement and to military members both active and retired was given. Additionally, discussion was held on how to introduce Candace Comfort Dog to those who are housed within the confines of FCI Oxford. Since those who are housed at the facility usually only have negative interaction with dogs, the presence of Candace Comfort Dog will provide the inmates with the opportunities to interact with her in a different way then might be normal to them. Candace Comfort Dog will be making a visit to the facility in January during the worship time to provide comfort to staff and those housed there.
Once in the cardiac unit, we passed a man on a cell phone. He looked at us and immediately hung up from his call. “Can I pet your dog? There is boy here that needs a visit from a dog, his brother is dying.” We followed God’s plan instead of ours. The gentleman led us directly to the waiting room a few doors away. We turned the corner to enter the room where there were about 25 people in that small waiting room. All of them had tears in their eyes. There was no hope in that room at all. Curled up on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, crying, was a boy (about 10-12 years old). He sat up immediately and put his arms around Cubby Comfort Dog as she went in for her signature hug. The next 1/2 hour we would spend in that room ministering to the family and friends of the dying boy.
Cubby was awesome … doing her commands of “laps, rises, and hugs.” When lunch arrived, we stepped down the hall to visit the cardiac patient, who we originally intended to visit first that day, his wife, and his son. We had a very nice visit. He spoke of the dogs his family had and growing up on a farm, while petting Cubby Comfort Dog the entire time. After that visit, we headed back to the waiting room where we were intercepted by a nurse who said, “We just called the volunteer coordinator to see where Cubby was. The young boy she just visited would like to spend more time with Cubby.” We spent another 20 minutes in the waiting room. There was a definite change in the room from our first entry to our final exit. The boy smiled a lot and the air in the room was definitely lighter. God’s plan is always best! Please pray for this family and all of the families who are coping with the loss of a loved one during the holidays.
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