 LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Elijah (Our Redeemer - Wichita Falls, Texas) and his ministry team received the following thank you note from a lady the team visited in the hospital. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry touches people more deeply than we can imagine.
Recently I was an inpatient in United Regional Hospital. It had been an exceptionally long and depressing day. My husband is unable to drive and is on a walker, and it's hard to get around easily, so I had been there for four days without visitors. One day, in walked into my room, the most beautiful dog with precious handlers. Elijah came to my bedside and raised on his hind legs to greet me. He looked me directly in the eyes and melted my lonely feeling away. I began to cry, and he put his head in my lap. What joy he brought me that day! He is a gift! Thank you for this beautiful ministry. I am sure he brings joy and comfort to all he visits. Thank you again!  LCC received a thank you note from a mom whose four young children had a wonderful experience with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Amos (Our Savior's Way - Ashburn, Virginia) at the airport while waiting in line to check in for their flight.
Hello, I wanted to share my family’s wonderful experience with sweet Amos and express our gratitude. The world pandemic has been complicated and stressful for everyone in different ways. Our version was that we had been serving our country in the Middle East and had the opportunity to come to America for a month to unwind before going to our next posting in Africa. There were so many uncertainties for our travel and many complications that we encountered in our time back in America, but we were grateful for every silver lining. In the stress of another journey around the world with four young children and many suitcases to help us in our move I saw beautiful Amos with his “please pet me” harness in line at the airport. We have always wanted a pet, but our career and growing family have made it complicated. I know how soothing and centering God’s creations can be for us, and especially what great therapy being with animals can be. My daughter can be quite anxious sometimes and I have been researching traits to look for in a pet that could benefit her in our next home. I knew that if she could interact with a comfort animal like Amos she could be calmed and comforted better than many other methods I could provide. I asked the kind lady who was traveling with Amos if my children could pet him and she said "yes." It brought tears to my eyes to see my children calmed and happy sitting around a beautiful silky dog while we waited in line for all our bags to be checked at the airport. It can be a lengthy process to check us all in and having Amos to engage with the kids was a serious treat. To me, it was a little gift from God to all of us that Amos was there at Dulles airport. The simple experience touched my heart and reminded me once again that God is mindful of us, He loves us and sends His mercies in many ways. I am grateful for the creative, inspired ministry, Amos, and all involved provided my family and many others. Thank you, Lauren LCC received a thank you note following an LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry® Virtual Visit with staff at Agnes Healthcare Baltimore Hospital, Maryland, with LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Abraham (Trinity Lutheran - Hicksville, New York), Amos (Our Savior's Way - Ashburn, Virginia), and Kezia (Emmanuel - Baltimore, Maryland). Wow! Thank you so much for the lovely visit. I wish you could have been in each room to see the smiles and the way every person just relaxed. So beautiful, and such a gift! We thank God for you and your ministry. Our thanks for your presence, your kindness, and your prayers. I hold you in mine, that all will be well with you and yours.
As I think more about what it meant to have you at Saint Agnes, I know that the staff really appreciated the care and love shared by your team, and the prayers you will offer for us. Staff here care for strangers every day, often without acknowledgement. It was a startling change of pace to have strangers reach out and care for us, and initially a bit challenging to change gears to receive that caring in the middle of a busy day. The dogs were a wonderful ice-breaker, opening hearts up to more tender feelings and thoughts. They created a space where staff could receive love and care into those tender places we sometimes keep closed off at work in self-defense. I deeply appreciate you, both as a chaplain who cares for staff here, and as a person whose heart you touched and whose spirit you encouraged! Universal enthusiasm here for having an "in dog" visit with Kezia when things open up! Grace and peace be with you. With prayers that you and your ministry will flourish, Jan M. McDonnell, MD, MA, BCC Chaplain Saint Agnes Healthcare The following note was received from the Village of Glenview (Illinois) Police Department:
Dear Lutheran Church Charities, With sincere gratitude, I send this note of thanks and appreciation to you and crew from LCC K-9 Police Ministry for supporting and joining us for the Glenview Police Department’s National Missing Children’s Day event held on May 18, 2019. Your spirited generosity, which included several comfort dogs and personnel, were greatly appreciated. Please thank each individual personally from me. I, along with other members of this department, look forward to working with you on future events. Thank you again, and please do not hesitate to let us know how we can assist you as well. Sincerely, William T. Fitzpatrick Chief of Police The Village of Glenview
Last week, LCC received the following letter from one of the students at St. John Lutheran School in Lansing, Illinois, via Sue Olson, a teacher. The assignment was to write a paragraph to welcome a new puppy; look up and write the Bible verse and add detail; look up where their name came from and add a detail; and write a prayer. Below is an excerpt from one of the students’ letters to Jemimah:
“Your name in the Bible is Job’s first daughter and that’s really cool because your name had to live with six thousand camels. I wonder if you will ever meet a camel. If you do, be careful, because it might step on you and that would be really bad.” Thank you to Ms. Olson’s class for your kind words and letters. God bless you all!
LCC recently received a generous donation from Ethan for his fundraising efforts with the following note:
“Dear Mr. Martin, As you know for the last four months, I have been raising $ for your charity for my Mitzvah project as I became a Bar Mitzvah on 5/25/19. Please find the enclosed check totaling more than $2,000 which includes multiple fundraisers plus my and my parent’s personal contributions. Also enclosed please find a shirt that my family and I wore during the fundraising activities. Thank you for what your charity does. Ethan” Thank you Ethan, and your family, for your fundraising efforts and generous hearts. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry teams hold all those impacted at Marjory Douglas High School, as well as their families and the community, in our hearts forever! Your generosity will help us continue to serve others who are hurting or in need.
City of Aurora Mayor Irvin met Shiloh Comfort Dog recently at a swearing-in ceremony for judges in the Kane County Courts. She had been invited to attend by Judge Cruz (pictured with the mayor).
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