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The LCC K-9 Ministry received the following note for LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ruthie (LCC Staff) on November 20, 2018:
Dearest Ruthie, I have wanted to write to you and your owner for a very long time. You see, I am the woman who fell to her knees in front of you after the Parkland shootings. You came really close up to me and laid down against my legs. I explained to you and your owner that it felt like a “soft place” to land and to catch my breath for a moment. Your owner told me to take my time. I petted you with all my love. I have held onto your card, Ruthie, ever since that day. I keep it in my Rolodex files under “R” and in my heart forever. Thanks again – for all that you do – and for being there for so many sorrowed people. Helping a Faithful Follower Memorize Scripture Surrounding someone in love can take on many forms. But when that love comes from all over the United States, what does it look like? A Facebook follower from the southeast, Michelle, contacted LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Phoebe (St. Paul – Fort Worth, Texas) and asked for a card. She wanted to memorize Phoebe’s Bible verse. The card was mailed along with the Southwest Region K-9 cards and the response from Michelle was so heartwarming. How could she get the other dogs’ cards? So began the gathering of love from the 24 states where the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs are located. Top Dogs and social media admins responded with K-9 Comfort Dogs, Kare 9 Military Ministry, and K-9 Police Ministry cards. There were even some dogs-in-training cards added. We wish we could have seen the look on Michelle’s face when she opened the box and found ALL of the cards sent her way. She has an exciting time ahead of her as she memorizes all of the dogs’ Bible verses. We pray the verses will speak to her individually and collectively and let her know how much she is loved by all of us. BUT the story doesn’t end there. When the comment was made on Phoebe Comfort Dogs Facebook page, a follower of Lois Comfort Dog (First Good Shepherd – Las Vegas, Nevada) commented she had been collecting the dogs’ cards for her granddaughter who had been injured by a dog and now was terribly afraid. She further said Lois Comfort Dog had been helping her granddaughter overcome her fear. Some teams sent duplicate cards and those were forwarded to Lois Comfort Dog’s team to share in this situation as well. More love and compassion shared from afar!  Michelle sent the following email after receiving the special K-9 package: Dear Comfort Dogs of the United States: First and foremost thank you for sharing the love Jesus with so many who need it. In addition, thank you for comforting so many during difficult times. I have always enjoy reading my Bible and trying to come with fun ways to memorize Scripture. Thank you for helping make this happen. I have currently memorize 16/120 Scripture verses from you the Comfort Dogs. I hope you as a Comfort Dog will encourage others to memorize Scripture this way even if it is only in your district. Finally, I pray the Lord gives you strength as you share God's love and comfort. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." God’s Riches Blessings, Michelle Thank You from St. Francis Borgia Regional High School Thank you, Sheba Comfort Dog, for your calm presence at St. Francis Borgia Regional High School last week. We really appreciate your loving support during this very difficult time. Oh, and please thank your humans, too.
God Bless! The Borgia Counseling Office LCC received the following Disaster Update on Saturday, October 13, from Deaconess Sally Hiller, LCMS Southeastern District’s Disaster Response Coordinator: Serving in Times of Disaster Dear Ministry Partners, Even as the horrific damage of Hurricane Michael is being discovered, folks are hard at work cutting trees, mucking out houses, and helping to rebuild in the Carolinas. Your contributions are making this happen. Your willingness to serve on a team restores hope to a family. Your prayers continue to lift up all of God’s children is encouraging. Appeal for Immediate Help There is a great need for volunteers to help with recovery in Wilmington and Havelock, North Carolina. If you are able to come and help this next week with tree removal and or mucking out homes, please let us know by completing the form HERE  The stories in the paragraphs below are from three different people involved in the recovery efforts this past week. A message from Tina McGuffey is from Our Savior, Laurel, Maryland Tina was a part of a team last week in Wilmington, North Carolina Still reflecting on a day where our team worked on 3 houses in one neighborhood, all flooded with 2-4 feet of standing water for 2 weeks. We helped finish the gutting of one, moved to the next and started clearing debris when the homeowner said: “no more, please stop.” We moved to the 3rd house which broke my heart, a 91-year old widow who had lived in her house for 47 years was now living in a shelter. We carefully went through her things, salvaging what we could before beginning the gutting process. I had to toss at least 10 beautiful knit scarves which had been neatly folded in a bottom drawer now drenched in sewer water and infiltrated with mold. When I asked her if she wanted to try to get them cleaned, she said “no, just throw them out, I made those for me, I’ll just make some more.” Much of a lifetime of memories now sits in a rubbish pile on the edge of the street, along with that of her neighbors. Please pray for Mrs. J and all the others impacted here in the Carolinas and thank God for the hundreds of volunteers from all over the country who are serving here and honoring and respecting the survivors.  Lutheran Church Charities (LCC) and Lutheran Early Response Teams (LERT) from 3 states arrive in North Carolina LCC Director of Disaster Response Kathy O'Day, and twenty five LERT chainsaw team members from 12 churches and 3 states, deployed to Messiah Lutheran Church in Wilmington, North Carolina, to assist those with downed and damaged trees as a result of Hurricane Florence. The chainsaw team completed work at 17 Messiah Lutheran Church member homes in the 3 days. They have several other homes in Wilmington to assess and complete before they leave. Several of these jobs have involved use of heavy equipment, such as tractor, bobcats and the boom lift. Everyone assisted is very appreciative for the professional work done and Christian focus of the team members.  From Lars Helland and the Response Team at Eternal Shepherd, Seneca, South Carolina
Betty lives in Lumberton and is one of many residents who have experienced the effects of 2 major hurricanes within 2 years. Below is a picture of the Eternal Shepherd’s Disaster Relief Team #709. The team number is always the combined age of the team. Betty is the home owner and very thankful for the help. Lord God, we pray for an extra measure of comfort on those who stand again in the midst of disaster. Strengthen them as they build anew. Dear Leah and Addie,
Thank you for visiting our school today and providing solace and love to our students. Your warm smiles and just relax attitude really helped everyone feel much needed ease. Your caretakers love you very much and be sure and thank them as well for taking the care to respond to our needs. Hoping the late afternoon allowed some GOPLAY time for such a dynamic duo. It meant a lot to see the care you all gave to our students. With gratitude, Ann McNamee 6A Team Leader/ SS Teacher Doherty Middle School Andover, MA
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Gideon (St. Michael’s – Bloomington, Minnesota) received the following email after a recent visit:
Hi! I just wanted to thank you so much for visiting my grandpa John Knoblauch the other day with the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs. You have no idea how much that must have meant to him. His dog JP was his whole world (my grandma's world too), and I know they've missed that loving presence in their life. I'm sure he was absolutely elated, and I'm so happy someone took the time to give him that feeling back. Thank you so so so so so much, John Barnet
The following email was received from Brad Schroeder on May 31, 2018:
The Schroeder family is so grateful for the incredible spiritual and financial support received from our LCC family. The funds have helped to create a wonderful place, especially the remodeled basement, for all the family to live together. It is humbling for us to see the Christian outpouring of love, caring and prayers from so many to our family. There are so many people hurting and in need. It has been so wonderful to feel the support of our LCC family to be there when it counted most. Many times before, I myself was with the LCC team bringing the compassion and love of Jesus to those hurting in some way. I know I felt compassion for those impacted, but never thought it would happen to my family. When tragedy did happen to us, it caused the worst hurt and grief of our lives. But, the love and support of LCC, St. Peter, and family have uplifted us to meet the challenges and move forward. But most of all, we feel the love of Jesus and that He is always with us as the source of our strength. We do not understand why Doug was taken from us, but believe that God is in control and has a plan for us. It has been said many times that in the midst of trouble and grief, God opens a new door for us. For us, this means to work together as a family to get through the grief, be strong, and help to raise these great boys. It will be difficult but we know God will be there with us. We are thankful for God’s gift of the continued LCC family spiritual support and prayers. Please help us to relay our thanks to all of our incredible LCC family. We want the LCC family to know they have made a positive impact on our family through their prayers and efforts. We may be hurting, but we are so thankful and blessed for all of you to be in our lives. May Our God bless you. Our love to all of you is forever, The Schroeder Family Please prayerfully consider donating to help Brad and Ginny care for their family during this time of transition.
“Not many things can make a person happy after tragedy strikes, or if they’re going through something really hard. They could have a long chat with someone who tells them that ‘you’re never alone, so many people love you.’ But sometimes it just doesn’t help. But, when you have a chance to spend time with a dog, and see his big loving eyes look up into yours, and feel his soft fur brush up against your hand, suddenly all your worries melt away. Dogs don’t judge you, they just give love, and get love back. I know since you’re a dog you can’t read, but I hope that somehow you know that you’re making a difference.” - Maegan
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