LCC has ordered an 18’ x 96” Workhouse Dual Tandem Gooseneck Dump Trailer with 24” sides that our heavy equipment would be able to load with trees and debris safely and efficiently for hauling at a cost of $19,150. It also has slide out loading ramps to load and transport a bobcat, ditch witch, or small tractor to a site for use.

We are blessed to have very dedicated and experienced LERT volunteers who give their time, talents and financial support to purchase and maintain their own tools, trucks, and heavy equipment. LCC LERT teams are being called to travel and serve in disaster affected areas not only in our own Northern Illinois District, but nationally due to our expertise and available equipment. With increasing requests, this is beginning to take a financial toll on our volunteers and equipment maintenance.

LCC does not charge those we serve and will never profit from our service as Christians. We have established a fund to help offset equipment and operating expenses for our volunteers and purchase equipment as needed.

Please consider a donation to the Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response Equipment Maintenance & Fuel Expense Fund so that our LERT disaster response teams may continue to show the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.

Good Shepherd, with Pastor Ryan Ankerson, has become the long term recovery center which will house, feed, and send volunteers into affected communities to work on designated homes for the next year, assisting with resident’s recovery process. Remkea Ockander, Director of Family Ministry, said upon hearing of donations received from LCC, “This donation is an answer to our prayers. We prayed this afternoon about our financial needs this week to provide assistance to communities … and here it is a couple hours later that you have called. What a blessing!”

Please prayerfully consider donating to help LCC continue supporting the individuals and families affected through our churches during their long recovery.

Communities all over Nebraska are really praying they do not flood again as this latest snow bomb cyclone has hit the Midwest. Fremont had mostly rain but northern Nebraska and the Dakotas had one to two feet of snow which will soon melt and come their way. Everyone is very nervous and weary.
 
Trinity is welcoming new families to worship with them during Holy Week to celebrate the message of hope the resurrected Christ freely gives to all who believe. Please continue to pray for the affected Nebraska communities and donate generously to support the individuals and families during their long recovery.

All of the volunteers working through Trinity Lutheran is a great example of how we are all called to be the church and serve those in need. Please continue to generously support the families in Fremont, Nebraska, during their long recovery.

As the water has receded, they are seeing more families who have lost homes and belongings, ranchers who have lost livestock, and those who can no longer work because the roads and infrastructure have been so badly damaged that they cannot travel as needed to work. Pastor stated that the only road from Fremont to Omaha where many are employed is now buckled and has bridges washed away. There will be lasting effects that will be far-reaching from this flood for most of their community and surrounding areas.
The Colfax County Emergency Management Agency invited LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Katie (Trinity – Fremont, Nebraska), Eddie (Peace Lutheran – Grand Island, Nebraska), Joanna (Christ Lincoln – Lincoln, Nebraska) , Moses (Christ Lutheran – Cairo, Nebraska), Nicodemus (The Rock – Seward, Nebraska), and Priscilla (Trinity – Lincoln, Nebraska), and their handlers, to the County Volunteer Recognition Dinner for First Responders last week held in Schuyler, Nebraska. They extended their thanks to the K-9 teams for helping the community and first responders with the healing process. All were honored to be there to provide care to those helping the community during the flooding.

LCC is also watching the river levels in surrounding areas of our district that may also experience flooding in the days and weeks ahead with snow melt and warmer temperatures occurring. If you know someone that is in need of assistance in the Northern Illinois District (NID), please contact Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response at 866-455-6466 or dradmin@lutheranchurchcharities.org. Our LCC LERT teams are willing to respond with the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.

Please keep all those affected by flooding in the Northern Illinois District and surrounding states in your prayers as they face many losses and a long recovery.

Indiana

• St. John's - Dillsboro: Steve Black

Florida

• Port Orange: Ken Cupples

This team was able to return to a homeowner’s property that they had started on our team’s last trip a few weeks ago. They were very happy to be able to return and finish.

Almost every home and business has been affected in some way in Panama City and surrounding towns. The destruction is widespread, especially the tree damage. According to Pastor Ed Brashier, this has been the worst tree damage he has seen in 13 years of disaster response. He is very appreciative that we are willing to travel to assist in this area again for the third time since the hurricane hit. Our LERT teams are very willing to share the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those in need wherever we are invited to serve.

Please pray for the safety of the LERT volunteers deploying and keep the residents affected by Hurricane Michael in your prayers as they will continue to face a long recovery.