LCC received a large donation of office supplies from the Northbrook Headquarters of Allstate Insurance Company. Last Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, a team of ten volunteers helped LCC staff members inventory and get the supplies ready for delivery to four ministries: Phil’s Friends, Roselle; Midwest Veterans Closet, North Chicago; Christ the King Lutheran Church, Chicago and Scarce Book Rescue, Addison.
 
Our outstanding team of volunteers included Sam Woodson, Bob Desiron, Lyle Elliot, Kay and Todd Kruse, Janet Reich, Sandy Campbell, Hazel Fehrman, Joyce Stahl, and Fred Vanstrom.
 
A special thank you to Allstate, whose generous donation will help defray office supply costs for these ministries as they touch many people's lives.
 
If you would like more information on how you can join our team of volunteers, call Deaconess Dianna Bonfield at 224-257-4371 or John Pejchl at 224-257-4374.

The evening started with fellowship time and a catered meal. Following dinner, Sheryl DeWitt, Executive Director of RLOM, shared the most recent developments.
 
After two long years of planning, searching, and raising funds, they have raised 81% of their goal to fund the new maternity home. Individuals and congregations, through grants, fundraising events, and individual donations, continue to strive to raise the remaining $63,727 of the total goal of $350,000.
 
On April 29th, members of Immanuel, Dundee, approved the sale of the three-bedroom house for the new maternity home, and all the paperwork was delivered to the lawyers to work out the details of the sale of the property.
 
God willing, plans for the renovation will start later this summer, with a grand opening to be scheduled later this year.

If your congregation or small group is interested in learning more about the new RLOM Maternity Home call Deaconess Lori Trinche at 630-665-5238 or lori@rlom.org.

LCC received a thank you note from Pastor John Brazeal and Principal Geri Brazeal of Christ the King Lutheran Church and School in Chicago, Illinois, for the donation of a large refrigerator/freezer for the Senior House at Christ the King, and for coloring books for the school.
 
Thank you for all you do. The fridge is loved by all in the house.
 
Not only do the kids love the coloring books but we have been giving them to the people who come for groceries. One lady said when she gets stressed out with her problems she first reads the Bible verses that Pastor John gave her, then she prays a prayer that I gave her from an LCC devotion. She then takes out the colored pencils that one of the eighth graders gave her and removes the remaining stress by coloring two pages.
 
God bless and keep you all safe.

Pastor John and Geri

Through your generous donations, LCC has been supporting teacher salaries in the Jeremie District. We received the following update from our mission partner, Sue Gross, with the Haitian Lutheran Mission Project (HLMP).

Your donations have made a huge difference in the lives of so many families in Fond Rouge and other villages in the Jeremie District. Hundreds of children whose parents cannot afford to send them to public school are attending our seven schools because you have kept them open. Many lives have been improved, and some saved because you cared enough to keep the HLMP working in Haiti for the past 15-plus years.
 
All of our schools are in the farthest southwest portion of the island. There is only one road from Port au Prince that can take you there. It is a rather isolated area and difficult for other relief organizations to get to. Most Haitians have never even been to Jeremie.
 
Even today, most families have no electricity or indoor plumbing. Our school meals are still cooked over wood fires behind the school, and water is brought to them in buckets from the river or a community well in the village. Many children attend school barefooted and hungry with no school supplies, but they are eager to learn, so the HLMP feels keeping the schools open is the very least we can do. "For those who have been given much, much will be expected."(Luke 12:48).
 
Even though the last two years have been difficult for many here in the United States, it cannot compare with life in Haiti.
 
Please open your hearts to those who are in need.
 
Blessings,
Sue Gross
Haitian Lutheran Mission Project

On Tuesday, April 19, LCC was able to pass through several donations to assist Christ the King Lutheran Church and School in Chicago, Illinois, in their ministry to the community around them. LCC was able to present a check of your donations for tuition for students in need at their school. There were also many boxes of coloring books for the school and a big refrigerator/freezer for the Senior House at Christ the King.
 
For over 20 years now, in a house next to the parsonage, Christ the King has been providing housing, care, and spiritual comfort to four seniors who have no family and cannot afford housing in their community. The Senior House provides a family environment where each senior has their own bedroom and, as a family share the living room, dining room, shared bathroom, and kitchen.

Recently the refrigerator that had been in the house when they started this ministry stopped working. A special thank you to the donor of the refrigerator that came at just the right time to meet the need for the Senior House Ministry.
 
Pastor John Brazeal contacted three members of the congregation who came to help unload the truck and move the refrigerator into the house. A special thank you to Pastor Brazeal, Ronny, and Marco.

We received an update from Lophane Laurent, who was able to schedule the first three COVID Clinics in Haiti thanks to your generous support. He is planning to hold the next three clinics next month. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of our Haitian brothers and sisters!

A little boy came to me at the clinic and asked me for a small catechism because he wants to share the gospel with his friends in his neighborhood, especially those whose parents are not Christian, and I asked him how old he is and he said to me 12 years old. His parents can’t afford to send him to school since they are not working for two years. I took his information and told him I will contact them next week to visit them.
 
So it was a blessing for the three locations and a success also. During the three days, we served 205 children from 3 months to 17 years old and 513 adults. We started at 8:30 am to 4:00 pm.  I will plan for next month for the three other locations. Please keep my Haitian team in your prayers because they did a good job and I am very proud of them. Thanks to all of our sponsors and donors who never stop supporting us. We love you so much and we know how you love us also. May God bless your families and your ministries.
 
Blessings,
Lophane

Thank you to LCC volunteers John DuCharme, Bob Desiron, Jim Beckley, Eli Frank, Scott Treptow, and LCC staff members for picking up and delivering additional pieces of furniture for the Trinity Galewood Hospitality House.

Thank you for helping LCC to furnish the Hospitality House for families in need of affordable short-term housing.