Southern California Connecting - LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Aaron

Recently, LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Aaron (St. John’s – Napa, California) and his team of handlers reflected on their pastor’s message to their congregation about choosing a word or phrase to focus on for the New Year. His team, through the voice of Aaron Comfort Dog, shares how they will show the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need in 2018:

Recently our pastor was talking about New Year’s resolutions and the idea of choosing a word or phrase to focus on. Many in the congregation shared theirs, #light #focus, #shine, #bebrave, #abide, #move, and #gratitude. I realize I am just a comfort dog but I have chosen #connect. What better way to focus on sharing the mercy, compassion and presence of Jesus Christ than to be intentional about connecting to others. I just returned from a special deployment in my home state, where I was able to make several connections, some planned and a few unplanned, or as my humans say, God planned.

I started this journey on Thursday, January 11, and left my hometown of Napa and traveled to St. John’s Lutheran, Bakersfield. There I was able to #connect Andy Rathe, who was part of LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Katie (Trinity – Fremont, Nebraska) and her team in Nebraska. Andy was able to share about the LCC K-­‐9 Ministry with his students and fellow staff and pastors.

After a great visit, I was back on the road so that I would arrive in time for a special birthday celebration of one of my ministry donors, Ruth Porter. She said I was the best birthday present ever! My handlers then took me to our hotel where I met some amazing gals at the front desk. The really enjoyed hearing about my job and the places I had been. This was one of the God planned #connections.

After a great night of rest my handlers and I were off to Concordia University Irvine. It is a beautiful college and my handlers have daughters that graduated and currently go there. I met up with Tim Jaeger, and was even announced during the chapel service. Many students learned about comfort dogs and shared how much they wanted one there at school. These #connections made my day. I was full of smiles and tail wags. I really think college is a fun place.

After spending time at college, I had a break to exercise and then I was off to #connect with Maeson Lovie, one of my helpers in Napa. She is currently student teaching at Christ Lutheran, Costa Mesa in Kindergarten (where the little humans go). She requested the visit so that I could be part of her lesson that her supervisor was critiquing. (I think she thought I would help her get a good grade). She shared with her class about compassion and comfort. They even role played how they would help as a junior helper working with me. They were amazing! When I went to check out in the office at Christ Lutheran, I met another “birthday girl” named Karen, and realized God had planned another connection for us.

Saturday’s plans changed. It was planned that I see a young lady battling cancer, but her doctor said she wasn’t strong enough to see me. Although I was unable to #connect in person, my handlers left a stuffed dog with her mom with prayers of healing. God had a different plan. My handler’s sister shared about some ladies at a beauty store that had a dear friend that passed away in the Las Vegas shootings. Since I had been to Las Vegas, I really wanted to meet them and bring some compassion and comfort. They spoke of their friend with tears in their eyes, and shared how much she would have liked me. They were so grateful to have had me #connect and visit with them. That really made my heart happy, and my handlers.

So you see, the word #connect is a great choice for the team of LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Aaron in 2018. As we connect with God’s people, we are fulfilling His mission. Thank you for supporting the ministry and allowing me to travel and deploy.
 
Aaron Comfort Dog

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