LCC was on the scene supporting Pastor Greg Mech and the staff at Immanuel and Martin Luther within days of the tornado. Fourteen LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs traveled in shifts to Joplin along with several LCC staff and members of the Board of Directors. LCC continues to register volunteers for Joplin, as well as, processing many of the thank you letters for donors and advising the staff there when needed. The overwhelming response of volunteers, donors, churches, districts and synod has made it possible for Immanuel and Martin Luther to become a vital participant in the rebuilding of Joplin. This is work that is going on today and will continue for the foreseeable future. Here are just some of the accomplishments made in the last year:

• More than 70,000 meals served over the course of two months 
• Distributed several semi-trailer loads of food, clothes, hygiene and cleaning supplies
• More than 3,000 volunteers deployed representing more than 300 teams (some that have made multiple visits)
• More than 800 projects/properties worked on
• Acquired two K-9 Comfort Dogs for full time service to survivors in Joplin
• Sponsored Camp Noah for children who survived the storm
• Received and distributed financial support from more than 2200 individuals, LCMS congregations
• Hired Trent Davis to serve as full time Director of Disaster Response
• Formed a new ministry of Immanuel called Transform Joplin, Incorporated to facilitate long term recovery.
• Moved recovery operations into a 20,000 sq. ft. warehouse/office provided by God's grace and invited other ministries involved in rebuilding to share the space

As the first anniversary approaches, the staff and members of Immanuel and Martin Luther want to publicly thank all the volunteers and ministries that have partnered with them to bring the mercy, compassion and proclamation of Christ to those who lost so much on May 22, 2011. Special thanks go out to the LCMS, LCC, Orphan Grain Train, LCMS World Relief and Human Care, the Missouri District of the LCMS, and Good Shepherd Lutheran in Carthage, Missouri (for providing housing for so many volunteers).

While we pause to remember and offer thanks, we also want everyone to know there is much more work to be done.

Skilled teams of volunteers are still being accepted as homes are being built in cooperation with Habitat for Humanity. Teams from 3 to 15 people with at least 20% of the participants being skilled at construction are ideal.

Ongoing financial support is also key. Each new Habitat home costs $50,000 to build and Immanuel has committed current funds to build several homes. Congregations, circuits or districts could expand this number by sponsoring all or part of a Habitat home through Transform Joplin.

Pastor Dennis Heiden of Hosanna Mankato, Minnesota Seeks Help for Family that Lost Everything in a Fire

I had been working on some projects at our camper just outside of town and decided to stay the night there so I could finish what I had been working on the next morning. At about 4:00 a.m. Friday, April 13 I was awakened suddenly by my wife’s grandfather telling me I had to get home because my house was on fire. That was all I knew.

It’s a 15 minute drive from our camper home and it was the longest drive of my life. I kept wondering if my wife and son were alive, if they had gotten out of the house, how bad is the fire, how did it happen? This feeling of uncertainty and helplessness is a feeling that I will never forget and I can say has changed me for life.

I was very relieved to find my wife and 18 year old son safe when I got home but in shock when I saw my family’s house. I wasn’t there but I was told the house went up fast. In less than 15 minutes we had lost everything inside our home and garage...

We know how lucky we are and that God was watching over us that night not only because we are all safe but because of the treasures He spared. When walking around what was our bedroom, before the house was demolished, I found my wife’s wedding ring and the pearls she wore in our wedding unharmed along with our wedding album which was all burnt on the outside but the pictures inside are perfect. I was also able to save the last gift my father had given Emily and me, an oak storage bench. When I found it, it was black with soot and looked burnt but as I wiped away the soot I realized it had sustained virtually no damage.

We thank you for your thoughts and prayers as we rebuild.
Torrey, Emily and Nick Rand

All donations will go dollar for dollar to the Rand family through Pastor Heiden and Hosanna Lutheran Church.

Request from Pastor Phil Ressler, Lord of Life LaFox

In June Madi will compete at the national level in St. Louis. All contestants are required to pay all of their own pageant expenses. Help support Madi as she continues to witness to everyone that she meets, especially the other contestants.

Watch our website for a video of Madi giving her testimony about what Christ has done in her life.

Students loved visiting with the dogs and many shared stories about their own dogs back home. Faculty members also came by for a few minutes of encouragement with the Comfort Dogs. Concordia Wisconsin is the largest in the Concordia University System with ongoing construction projects continuing to expand their facilities.

Please continue to keep all of those affected by these storms in your prayers as well as prayers for the safety of all the relief workers and volunteers who are so tirelessly responding to the needs of these communities.