With Me on the Road

Walking Together / Serving as One”          To God be the Glory!

If you follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, you know my team and I were very busy in November.  I am so grateful for the support of our fellow comfort dog teams during this time.  Within hours of the deadly shooting in Thousand Oaks, CA, members of my team and I were on the road headed to southern California to minister to those affected by this tragic event.  We joined LCC comfort dogs Jacob, Emma, Ruthie, Hannah, Lois and Cubby. While there we also spent time comforting students and staff at California Lutheran University.

While we were in Thousand Oaks, the Camp fire broke out in northern California and we were quickly redeployed to Chico, where we met up with Reuben and his team to minister to the thousands who were displaced from the horrible fires in Butte County.  Together we visited Cal Fire base camp where we met with many first responders, volunteers and support staff.  Reuben and I also spent time at an evacuation center in Yuba City and a distribution center for first responders whose families had lost their homes.

Teams Aaron and Reuben were invited to spend the afternoon with members of Our Savior Lutheran Church who lost their homes and their church in the fire.  We were humbled to be with those who lost everything but their faith.  Their love for Jesus is so strong that even though the road ahead will be long they know they will have the love of God with them every step of the way.

Joining us at several additional sites, were members from expectant comfort dog teams from St. Andrews Lutheran Church (Stockton) and Light of the Valley (Elk Grove).  It has been such a blessing to have these teams working alongside us.  While visiting with residents from an assisted living center in Paradise who had been evacuated and relocated to a hotel in Rancho Cordova, these teams were able to partner with us in offering comfort and prayer to many who were suffering.  We also shared a special moment when one of the assisted living residents who had been unable to effectively communicate verbally with staff for the past two years actually strung together several sentences in conversation with them while visiting with Aaron.  Wow!  God is so good!

Now that I am back in Napa, I will continue to spend time at Vintage high school.  In addition to my regular weekly visits I have also been going there to provide comfort for students and staff grieving the loss of recent graduate Alaina Housley, whose mother also works there.

Please continue to keep all those affected by the recent shootings and fires in your prayers.

Wishing everyone a safe and blessed Advent and Christmas!