The devastating events of August 3^rd, 2019 left the communities of El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico, shaken and hurting.  As I drove home, I struggled to deal with overwhelming feelings of disbelief, fear, confusion, anger, and hopelessness over the atrocious actions of one man, which left painful consequences to be dealt with by families, friends, and our community as a whole.  I could feel myself spiraling quickly into depression, could see the fear of going outside my home taking root, and I fought the need to cry.

Abner the Comfort Dog singled me out and let me cry on him as I let go of grief and hurt

Oh, the yearning for hope that filled me when I was informed Ysleta Lutheran Mission Human Care (YLM) and Zion Lutheran Church from El Paso, had requested for the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry to deploy a team of their comfort dogs for the purpose of helping El Paso through the aftermath of violence so we could start the painful road towards healing.  Monday afternoon, I walked into Zion’s Church Office to find five beautiful Golden Retrievers lying on the floor.  Three of them immediately stood up and came to me, however, Abner the Comfort Dog insisted on sniffing and nudging me, not sitting down until I fell to my knees, wrapped my arms around him, and finally let out all the tears I’ve been holding back.

It was a painful yet comforting week, working in partnership with the seven teams from the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry.

Shooting victim spends time with Damaris Comfort Dog and Abner Comfort Dog while talking with one of the LCC K-9 Handlers

The comfort I received from Abner the Comfort Dog was experienced by others, over and over again, as we went from memorials to support groups, spending hours at Del Sol Medical Center with staff, patients, visitors, and family.  To see the way these beautiful dogs, so calm and accepting, helped the hurt people were feeling drain out of them was witnessing a miracle.

Praying over those seeking comfort from the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs.

As I contacted people to schedule much needed visits, I observed and marveled at the way these well trained dogs helped people open up, allowing their faithful handlers to step in and offer support through their pain, helping them work through what they were feeling.  It truly was a wonder to behold, so beautiful to see, as strangers cried and prayed together, hugged each other, and finally smiled as a sense of hope filled them up once more.

Mayor of El Paso, Dee Margo, smiles as he gets some golden furred love

Together with Zion Lutheran Church, YLM made sure this act of kindness, in bringing comfort to our community by providing the opportunity to find comfort unconditionally given by these wonderful dogs, was experienced by as many people who needed it.  From the Mayor of El Paso, to the dispatchers at the El Paso 911 Center, they brought smiles while taking on the weight of the pain, hurt, guilt and fear so many were still struggling with days after, giving their handlers the opportunity to share God’s love through words of encouragement and prayer.

As I write this, I can’t help but be so grateful to God for bringing my community of El Paso so much hope, love and comfort –not just through the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry, but also through each other.  It’s been a week where we’ve seen kindness change lives with every passing day.

El Paso, and our sister city of Juarez, has been drastically changed by the incomprehensible events of August 3^rd, yet God’s love has been multiplied within us, and through us, as our city of El Paso rises strong and united, finding comfort given to us by God in so many different ways and forms, and among those, the amazing teams of handlers and dogs from the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry.

I am truly blessed to be a child of God, first and foremost, an El Pasoan second, and a member of the YLM staff third.  My own healing process is still a work in progress, as is the healing of our beautiful city, and I am so thankful for the comfort brought by the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry, the prayers of so many throughout the United States, and the rest of the world.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support, and know we at YLM are committed, along with you, to help change the lives of the people of El Paso and Juarez through simple acts of kindness.

“You, LORD, are my lamp; the LORD turns my darkness into light.”                      ~2 Samuel 22:29