THE DOG HOUSE - October 2020 Newsletter

The Mission Changes, But the Mission Always Continues

Lizzie has been on a very reduced schedule since March. Like most of us, there are so many places and people Lizzie used to visit weekly and monthly that are closed to her right now. We handlers, who take her on visits, miss visiting our friends at the various care centers and schools. The rhythm of our ministry has changed from a week of Monday at Spanish Oaks, Tuesday at Thunderbolt, Wednesday at Ruth Byck, Thursday at Jacob G. Smith followed by a week at Buckingham South, Savannah Commons, The Suites at Richmond Hill and Coastal Care. All these places and many more that we visited from time to time include workers, residents, and students who we love to check in on, pray with and share Lizzie hugs and pats. While we haven’t been able to go in person and take Lizzie, we are still doing Comfort Ministry and Mission.

We pray for our people; we send them cards and pictures of them with Lizzie from previous visits. We make posters and go to car parades organized by some of the care places. We let them know they are not forgotten. Some of our friends keep in touch with us via Lizzie’s Facebook page. On her page, the ministry continues with Lizzie pictures inviting people to be in God’s Word through pictures with her friends favorite Bible verses or through the devotions available every other day. People feel free to share their joys and sorrows with Lizzie and we hold all of those up in prayer and send back responses.

We don’t know when we’ll be able to go back to our regularly scheduled visits. We do know that our mission continues and so we stay ready for the time God calls us back to that action. We take Lizzie out and about with us during our days, practice her commands and keep her moving and healthy. We visit family members and neighbors who need comforting and of course Lizzie gets together with her Trinity family at worship, meetings, and parking lot events. Staying in God’s Word is the most important thing we can all do because through His Word, God keeps us encouraged and filled with His presence. The power of His Word will always accomplish its purpose.

Isaiah 55:10-11 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.