Mom Linda is an EMT, she and Bruno are training to be PTSD Disaster Relief buddies at a special camp
PRAY FOR: Bruno, 14 yo. Service Dog training for Disaster Rapid Response team. Lord Jesus we are honored to pray for this team that You are forming to counter disasters in our country during this tumultuous time. Mom Linda is a suicide survivor who is making herself available to help others suffering from PTSD and similar circumstances. You have brought her through deep valleys to the mountain top she now stands on. Thank You for using her experiences to strengthen those on the edge of disaster. Continue to train these two in Your service. Use them as You see fit. In the Name of
Linda Worthington Vaccaro 6-23-20:
Requesting prayers for my sweet Bruno as he is making big adjustments from being my Emotional Support Dog to my PTSD Service Dog. He loves wearing his vest and going with me instead of having to stay home. We are planning a week trip to a Chri[s]tian Camp in Blue Ridge, VA and will give us time for training and getting him ready to deploy with me when I respond to disasters as a BGEA [Billy Graham Evangelist Association] RRT [Rapid Response Team] Chaplain. Thank you in advance
Prayers for Pets
Hi Linda thank you for messaging me😍 I need a couple of good clear pictures of Bruno featuring his face but not too close up please. How old is he?
Linda Worthington Vaccaro
He is 14, I have a couple in his ESA vest.
Prayers for Pets
Ok good
What is BGEA & RRT?
Linda Worthington Vaccaro
He was resting on the way home after serving at our food bank. He is actually working in his red vest to calm me during a PTSD episode. Billy Graham Evangelist Association Rapid Response Team. He also comes with me as an International Fellowship of chaplains serving at our food bank.
Prayers for Pets
Beautiful, thank you. I worked with that organization at Ground Zero in 2001 ministering to police and firefighters around Thanksgiving that year. It’s a huge undertaking I understand the stress. Are you former military, Linda?
Linda Worthington Vaccaro
No, 30 plus years EMS
Prayers for Pets
Ok, I can see how that could give rise to plenty of PTSD type situations. You’re in Georgia?
I’m in Southern California
Linda Worthington Vaccaro
Yes, xxxx area with my husband, son, 3 cats and Bruno. All our furry friends are rescue animals.
Prayers for Pets
Nice, just curious. I won’t include that in the post. Please take a look at this and give me a yes or no.
By requesting a post from us you agree to our Terms and Conditions, see details: https://prayersforpets1.org/terms-and-conditions/
Terms and Conditions – PrayersforPets1.org
Linda Worthington Vaccaro
Yes
Prayers for Pets
Ok luv. Yours is a wonderful story to tell. Thank you for entrusting me with it. Make sure you get some good pictures at the camp and we can do a follow-up story when you’re done.
It’s hard to believe that Bruno is 14 years old he doesn’t look even close to that he looks more middle-aged like around 5 or 6! What is he made of he looks kind of boxer pitbullish?
Linda Worthington Vaccaro
Mostly boxer and he acts 2. He loves his cat and people. This trip to camp is going to be difficult for me so having him come with me is important. Plus my counselor and lifeline will be available on phone or through my panic button app. I went to Radford College and have not been back since 1972 and the event I witnessed is the origin to my nightmares. I will be facing that dragon physically. God is in control of my path and I trust Him to get me through another storm. Already nervous but I have my support that G[o]d has chosen to be in my life. I am also a Survivor of Suicide.
Prayers for Pets
Oh wow, that certainly sounds daunting… I don’t envy you and it sounds like God is preparing you for this intentionally. When do you leave?
Linda Worthington Vaccaro
June 26th-July 5th and yes He has a plan and has been pushing hard. Everything collapsed in 2019 including my ability to cope. 2020 He has opened doors for help and to be an advocate for Suicide Prevention. I’ve been asked by the center I go to for counseling to help with a group of 1st responders that will be in a group therapy sessions starting in July. Yes God is leading me in difficult direction but I have His strength and wisdom.
Prayers for Pets
I don’t usually ask this Linda because it states clearly in your terms and conditions; the nature of our posts. I generally copy and paste conversations from my messages right into the website article. You are sharing a lot of sensitive information here, please let me know ahead of time if there are things you don’t want me to share. I will need specifics. This is clearly some very tough stuff you’re dealing with and I don’t want to compound your difficulties in any way. 💗🙏
Linda Worthington Vaccaro
God has set my path to be transparent in my struggles and past. He uses our brokenness to heal others and I believe everything I went through last year God was preparing me for what He is going to use me for His glory. I can’t help others if I hide the struggles I face everyday. I believe all those we encounter is part of God’s plan. I have also learned that He orchestrates the paths that cross and impacts our lives and thankful for the paths that merge. Only God could bring us together for His purpose.
Prayers for Pets
What a beautiful person you are Linda, I am so honored to tell your story. I agree with you 150%! You are a real life hero. Pray that I will do justice to your story. I am very grateful to God that he brought us together. What [thi]s country needs more than anything right now is spiritual healing. It is my desire to be used of God to bring that healing to our country. It is through stories like yours that this can happen. God bless you my friend. If you would like to send me more pictures I think I will wait to post your story until it is closer to the date. I’m not sure but I may wait until next week. Tell me what you prefer if you want me to post it sooner than later I can do that. The earliest I could post it would be Tuesday. 💗🙏 Caren
Linda Worthington Vaccaro
That’s your call. If you ever need to talk my number is xxxxxx. I just love to see what God does with our short comings. Bruno will be wearing his Service Dog vest tomorrow at the food bank so hopefully some pics will be good. I will send you a pic of Bruno with his support buddy.
Prayers for Pets
Pawsome!
Linda Worthington Vaccaro
Video of Bruno’s crazy moments to release his tension. These two are inseparable. [Scruffles cat, they are very close. Eat,sleep, play and get into trouble together.]
Prayers for Pets
My gosh he DOES act like a 2 yo! You must be an amazing mom😍
Linda Worthington Vaccaro
He is such a love! But he is happiest when he is with me riding in the car.
Prayers for Pets
🤗☺️😁
Prayers for Pets
Thinking about you and praying for you when I heard this:
Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
1 Peter 2:18-21 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/1pe.2.18-21.ESV
💗🙏Caren
Linda Worthington Vaccaro
Thanks, God reminds me to seek Paul when the suffering is overwhelming. The physical and emotional suffering kept Paul humble as a servant of God. When God called me to step out as a chaplain in 2016 I had to trust Him fully because I never would have chosen this path. He doesn’t take the strong and wise but uses the broken to glorify His name. The transformation was from complete darkness to the brilliance of His light. God is good and always keeps His promises. Thank you for thinking about me and sending the message.
Prayers for Pets
How is it going?
Linda Worthington Vaccaro
He is a natural. Took him on a full day of errands and he was awesome. First time in grocery store and thought about the cart. He fell right in step with it. I am really pleased. I have also noticed that at home he stays by my side more even when I am in the bathroom getting dressed. It is like he knows there is a difference now.
Prayers for Pets
Amazing! This reminds me of a scripture I’m not sure where it is I’ll see if I can find it. Have you got some pictures of him in the new vest?
Linda Worthington Vaccaro
Not yet but I will. I am having a custom vest made to match my IFOC chaplain shirt which will be ready next Friday. I want to get pictures of us both in matching uniforms.
Prayers for Pets
Pawsome! Isn’t Friday the day that you go to camp? If so I hope I can get the pictures before then?
Linda Worthington Vaccaro
I will try and get a picture in his Billy Graham RRT blue before I leave. I will have to wait on IFOC. Maybe get a picture in the mountains
Prayers for Pets
Okay whatever works for you. I just want to be sure to remember to pray for you and [Bruno] next Friday. Somehow I doubt I’ll forget; that date has been burned into my mind by God!
Prayers for Pets
Job 12: 7 “But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
or the birds of the air, and they will tell you;
8 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
or let the fish of the sea inform you.
9 Which of all these does not know
that the hand of the LORD has done this?
10 In his hand is the life of every creature
and the breath of all mankind.
This is the scripture I was thinking of but I was wrong about it. It’s kind of what you were telling me about your store experience but in reverse🤔😂
Linda Worthington Vaccaro
I am learning a lot from Bruno so it does fit. Thanks, his trusting obedience reminds me that I should be trusting my obedience to God.
Prayers for Pets
Amen!
Linda Worthington Vaccaro
Caren, here are some recent pics of Bruno
I put his travel cot together to make sure I got it right before we leave. His buddy Scruffles got on it and won’t let Bruno on. Finally he got a chance to test it. I got up sometime in the night and both were sleeping together. They are a hoot together. Not sure how Scruffles is going to do with Bruno gone more than a day. Working off leash in his Blue vest and my BGEA RRT Chaplain shirt. I will be wearing my IFOC Chaplain shirt while traveling so hopefully photo opportunity will arise with his green matching vest.
Hope you can use them.
He went to the grocery store with me and my husband. Much busier than the other day but he did find. He actually moved behind me when someone came up so I would not be startled. Thanks for your prayers and encouragement.
Prayers for Pets
If you could get a shot [with] you sitting next to Bruno that would be great. But if it’s not possible to get a shot with both of you maybe you could just get one with Bruno and his face and vest especially.
I can use other photos in the article I will put together but I need the featured photo of Bruno’s face
Linda Worthington Vaccaro
Maybe they will do better through email? I’m new th this also. My son might be better. Got it It is storming here now so maybe later. Ok will work on it. Thanks
Prayers for Pets
Not a problem. I rarely give people with details of what it is that I need I can usually find a picture but Bruno story is so unique that I would like to make sure I get a good shot of his face and the vest. You can use email either one is fine with me prayersforpets1 [at] gmail [dot] com 💗🙏Caren