You Are Blessing Families in the Peruvian Amazon – Blessings Magazine – September 2019

blessings OPERATION BLESSING

SEPTEMBER 2019

Stories of how YOU help the hurting around the world.

YOU ARE BLESSING FAMILIES IN THE PERUVIAN AMAZON PA G E 1 2

HELPING PERSECUTED BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE MIDDLE EAST PA G E 6

YOU ARE TRANSFORMING MAASAI VILLAGES PA G E 1 0

EMPOWERING CYCLONE VICTIMS PA G E 1 6

Happenings

4 6

Catch up with the goings-on at Operation Blessing!

Helping Persecuted Brothers and Sisters in the Middle East

You are sending aid to refugees forced to flee from ISIS

You Are Transforming Maasai Villages

10 2

Making a difference every day in the lives of African villagers

Inside this this issue issue

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You Are Blessing Families in the Peruvian Amazon

Families in the watery village of Belen receive health and healing thanks to Operation Blessing partners

Empowering Cyclone Victims

16 18

Cyclone Fani victims in India receive precious resources thanks to YOU

An Exceptional Woman Sends Love Across the Globe

Karen from Virginia reached out to help the blind in Israel through OB

Safe at School

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OB partners give children in Honduras a safe place to learn

operationblessing.org | 977 Centerville Turnpike, Virginia Beach, VA 23463 | (800) 730-2537 3

OPERATION BLESSING

HAPPENINGS MICHIGAN: Volunteers take a photo break at an Operation Blessing food distribution partner in Michigan.

HAITI: Eric Lotz, director of OB Haiti, holds a baby at a medical brigade YOU made possible in Penkwa.

KENYA: Maasai women perform a traditional dance as part of a gathering for a jewelry-making microenterprise program you made possible.

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COLOMBIA: Venezuelan refugees line up for help at an Operation Blessing medical station.

EL SALVADOR: OB staff check up on a patient who received a Life-Changing Surgery—all thanks to you!

GUATEMALA:

Thanks to you, Geraldina Motta, director of OB Guatemala, cuts the ribbon on a new clean water project!

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JORDAN

HELPING

PERSECUTED BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

B

ubbly and cheerful young

six hours or be killed. The family

Maryam doesn’t even

had to flee their lovely home, their

remember the nightmare

community, and their employment

her family endured in Iraq when she

to escape sure death. As they

was just a baby. For her, the days are

desperately rushed out of the city,

spent playing with friends at her

the car they had hired was in an

safe, Christian school in Jordan. But

accident, rolling over five times and

her family has faced—and still faces—

injuring Maryam’s mother. Shortly

many difficult challenges after suffering

after, ISIS destroyed their house and

persecution for their Christian faith.

much of their Christian city.

When ISIS took over their city

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For the next several years,

of Mosul, Maryam’s parents, along

Maryam’s father, Sameer, moved

with many other Christians, were

between Jordan and Iraq in search

sent an eviction notice: Be gone in

of any income. Her mother, Nour,

OB friends like you are sending aid to refugees forced to flee from ISIS

found employment cleaning for

limbo, hoping to find a new country

the American Embassy, and her

they can truly call home.

father ended up working as a

Sameer said, “The biggest

driver for the U.S. Army. After

problem is that I’m not allowed to

establishing such close associations

work, and everything here is very

with the U.S., they knew they could

expensive.” Like most men, he just

never return home again.

wants to provide a decent home and

The family now resides in Jordan.

living for his wife and daughter.

They live safely in that progressive nation, but still suffer at the same time. Similar to so many who fled ISIS, they haven’t been granted citizenship, but they don’t have true refugee status either. They’re stuck in Continued on page 8

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Continued from page 7

But thanks to Operation Blessing supporters like you, and our

In addition to food and schooling,

partnership with a Jordanian partner

they get medical care and free lessons

called Messenger of Peace, Maryam’s

for adults in English, sewing and

family is getting the help they need

computers. These new skills will

during this transitional time. They

hopefully help them once they find

received a heater to better face the

a permanent homeland.

cold Jordanian winters, several

Maryam, Nour and Sameer

months’ worth of food, and

are still waiting to find their final

a Christian education for Maryam.

home in a new country. But in the

She now attends a school

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like you and partners in Jordan.

meantime, partners like you have

where she gets nutritious meals

made a huge difference in their

every day along with her lessons.

lives. Sameer said, “I’m very happy

Maryam said, “I have a lot of

there are Christian people thinking

friends. … I like to eat with them,

about helping the Christian Iraqi

study with them, and play with

refugees. … I’m very thankful for

them … especially hide and seek.”

these people doing things for Jesus.”

So many Christian refugee

Young Maryam also thanked

families have escaped persecution

those helping and praying for them.

and are now receiving hope,

She summed up her thoughts by

encouragement and assistance

folding her hands into a heart and

through Operation Blessing friends

saying, “I love you.”

WILDFIRE SEASON IS RAGING! The height of wildfire season has come again. You did so much to bring hope to the victims of fires in California last year through partnerships with local churches.

“I would like to take a moment to say thank you so very much for all your help getting us started after the Camp Fire. Your gifts and lessons were key to the success God has granted us.

We serve more than 1,000 people each week and that number is growing as people make their way back onto the ridge.”

–Pastor Kevin, Magalia Church

LET’S BE THERE FOR THEM AGAIN THIS YEAR. Donate now at operationblessing.org

KENYA

YOU ARE TRANSFORMING MAASAI VILLAGES You make a difference every day in the lives of struggling African villagers

A

llow us to take you on the trip of a lifetime to Kenya and the land of the bright, cheerful Maasai people—a land where Operation Blessing friends like you make a difference every day.

Along the way, through the broad valleys of reddish-brown earth and patches

of tall grass, you might spot zebras, lions, elephants and giraffes. Once there, you’ll notice that these villagers love to sing and dance and wear the most colorful clothing and jewelry you can imagine. However, many of these villagers also struggle with extreme poverty and survive in mud homes. Women have few legal rights. Food and clean water can be scarce, and children lack educational opportunities that might help them break out of poverty in the future.

“ T H E O N L Y M A N I E NV Y I S T H E M A N W H O H AS N OT Y E T B E E N TO A F R I CA — F O R H E H AS S O M U C H TO L OO K F O RWA R D TO. ” –RICHARD MULLIN

But you’re making a huge

You send opportunities like an

difference for the Maasai villagers.

agricultural program, including

You are reaching out and providing

gardens, chickens and goats, to help

the compassionate care they need

women struggling to support their

to keep those bright smiles on their

children. In this region, you offer

faces. In the community of Kimana,

other vital care like health services,

pictured here, you support a

clean water, and irrigation as needed.

high-quality preschool that helps

The Maasai have a lot of beautiful

give children a strong start and

culture and community to smile

prepare them for further education.

about, and now, thanks to you, their

The school also feeds the kids two

most basic needs are also being met,

nutritious meals a day, helping

and they’re moving into an even

them to better learn and develop.

brighter future.

PERU

YOU ARE BLESSING FAMILIES IN THE PERUVIAN AMAZON

M

eet Celina, a hardworking

There is little access to clean

and humble mother of five

water and electricity for the near

young children. Though living

64,000 residents that reside in this

in one of the poorest communities of

community. Located near the Amazon

Iquitos, Peru, she tries to provide a

water basin, the streets of Belen flood

happy home for her family. But health

during the Amazonian rainy season,

concerns kept plaguing her precious

exposing locals to environmental

children, threatening the happy life

contaminations and diseases.

Celina strives to provide.

Celina and Juan Gabriel, the

No exception to these struggles, Celina’s children had developed

children’s father, work hard selling

respiratory issues, while two of her kids

fish in the local market. Living in

also suffered from anemia. As she noticed

the floating slum of Belen, one of the

symptoms in her children, Celina

poorest districts in the city of Iquitos,

thought she had nowhere to turn,

many families like Celina’s struggle

because the Belen community doesn’t

with extreme poverty and hardships.

have easy access to medical clinics.

Continued on page 14

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FAMILIES IN

THE WATERY VILLAGE OF BELEN RECEIVE

HEALTH AND HEALING THANKS TO OPERATION BLESSING PARTNERS

Continued from page 13

But thanks to YOU, Celina found hope.

“One day, [a neighbor] told me

community health workers and staff provide medical attention, treatment, and medicines—free of charge.

they were going to have a medical clinic at the San Jose school. So, I went there because my children were feeling weak. They were pale and coughing,” Celina said. As it turned out, Operation Blessing holds regular medical brigades in the low-income area for residents.

Because of your support, Celina’s miracle showed up at just the right time!

Working diligently for the people of Peru, Operation Blessing

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LIVING IN THE FLOATING SLUM OF BELEN, ONE OF THE POOREST DISTRICTS IN THE CITY OF IQUITOS, MANY FAMILIES LIKE CELINA’S STRUGGLE WITH EXTREME POVERTY AND HARDSHIPS

All of Celina’s children were

to leave this family with more than

checked and treated by OB Peru’s

just medicine. They also gave Celina

medical team. They all received

and the kids an educational talk

medicine for bronchitis, and two

on proper hygiene habits, such as

of her sons received medication

handwashing to prevent disease

for anemia. OB Peru staff also

and infections.

provided antiparasite pills for the

“I’m thankful for Operation

whole family, as they continue to

Blessing who has helped me with

live surrounded by high levels of

medicines to cure my children,”

contaminated water.

Celina said.

Celina returned home with a

Celina’s children now live

full supply of medicine to nurse

happy and healthy lives without

her children back to health, as well

respiratory problems and with

as a heart full of gratitude for the

restored hemoglobin levels. As they

medical brigade made possible by

laugh, play and grow in Peru, your

you. But Operation Blessing wanted

kindness has made all the difference!

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INDIA

EMPOWERING

CYCLONE VICTIMS CYCLONE FANI VICTIMS IN INDIA RECEIVE PRECIOUS RESOURCES THANKS TO YOU

T

he eastern coast of India was

The weight of rebuilding loomed

devastated by Cyclone Fani in

over these communities like a black

May. As the strongest tropical

cloud, as many struggled to find

cyclone to collide with India in the

basic resources to survive.

last 20 years, the winds and rage of the storm were equivalent to that of a category 4 hurricane.

Hundreds of thousands of residents evacuated before the storm hit but returned to see their communities and homes destroyed. Even with these safety measures, seven people died due to falling trees and walls.

Locals who survived the storm

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A mother feeds her child thanks to the rations you sent.

Throughout the coastal region, fishermen returned to see their boats

were left to pick up the pieces of their

destroyed, the main source of their

lives that had been shook, scattered,

livelihood. Electricity was wiped out

or swept away by Cyclone Fani.

in widespread areas. Clean water grew

Cyclone Fani victims are excited to receive large jugs of clean water for their families.

scarce. Roofs had caved in. Morale

porridge, oils and spices. Thirty-five

was low.

families received a month’s worth of

However, your generosity made all the difference!

rations to sustain them as they worked towards regaining normal livelihood.

Thanks to your support, Operation Blessing’s office in India was one of the first organizations on the ground in India helping these suffering disaster victims.

They set up a relief bank in Puri, India, providing residents with critical life-sustaining resources in their dire time of need. With your help, the

It’s because you care that these

Operation Blessing team distributed

families have been able to survive and

10-gallon jugs of clean water, lanterns

rebuild after devastating Cyclone Fani.

for residents waiting for restored

Thank you for providing hope in this

power, and food items such as rice,

desperate time.

An Exceptional Woman

Sends Love Across the Globe K a ren f ro m Virginia reach ed out to help the bl i n d i n Is r ael th rough Oper atio n Bles s ing

S

eventy-five-year-old Karen

her to experience everything they

from Virginia has accomplished

did. They made sure she had lots of

many exceptional feats in her

opportunities to “see” the world in her

life in spite of—or maybe because

own way. She said, “I never thought of

of—being blind.

adjusting. I just thought of doing what

Karen was born without vision, but

everyone else did.” For example, when

her wonderful Christian family wanted

she learned Braille, she just thought of

ISRAEL

it as learning to read like her siblings,

(go Yankees!), serving as a musical

but in a way that fit her needs.

facilitator at her small church, and giving. Karen says, “It’s been a remarkable journey. … I look back, and I wonder how I’ve been privileged to do so many things.”

For much of her life, Karen has been involved in advocacy for the blind. So it shouldn’t be surprising that

She attended a small women’s

through Operation Blessing she found

college where she studied English and

an opportunity to reach out to the

music, then continued on to graduate

blind on the other side of the globe.

school at Harvard University where

Initially, when she heard of

she received a doctorate in the history

Operation Blessing, she helped those

and structure of the English language.

in need in a few small ways. But when

As she worked teaching the blind and

she met with the OB staff, she was

took a trip to encourage education of

surprised to learn all the exciting ways

blind women in Latin America, she

she could get involved. When she

discovered an interest in the law. So

asked specifically if we did any work

she earned a law degree from Duke

with the blind, the next thing she knew

University as well.

she was signed up for a trip to visit

After practicing law for 20 years,

the Arab Blind Association, which OB

she retired from that line of work, and

friends like you support in Jerusalem.

was offered yet another exceptional opportunity. She now works for the Library of Congress, primarily teaching sighted people, including incarcerated individuals undergoing rehabilitation, to transcribe printed musical compositions into Braille.

She also loves listening to baseball Continued on page 20

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Members of the Arab Blind Society received incredibly helpful talking watches thanks to Karen’s generosity.

Continued from page 19

Karen was thrilled to experience

But innovative Karen had more

every minute of that trip, an

ideas about how to help. “I did not

opportunity that would have been

mean to tell anyone what to do, but

hard for her to organize on her own

when I was asked, I was very thankful

due to her sight impairment. In

that I had the opportunity to contribute

her usual fashion, she experienced

some ideas that could be considered

the foreign land and biblical sites

on the basis of my experience.”

through sight, touch, smell and taste. She described a bustling city with many unique features, but she also enjoyed the quiet, reflective moments. “When we went to the garden tomb, everything was very quiet and the evening was falling, and I loved the silence.”

“It’s been a remarkable journey. … I look back, and I wonder how I’ve been privileged to do so many things.”

–Karen

While there, she had a chance to tour the Arab Blind Association

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Today, the blind participants

and see the work Operation Blessing

have talking watches and computer

supporters like you have already done

training thanks to Karen’s specific

there. You’d provided supplies for the

donations. They also have new

blind to make brushes and brooms so

opportunities to weave mats and

they could earn a living. In addition,

make other items that have a

you’d improved the facilities and

good market with tourists

given them food.

visiting Jerusalem. And since her

trip, Karen has also decided to help

went, and the great work they

poor Holocaust survivors living in

accomplished. She also mentioned

Israel with food, dental care, and

that she discovered the overhead

warm blankets.

costs for running OB were incredibly low in her opinion.

But most importantly, she found in Operation Blessing a family that she loves to be a part of.

She encourages others to look deeper into the giving and outreach opportunities available through Operation Blessing. “It has been one

Karen is making a huge difference,

of the most wonderful experiences

and so are friends like you! When she

of my life, because I feel as if at last,

took the time to research Operation

I’m giving back in ways that I want

Blessing, she learned that she could

to,” she said. “Operation Blessing is

see exactly where her donations

the perfect match for me.”

SMART IDEAS FOR TAX-WISE BENEFITS Take advantage of some tax-wise charitable gifts.

Donate Stock – Give stock shares and receive a deduction for the full market value while avoiding tax on capital gains.

Charitable IRA – Seniors pay no tax on a Qualified Charitable Distribution from a Traditional or Inherited IRA while satisfying their Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) obligation.

Contact Planned Giving at 1-800-333-2373 or email PlannedGiving@OB.org

ALABAMA

safe at school

OB PARTNERS HELP GIVE CHILDREN IN HONDURAS A SAFE PLACE TO LEARN

F

or schoolchildren in rural communities in Honduras, all too often school is not the safe and secure place that it should be. Such was the case for children in the small village of La Peña.

The local school for first through sixth grade consisted of a tiny, ramshackle

structure with no walls. The small building couldn’t meet the needs of the area’s

children. Out of the 57 local kids who wanted to attend school, only 22 fit.

HONDURAS

For the children that were able

built and outfitted with new desks,

to attend, the structure’s lack of walls

chairs, books and more! Now, there’s

exposed them and their learning

plenty of space for the children who

materials to the heat and rain. The

couldn’t fit in the old schoolroom.

desks, books and chairs were all

Not only that, La Peña’s new school

rapidly deteriorating and the building

now boasts three bathrooms, one for

provided almost no protection for

boys, one for girls, and one for the

the children.

teacher, as well as a handwashing

To make matters worse, the school had no bathroom for the

station. It even includes a playground for the children to enjoy.

students and teacher to use. The

Thanks to Operation Blessing

children struggled to learn in the

partners like you, the children of La

unsafe and unsanitary environment.

Peña now have a nurturing place to

But Operation Blessing partners

learn, grow and play. The generosity

like you didn’t abandon those

and love that friends like you have

precious children in their difficult

shown has completely transformed

circumstances. Seeing the problems

their childhood.

in La Peña, they decided to do something about it.

Construction soon began on a

The school’s teacher, Mirna, exclaimed, “Thanks to you, they have a safe and welcoming school

brand-new school building of strong

environment. … Without you,

cement blocks. Two classrooms were

none of this would be possible!”

School children in La Peña show off their gifts and new school supplies from Operation Blessing supporters.

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OUR PERSECUTED BROTHERS AND SISTERS NEED OUR HELP! Keep persecuted Christians in your prayers and help today at operationblessing.org

operationblessing.org

977 Centerville Turnpike Virginia Beach, VA 23463 Copyright © 2019 by Operation Blessing

(800) 730-2537