You Are Renewing Hope for the Future – Blessings Magazine – April 2021

blessings OPERATION BLESSING

APRIL 2021

Stories of how YOU help the hurting around the world.

You are renewing hope for the future

FILLING EMPTY STOMACHS WITH HOPE PA G E 6

HOPE AFTER THE FLAMES PA G E 1 6

AN APPETITE FOR HOPE PAG E 1 8

Happenings

4

Catch up with the goings-on at Operation Blessing!

Filling Empty Stomachs With Hope

6

How you provided for a struggling family in Texas

A Big Blessing for Villagers in Cambodia

10 2

A new well provides clean water

Inside this this issue issue

12

You renewed hope for Gaby in Peru

A nearby health clinic made all the difference

Hope After the Flames

16

You brought healing after tragedy

An Appetite for Hope

18 22

You fed a Honduran community with more than just food

A Huge Thank You to Our Amazing Volunteers!

Honoring National Volunteer Week

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

OPERATION BLESSING

HAPPENINGS INDONESIA: When a 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia, thanks to you our team on the ground quickly began distributing food, hygiene items, water, tents, and medical care.

INDIA: In the past year you’ve made it possible for this precious girl from India, and hundreds of other people around the world, to receive lifechanging surgeries.

KENYA: Through your amazing generosity, you made it possible for Muiyai’s family in Kenya to get a new house that's safe and sturdy.

4

PHILIPPINES: Thanks to you, our team in the Philippines delivered disaster relief supplies to survivors of Typhoon Ulysses—and continued to aid with rebuilding after last year’s Taal Volcano eruption.

PERU: You are providing support and encouragement to artisans like Martha by blessing them with tools and supplies that can increase their productivity and earnings.

UNITED STATES: OB friends sent disaster relief items including water, food, and blankets to struggling Texans after a massive winter storm took them by surprise.

5

FILLING empty stomachs with hope HOW YOU PROVIDED FOR A STRUGGLING FAMILY IN TEXAS

TEXAS

J

uanita has always been a caretaker. Many years ago she was a single mom, raising her children alone. She persevered through the years of caring for her family by herself and, as time went on, Juanita found herself caring for many of her grandchildren.

“I love my grandkids,” Juanita said, “and I wanted to keep our family together.

They were in a situation where I had to step in and take care of them, so I did.”

With years of experience as a selfless matriarch under her belt, Juanita faced this new season with grace.

Several more years passed before she met Tim at church. Tim courted Juanita, and soon the two

were married. He lovingly claims Juanita’s family as his own, cherishing the ways they have richly blessed his life. “My grandkids are a godsend,” Tim explained.

“They have helped me grow in my faith and grow as a man. I grew up in foster care, and I didn’t have a family.

They’re everything to me.”

Tim and Juanita have poured love and care into their grandchildren, including Jaden, who recently came to stay with them and has Down syndrome.

Their granddaughter, Niyah, treasures their relationship.

“When I talk about my grandparents, I take them as my real parents,” Niyah said.

“They showed me they love me because they never gave up.”

Continued on page 8

“Right when I wanted to give up, you were there.”

- Tim 7

Continued from page 7

But this loving family needed help. Despite being a dual-income household, Tim and Juanita struggled to pay the bills and provide for the five children still under their care. There were days when the refrigerator and cupboards were completely bare. “That’s frustrating when you have a family,” Juanita said. “You feel like a failure.”

But thanks to you, Juanita’s miracle was just around the corner!

Tim and Juanita heard that their church, Dayspring, was partnering with Operation Blessing’s local Food to Freedom program. They began receiving groceries on a regular basis and were quickly relieved.

“It has been such a blessing,” Tim explained through tears. “It put a smile on my wife’s face when she would go to cook the food that we had. God has been good to us through Operation Blessing.”

8

Tim has since started a new job that helped them get a firmer footing. He and Juanita no longer struggle with finances and hunger.

But that recent miracle in their darkest hour will live in their hearts forever. “Right when I wanted to give up,” Tim said, “you were there.”

Thank you for your heart to provide food for struggling families all over the world!

YOU

OPERATION BLESSING

LIVES CHANGED!

You can inspire your friends and family to bless the poor and hurting.

Start something amazing by initiating your own fundraiser today to support people in desperate need of clean water or hunger relief, or to send help where it’s needed most. It’s easy and fun! Visit ob.org/fundraiser today.

A BIG BLESSING FOR VILLAGERS IN CAMBODIA

H

ours from the nearest city, the village of Trapeang Kha is like so many others in developing nations around the globe. It’s full of struggling farmers, hardworking fishermen, and unskilled laborers. Many of the younger villagers end up moving to Thailand to find better jobs. Medical care is hard to come by. But perhaps their biggest struggle has been the struggle for water.

CAMBODIA

One resident, a woman named Ty, described the situation. “I used the water from the stream which was located near the mountain.

Normally, I had to spend time walking about a third of a mile to get water to use daily. The water was dirty and it had leaves, insects and chemicals in it. My family used to get sick from using it.”

Then Operation Blessing friends like you reached out to make a difference for these precious villagers through a well and water filters. “Now, it is not difficult to get water like in the past. I have a new well and enough water to use. The water is clear and the pump is easy to use,” Ty said.

Another resident, Srem, age 10, added, "Every morning I get water for my parents for cooking, drinking, washing, and bathing. My brother and sister like to use this well, too.

I have enough time for school and I can still help my family.”

“I love this new well because my family and my livelihood are better,” Ty said as she explained the change this well has created.

“Thank you for sponsoring this well. May the Lord bless your family.”

In fact, many of the grateful villagers we talked to wished blessings upon you.

Thank you for your giving heart and your generous support of clean water projects around the world!

11

PERU

You renewed hope for Gaby in Peru “My daughter was feeling bad for almost three days,” Priscila explained. “She was in a bad mood, had a dry cough, and had been running a fever for two days.

I was so worried!”

Gaby and her family reside in the remote community of San Jerónimo de Ullagachi.

Many families call this area home, but they have always lacked resources, including ready access to medical

12

care. Too often, families like Gaby’s could not afford the transportation to get to the nearest clinic, some two hours away.

However, a few years ago, friends like you helped provide a miracle! Through your support, Operation Blessing located an abandoned building in Gaby’s community and renovated it into a fully functional medical clinic—offering accessible medical care to this needy

A nearby health clinic makes all the difference area. The facility provides medical diagnoses, prescriptions, and treatments. Local residents can be trained as Community Health Volunteers at the clinic, learning how to care for their own families and neighbors in times of need.

When Gaby became so sick, Priscila brought her to the clinic, desperate for answers and relief.

The staff checked her symptoms, examining her throat and listening to her labored breathing. Gaby was diagnosed with acute bronchitis. She was at risk for this sickness due to the extremely cold and dry climate of the highlands that often dipped to near-zero temperatures.

Continued on page 14

PRISCILA AND GABY RETURNED TO THE CLINIC FIVE DAYS LATER FOR A CHECKUP. GABY WAS IN BETTER SPIRITS AND PRISCILA WAS FULL OF PRAISE! Continued from page 13

But thanks to you, Gaby was in the right place! Your kindness has continued to provide a monthly supply of medicine to the clinic, ensuring proper treatments for residents of San Jerónimo de Ullagachi. Gaby was prescribed and given medicine to clear her bronchitis, as well as nebulization treatment to ease her breathing.

She was on the path to recovery!

In addition to the medical care Gaby received, Priscila was also provided with important health information on issues like preventing COVID-19, proper nutrition, hand washing, and warm liquid intake.

Priscila learned how to prevent the common cold that can develop into bronchitis or even pneumonia, which would be very dangerous for Gaby.

Priscila and Gaby returned to the clinic five days later for a 14

You provide free medications to villagers in Peru!

checkup. Gaby was in better spirits and Priscila was full of praise!

“My daughter got much better after being nebulized,” Priscila said, “and the syrup that we received in the health center helped her

to not feel feverish. She is healthy now. Thank you so much for the help!”

Thank you for your heart to see Gaby—and dozens of other families in the highlands of Peru—receive the medical care they need!

KENYA

HOPE after the flames YOU BROUGHT HEALING AFTER TRAGEDY

“I wish to be able to use my fingers and become a doctor in the future.” - Emmy

M

eet Emmy, a warm and kind teenager who wants to be a doctor someday. She lives in Kenya with her mother and four siblings. Sadly, Emmy has endured incredible pain and loss in her young life due to burn scars that threatened her future.

Two years ago, Emmy went out to buy some paraffin for the lamp that her family used for light. Unfortunately, instead of paraffin the shop sold her gasoline. When Emmy went to light the lamp after she got home, tragedy struck and Emmy

16

was engulfed in flames.

The accident left Emmy badly burned across much of her body. She was taken to a local hospital, where she had a lengthy stay as she recovered. Her medical bills were partially covered by the national insurance and partially with the help of her village. Even so, Emmy’s treatment was incomplete, as money had run out to pay for the care that she still needed.

The burn scars had left the skin on Emmy’s hands badly contracted, sharply restricting her movement, and it only got worse as she grew. To compound the issue, Emmy’s father abandoned the family right after the accident, leaving Emmy’s mother to support the family alone.

The injuries made it difficult for Emmy to perform basic life tasks and particularly to do her schoolwork, as the

contractures made it difficult for Emmy to hold a pencil and write. Though her whole life was still before her, things were looking very bleak for Emmy. Then faithful Operation Blessing partners like you stepped in to change her life!

After hearing about her situation, Operation Blessing launched a special fundraiser just for Emmy through our Life-Changing Surgeries catalog (www.ob.org/ surgeries) and compassionate people like you stepped in to bless her! Soon, all the money needed for Emmy’s surgeries had been raised!

Since then, Emmy has had her operations and is making a remarkable recovery—all thanks to the generosity of friends like you. “Thank you for helping me with the medical bill,” Emmy exclaimed. “I hope to go back to school and study to be a physician. God bless you!”

17

HONDURAS

AN APPETITE FOR HOPE You fed a Honduran community with more than just food

A

t the age of 10, Olga from Honduras is the eldest of six siblings and a responsible big sister. Her father worked as a laborer, spending his days working maintenance jobs for a local landlord.

Inspired by her father’s hard work, Olga could often be found selling avocados by the street for profit.

But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit Honduras, Olga’s life suddenly changed. Her father received heartbreaking news from his employer: he would have to be let go.

Continued on page 20

19

Continued from page 19

“They gave us food but it did not last long,” Olga said.

Their means for scraping by were running out. Olga’s family began to lose hope.

But a local pastor learned of the family’s condition. In fact, many other families were struggling with the same burden of finding food during that time. The pastor had heard of “My dad came home in the Operation Blessing and the relief afternoon that day and told us he we offered communities like had lost his job,” Olga explained.

Olga’s that were having difficulty “His employer was not going to be making ends meet. The pastor able to give him any more work.” contacted Operation Blessing Olga’s family was faced with a and asked if we could offer any new reality. The loss of a regular assistance to his community. income and the extreme scarcity Thanks to you, Operation of jobs during the pandemic Blessing responded quickly had grave repercussions on and abundantly! OB Honduras her family’s finances. Buying arrived at Olga’s community with food became harder with each resources to bless families. Bags passing day and, eventually, their of food and other vital supplies resources ran out. They woke up were distributed to these suffering one day to a startling reality. men, women and children. Hope “That day we were very hungry abounded through the gift of lifebut had nothing to eat. My sisters saving food to families who had were crying because they were been hungry for weeks. hungry,” Olga said.

“I prayed and asked God to Olga’s father had been keeping help us,” Olga said. “Thank you, their burden quiet, ashamed to Operation Blessing, for bringing ask for help. But soon the hunger us food!” overcame the shame, and Olga’s Thank you for your heart to see father pleaded with their neighbors Olga and her community fed and for something to feed his children. cared for in their darkest hour!

20

RESURRECTION! The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

LAMENTATIONS 3:22-23

Ivonne

Faithful volunteers prepare for a day of disaster relief work.

Ivonne spent much of her day helping remove downed trees and debris.

A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING

VOLUNTEERS!

22

We might think of it as just a small task. But at the end of the day, it’s making a difference in people’s lives and changing the world for the better.

“

“

Efosa

UNITED STATES

0

ver the past year, our faithful volunteers have gone above and beyond as they continued to serve through new COVID-19 restrictions and protocols. Hundreds of helpers showed up to assist those reeling after a record hurricane season along the Gulf Coast.

We couldn’t be more grateful to these courageous, dedicated men and women who take time out of their busy schedules to bless those who are hurting after disasters. You have demonstrated the hearts of true heroes, and we honor you for all you do in times of crisis.

Ivonne from Texas served the people of Louisiana after Hurricane Laura—on Labor Day! “I could have a cookout, but that means nothing to me. I’d rather just come out here and help them,” she said. “It’s been amazing to get the opportunity!”

Efosa packed disaster relief supplies for hurricane victims through a partnership between Operation Blessing and Liberty University. He also described the experience as amazing. “We might think of it as just a small task. But at the end of the day, it’s making a difference in people’s lives and changing the world for the better.”

This month we celebrate National Volunteer Week! If you’d like to get involved in volunteering with Operation Blessing, please visit ob.org/volunteer

23

You have the power to transform more lives like Miriam’s!

Make a difference today.

Go to ob.org/give

operationblessing.org

977 Centerville Turnpike Virginia Beach, VA 23463 Copyright © 2021 by Operation Blessing

(800) 730-2537