December Blessings Magazine by Operation Blessing

blessings OPERATION BLESSING

DECEMBER 2021

Stories of how YOU help the hurting around the world.

merry bright YOU MADE THEIR HEARTS AND

WIDOWED IN A WASTELAND PAG E 6

A GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING PA G E 1 6

YOU GAVE THE GIFT OF JOY AND NEW LIFE PA G E 2 2

Happenings

Catch up with the goings-on at Operation Blessing!

Widowed in a Wasteland

When Maribel lost her husband and home, the gift of your love arrived

Abounding in Grace, Abiding in Love

10 2

You blessed at-risk women and children in Uganda

Inside this issue

You Made Their Hearts Merry and Bright

Schoolchildren in Peru receive abundant blessings, thanks to friends like you

A Gift That Keeps on Giving

Hunger relief for a teen facing food insecurity

Thirsting for a Miracle

How Operation Blessing partners refreshed a community in Cambodia

You Gave the Gift of Joy and New Life

A little girl in Guatemala gets the surgery she needs

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

OPERATION BLESSING

HAPPENINGS PERU: Thanks to friends like you, a young girl in Peru is back to tending her cattle after receiving treatment for bronchitis.

KENYA: Our community health volunteers provide vital health screenings and advice to vulnerable people living in remote areas.

VIRGINIA: Families in the U.S. have been receiving muchneeded food supplies during the ongoing challenges of COVID-19, thanks to the love and generosity of friends like you. 4

PHILIPPINES: Together with the Philippine army, Operation Blessing supporters blessed hundreds of families suffering in the aftermath of Typhoon Jolina.

HAITI: The nation of Haiti is still recovering from a powerful earthquake, but because you care, our team continued reaching out to people in need.

HONDURAS: After friends like you provided surgery to restore his eyesight, Eugenio can now look for a job again. And he can better enjoy his beautiful family! 5

PHILIPPINES

Widowed IN A WASTELAND

hen a massive storm hit her family’s small hut of a home in the Philippines, Maribel was focused on keeping her children safe from danger. As the typhoon continued to pummel the small community, the roof of their house caved in. Maribel’s husband heroically helped his family escape the crumbling structure, but in the process he lost his own life. The home was left in shambles. So, Maribel and her children were forced to stay in shelters and relatives’ homes. Just when Maribel thought it couldn’t

When Maribel lost her husband and home, your love arrived

get worse, fallout from COVID-19 complicated matters. Her hope for rebuilding suddenly came to a halt. “How can we survive if no one helps us?” Maribel worried. “I was afraid we wouldn’t have a house again. I was scared for my kids.” For Marilou, Maribel's oldest daughter, the loss of her father and her home also hit hard. “I lost all hope, because I can’t really build a house for my family,” the young girl said. “Only my dad

was strong enough to build one for us.” But your love was already traveling to Maribel’s family! Thanks to our generous partners, Operation Blessing teams first provided Maribel with food bags full of rice and other groceries to feed her family. Two weeks Continued on page 8

Continued from page 7

later, they arrived again with more food supplies and a life-changing message: Operation Blessing partners were making it possible to provide a new home for Maribel and her children. “I remember telling my kids that we should pray,” Maribel said. “I thank the Lord for hearing our prayers! He sent us all the help we needed.” In addition to a home, love from friends like you also provided pigs

for Maribel to raise and sell as additional income. You surrounded Maribel and her children when they felt completely alone. Your love has galvanized this young widow to carry on for her children. Thank you!

Christmas WISHING YOU AND YOURS A VERY BLESSED

nd the angel said to them, “Fear not, for

behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born

this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in

swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Luke 2:10-14

Abounding in GRACE Abiding in LOVE

YOU BLESSED AT-RISK WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN UGANDA

Because of your love and compassion, Praise was given the medicine she needed

UGANDA

riends of Operation Blessing are moving mountains in the lives of women and children who find refuge with our partner in Uganda, Abide Family Center. The halls of the center have seen the sick, frail and forgotten. When women and children arrive at Abide, they are weary and desperate. But friends like you are making a huge difference in their lives. Providing nutritional, medical and emotional aid to mothers and children in desperate need of care, Operation Blessing partners with the Abide Family Center to foster daily miracles with your support. One of the core pillars of this program is seeing health restored to the sick, like baby Praise and her mother, Betty. At the suggestion of her pastor, Betty joined the Abide Family Center in pursuit of a better life for herself and her 8-month-old daughter. She joined the Empowerment Program for economic education—but Betty and

Praise’s health raised serious concerns. A staff nurse supported by Operation Blessing deemed them both malnourished, as Betty’s husband could not work due to an injury and food was scarce. Praise was fussy and uncomfortable all the time. A visit to the local hospital revealed that the child was fighting a cold, malaria, anemia, and dermatitis, in addition to malnutrition. Because of the love and compassion of friends like you, Praise was given the medicine she needed to recover! She is now feeling healthy and growing in strength every day thanks to your support providing for her nutritional needs. Meanwhile, her mother is receiving meals and medical care, and is learning to better provide for her family in the future. Thank you for your heart to see marginalized women and children lifted high when life has brought them low. Your generosity can change lives like Praise's every day. Thank you! 11

YOU MADE THEIR HEARTS MERRY AND BRIGHT

ames, age 5, and his brother Jampier, age 3, go to great lengths to get an education—literally traveling a long way to get to school each day. Unfortunately, the conditions of the local schoolhouse they travel to had long left much to be desired. Each morning their dad, Angel, would pile them onto a small motorbike and begin the long drive to school. While that might seem surprising from our American perspective, this is simply life in the remote highlands of Peru. Angel said, “It’s complicated to live in the countryside.” Then, after that long and often-cold journey, James and Jampier would reach Continued on page 15

21 12

PERU

James and Jampier pile onto their father's motorbike each morning. 13

The community got involved in building the new classroom.

Continued from page 12

a cramped and borrowed classroom space that didn’t truly meet the children’s educational needs. For the rest of the day, Angel and his wife would farm the land—like most people in the village of Charamaya. Angel’s family, along with their neighbors, dreamed that someday the area might have a better school for young children like James and Jampier. When our team in Peru heard about the situation, they thought this would be the perfect opportunity for a new school project! Thanks to friends like you, they worked with the community to build a special new octagonal classroom building on the land of the existing school. This shape would offer the little kids plenty of space to learn and play while still keeping them safe and warm in the chilly highlands. But our supporters didn’t stop there. They sent them a strong, Bible-based curriculum. They provided a kitchen so the kids can enjoy nutritious meals comfortably in their new building. And they gave them a bathroom to facilitate and teach good hygiene. Angel said, “We are thankful to Operation Blessing for all of this building process. It is beautiful. Now our kids will learn today and, in the future, become leaders. God bless you!”      Now, when James and Jampier head to school, they’re met by a warm, cheerful building that’s conducive to learning and growing. Their classroom is as merry and bright as their sweet young hearts.

VIRGINIA

A GIFT THAT

Keeps on Giving

ard, honest work and giving back to those in need are two principles Junior has already learned at his young age. When the 15-year-old sets a goal, there is no stopping him. That dedication and resourcefulness caught the eye of some kindhearted Operation Blessing partners in his community—who would bring muchneeded food relief to him and his family.

When he decided to save for a new dirt bike, Junior stood outside on the sidewalk by his house to sell DVDs in the hope of earning money. He worked almost daily to reach his goal. His commitment to being an entrepreneur eventually grabbed the attention of Beverly Wright, the ministry director of Jonathan Cares, a nearby Operation Blessing partner. Thanks to your help, the organization receives groceries from Operation Blessing to distribute to members of the community. “I was rolling down his street, and I saw this young man, and he was selling DVDs and I thought, ‘Look at him,’” Beverly recalled. “When we started passing out the meals, he was one of the people that we decided to make sure was on the list. I was just so proud of him as a young entrepreneur.” The help you enabled Beverly to offer Junior and his family

provided a much-needed blessing. He lives with his parents and two sisters, and due to a variety of hardships the family sometimes struggles with not having enough food. But because of your faithful giving, partner organizations like Jonathan Cares are able to reach out with hope to families that face challenges such as sickness and unemployment. Now with more than enough food for his family, Junior sometimes takes excess groceries to share with needy people he meets in his community. “One time,” he said, “there was a homeless dude walking past. He was like, ‘I’m so hungry,’ so I said, ‘You know what, here are a couple of bags. Go ahead and be blessed.’” Your heart for the hurting brought hope to young Junior and his family. Because of you, they now have the food they need not only to get by, but also to bless others. Thank you for your compassion in seeing hungry mouths filled and lives transformed. 17

THIRSTING FOR A

Miracle

How Operation Blessing partners refreshed a community in Cambodia

oeut often arrived late to class. When she finally made it, she knew she would face another long trek after school like the one she had just completed that morning. All because of a lack of water. This was a continuous cycle for Koeut, who lives in the Preah Vihear province of Cambodia. She walked long distances every morning to find water for bathing. Then she had to search for water again in the evenings for drinking. She, along with her family and most of her neighbors, struggled to access clean water. In her community, 80 percent of the adults work as farmers. They spend their time raising cattle and growing crops such as rice and cashews. Sadly, every day is a struggle and extreme poverty overwhelms this land. Younger generations have largely migrated away in search of higher-paying jobs and better living conditions. For those who were left here to seek out a living, the hard reality of water scarcity weighed heavily on their shoulders. They spent

CAMBODIA

hours every day in search of water. This community relied on unreliable sources such as an old well, ponds, and streams, and collected rainwater to quench their thirst. But these sources were often contaminated with bugs, debris, animal waste, and chemicals from nearby farms. Even worse, this supply could disappear during their dry season. That’s when the love of Operation Blessing supporters stepped in! Friends like you provided a state-of-the-art water well for the people of Ta Keong village. Reaching more than 100 feet into the ground, the well is positioned in the heart of this community, fashioned with

a hand pump and a drainage channel waste. The residents also received water filters, to make extra certain that their drinking water was safe. “I’m so happy with this clean and safe water,” Koeut said. “Since I have this well near my house, I can attend class on time. I don’t have to spend too much time to take a shower far away from home. More than that, I feel comfort and safety using this pump well. Thank you for responding to our need!” Thank you for your heart to see Koeut and her community refreshed by a miracle when all hope had dried up. Your kindness is changing lives.

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH

63 CENTS A DAY? A gift of 63 cents per day puts you in a community of Blessing Builders who together are providing clean water, medical aid, disaster relief, and food to the hungry.

HAVE YOU JOINED YET? ob.org/monthly

TAX-WISE IDEAS F O R Y O U R Y E A R - E N D B E N E F I T S

WITH THE END OF THE YEAR APPROACHING, HERE ARE SOME TAX-WISE YEAR-END CHARITABLE GIFT IDEAS AND POSSIBLE BENEFITS FOR YOU.

DONATE SHARES OF STOCK OR OTHER SECURITIES

• Charitable deduction for the fair market value • Eliminate capital gains tax on the appreciation

FUND A CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY

• Receive income stream for the rest of your life • Potential for a portion of income to be tax-free • Immediate (partial) tax deduction

MAKE A QUALIFIED CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION (QCD)

• If you are 70 ½ or older, give “tax-free” directly from your IRA • A QCD will satisfy your Required Minimum Distribution,

if applicable

To learn more about year-end giving strategies, please contact us at 1-800-333-2373 or email PlannedGiving@ob.org 21

GUATEMALA

YOU GAVE THE GIFT OF

Joy and New Life

A little girl in Guatemala gets the surgery she needs

t the age of 4, Arleth didn’t experience the kind of life in Guatemala that other children her age did. While they laughed, played, and explored the world around them, she dealt with pain and discomfort. She was born with an inguinal hernia, a condition that causes the intestine to protrude through a weak spot in the abdominal muscle. Any lifting of objects, or movement in general, could cause her distress.

This made it difficult for the little one to enjoy life. Arleth lives with her mother and brother in a remote community that is 30 minutes from the nearest city. With limited resources and reduced access to the public health system, this family was unable to seek the medical treatment that would bring Arleth healing. They were simply unable to afford the cost of the surgery that could help alleviate her pain. But your love shone bright when the situation seemed the darkest. Because of the generosity of partners like you, Operation Blessing was there to support little Arleth through each stage of her medical treatment. From pre-surgery to post-operative care, your kindness made it possible to help Arleth with her surgical procedure, medications, transportation, and so much more. Now Arleth is full of joy,

knowing she can finally live without the fear of pain. She has found complete healing from her hernia because of your kindness and compassion. Thank you for your heart to see children like Arleth grow up healthy and strong.

URGENT END-OF-YEAR NEED

The world needs you now!

We don’t want to let a single cry for help go unanswered. Help us meet our crucial end-of-year needs. ob.org/give

WAYS TO GIVE YOUR YEAR-END GIFT:

operationblessing.org

ONLINE:

ob.org/give

BY PHONE:

1-800-730-2537

THROUGH MAIL:

977 Centerville Turnpike, Virginia Beach, VA 23463

(800) 730-2537