Issuu

blessings OPERATION BLESSING

MARCH 2021

Stories of how YOU help the hurting around the world.

YOU HELP MAKE

Miracles HAPPEN

YOU SENT MIRACLES IN THE MIDST OF STORMS PA G E 6

HUNGER, HEALING, AND HOPE PA G E 1 6

WHEN HUNGER STRIKES PAG E 2 0

Happenings

Catch up with the goings-on at Operation Blessing!

You Sent Miracles in the Midst of Storms

OB’s response to hurricanes in Latin America

Angel Gets Her Miracle

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A young girl in the Philippines prays for a new home—and God answers through you

Inside this this issue issue

You Help Make Miracles Happen Deborah’s story has been rewritten, thanks to your love and compassion

Hunger, Healing, and Hope

How you fed one family of COVID-19 survivors

When Hunger Strikes

Thank you for blessing a single mother and her daughter

Getting a Leg Up

You provided the life-changing surgery Nikita needed

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

OPERATION BLESSING

HAPPENINGS LEBANON: After the massive explosion in Beirut, you sent aid to the hurting through food, hygiene items, cleaning supplies, and help repairing their homes.

HAITI: Alexandra is flourishing—thanks to a lifechanging surgery provided by Operation Blessing friends like you to remove a dangerous and painful abdominal mass.

CAMBODIA: This precious little girl and her entire isolated village used to suffer without adequate clean water, but caring friends like you blessed them with a well.

THAILAND: You sent disaster relief supplies, including food, milk, hygiene items, and masks to flash flood survivors in Thailand.

VIRGINIA: In Virginia and around the U.S., you continued to help deliver extra groceries to hungry Americans as COVID-19 shutdowns affected jobs and the economy.

HONDURAS: Kimberly couldn’t see from her right eye. Then you provided her with free surgery to correct her vision. Now she enjoys artwork and playing with friends.

LATIN AMERICA

YOU SENT MIRACLES IN THE MIDST OF STORMS OB’S RESPONSE TO HURRICANES IN LATIN AMERICA

he 2020 Atlantic hurricane season was one of the most active and costly on record, with an incredible 30 named storms. These monstrous cyclones ravaged the U.S., Caribbean, and Latin America. Two storms in particular, Eta and Iota, slammed into roughly the same areas of Central America just two weeks apart. They brought widespread destruction and hammered beleaguered people already suffering from the economic effects of COVID-19. Thankfully, even in the midst of the pandemic and multiple hurricanes, you made miracles happen for those in desperate need. First came Hurricane Eta, a powerful category-4 storm that caused major flooding and damage. One victim said of the flooding, “If we had been asleep, it would have been

terrible. That water was like the devil coming for us.” You responded by sending hygiene kits, complete with face masks, hand sanitizer, toothpaste, soap, and more to Eta’s victims in Costa Rica. In Guatemala, six regions were declared states of emergency due to flooding. You responded by sending relief in the form of food, hygiene kits, diapers, sleeping mats, and more to disaster victims. When hurricanes hit, access to clean water often becomes one of the most critical needs. This was the case in Mexico and Guatemala, and in both instances you supplied the help victims needed. In Mexico, you sent boats laden with clean water. In Guatemala, you provided SE-200 chlorine generators to provide clean water in a hard-hit community.

The last storm of the 2020 season was Hurricane Iota, a record-breaking category 5 that followed much the same path as Eta had two weeks before. Though Honduras had suffered extensive damage from Eta, Iota was even worse. Once again, you were there for hurricane victims when they needed it the

Distributing sleeping mats to hurricane survivors

most, sending mats, blankets, hygiene kits, food, rakes, shovels, and water to help them recover. Thank you for shining a light in the midst of a devastating hurricane season. You sent miracles when it looked like all hope was lost. God bless you for your compassion and kindness!

Preparing disaster relief supplies for distribution

We celebrate World Water Day this month and all year long Thank you for giving the priceless gift of clean water to vulnerable children, families, and whole communities around the world.

HOW YOUR SUPPORT MAKES THE CLEAN WATER PROGRAM WORK 1.

ASSESS

Local staff assess a potential community to determine the level of need and compatibility with the program.

DETERMINE

Determine the optimal clean water solution to best fit the needs of the community.

PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY

IMPLEMENT

COMPLETE

MONITOR

Select devoted members from the community to be trained as a water committee and establish a plan for sustainability.

Implement the project through construction of the system and train the community on WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) principles.

Equip the water committee members to use and maintain the system, providing them with tools as well as holding an inauguration ceremony in celebration.

Follow up with the community to ensure project sustainability after completion and officially hand over project to the community. 9

PHILIPPINES

Angel

GETS HER MIRACLE

hen a typhoon destroyed Angel’s home in the Philippines, her family had nowhere safe to stay. That night Angel, age 9, and her siblings did their best to sleep through the storm, but they were frightened. “I was scared of the typhoon and strong winds,” she told OB staff. “It made my chest hurt. But my little sister was scared, too, so I covered her with a blanket.” The typhoon left the family in a dangerous living situation. And, due to the COVID-19 crisis, Angel’s single father, Roland, lost his fishing job. Unable to afford anything else, he used scrap wood to build his family a makeshift shanty that offered little protection. “I worry about my kids,” said Roland. “I worry about how I can rebuild my house. We had nowhere to turn for help and nowhere to go.” He stayed up most nights to make sure the children remained safe while they slept.

That’s when Angel sent up a desperate prayer for help. She said, “Lord, help us. Please give us a new house. Please protect my family. I love them very much.” In answer to her precious prayer, Operation Blessing friends reached out to help. When OB staff delivered a food package to Roland and his children, the staff saw how dire their living situation was. Thanks to the generous support of partners like you, and the help of some faithful volunteers, we were able to build the family a safe and sturdy new home. “We have a new house!” Angel exclaimed joyfully. “I’m happy! Thank you so much.” Not only that, but friends like you also equipped Roland with the supplies he needed to start his own business selling fish to help him take care of his family for long into the future. Thank you for the support you show to families like Angel’s at home and around the world.

The children were sleeping in dangerous conditions!

A YOUNG GIRL IN THE PHILIPPINES PRAYS FOR A NEW HOME—AND GOD ANSWERS

Angel's new safe and sturdy home.

The family excitedly views their new house.

Miracles YOU HELP MAKE

HAPPEN

M KIMANA

eet six-year-old Deborah from Kenya. Her bright eyes and big smile tell the story of how your love and compassion can work miracles in the life of a child. For Deborah and so many kids near the village of Kimana, holistic outreach from Operation Blessing friends like you has rewritten the stories of their lives. Several years ago, before OB arrived in Kimana, most young children were unable to attend school to get a strong start on their education. The closest school was simply too far away for little legs to walk to, and they needed to pass through a dangerous area full of wild animals. Many of the children didn’t get proper nourishment, either. Meanwhile, villagers had a difficult time finding clean water— and many struggled with poverty. Continued on page 14

KENYA

DEBORAH’S STORY HAS BEEN REWRITTEN, THANKS TO YOUR LOVE AND COMPASSION

Continued from page 13

INSTEAD OF THE DIM OUTLOOK OF POVERTY, DEBORAH ENVISIONS A FUTURE THAT’S BRIGHT AND FULL OF HOPE.

Then OB partners like you came along and supported innovative solutions to these challenges! Today, Deborah and her friends have the advantage of growing up in a very different sort of community. Let’s start with the school. Deborah receives a highquality early education near her home to prepare her for life and help her break out of generational poverty. She has the opportunity to learn using technology, a special treat in her part of the world. At school she enjoys the playground as well, and she’s fed two nutritious meals each day.

But that’s not all. Friends like you also supplied a clean water source for the school and the surrounding community where Deborah lives. And her whole family benefits from the local agriculture program, which provides even more healthy food as well as income opportunities for her parents. Deborah’s mother now helps raise chickens, and her family has been given a plot on the OBsponsored farm, where they primarily grow beans. In fact, her family moved closer to the area so that they can reap all the benefits from the blessings you provided. The Deborah you see today is thriving and full

of life. She’s always one of the first to raise her hand in class. She loves reading and hopes to be a teacher someday. Instead of the dim outlook of poverty, Deborah envisions a future that’s bright and full of hope. Thank you for being a miracle in Deborah’s life and the lives of so many precious souls like her.

Deborah cheerfully plays near her home.

HUNGER, HEALING and HOPE HOW YOUR LOVE FED A FAMILY OF COVID-19 SURVIVORS IN PERU

ladys had heard the news about a deadly disease spreading around the world, but at the time she never dreamed it would make its way into Peru. Many Peruvians felt the same, assuming the sudden

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shutdown of air travel would protect their borders from the virus. But as time went on, the sobering reality hit: very few places in the world would remain untouched. Peru was not immune to COVID-19. Soon stores, restaurants, and entire towns began shutting down. Gladys worked as a maid at a wealthy home in

PERU

the area, while her husband, Jack, picked up independent labor jobs. Gladys’s work was just enough to cover school expenses for her four children and food for the family, and Jack helped out as he could. However, both Jack and Gladys lost all employment, while hundreds more in their community were furloughed. But their troubles weren’t over. Shortly after losing their jobs, Gladys

and Jack began exhibiting the COVID-19 symptoms they’d been warned about. For many days they were ill, homebound, and desperate for relief. Gladys explained that the price of medicines had spiked, leaving her and Jack to depend only on their natural remedies and prayer in hopes that they would recover soon. “I was afraid of dying,” Gladys said. “Everyone was saying this is a deadly Continued on page 18

Continued from page 17

virus, and I didn’t want to fall sick. I thought to myself, ‘Who is going to take care of my children? They need me; I can’t just leave them.’ ” Thankfully, Gladys and Jack eventually recovered. But the struggle for income still loomed heavily in their lives. News of the pandemic raged on and the chance of emerging from quarantine was unlikely. But thanks to YOU, hope arrived just in time! Your generosity enabled Operation Blessing teams to travel right to Gladys and Jack’s front

door. They were provided with critical resources, including food, paper products, and hygiene supplies. Your love helped sustain their family through the crisis. “When I saw you guys arriving, it was like a dream!” Gladys explained. “I was praying to God for help and you were the answer. You brought us help and motivation. Thank you so much for reaching our house and helping us stay encouraged. Thank you, Operation Blessing!”

“WHEN I SAW YOU GUYS ARRIVING, IT WAS LIKE A DREAM!” - Gladys

WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN OB’S LASTING LEGACY SOCIETY

What Is Operation Blessing’s Lasting Legacy Society?

We’re so glad you asked!

It’s all about the future. It’s for those who want to do something that will continue—long after we leave this earth. By choosing to leave a gift to OB in your will or estate plan, your love can go on. Can you imagine continuing to bless hurting children, families, and whole communities for generations to come? The miracle of giving can go on and on. We already know you’re a caring and compassionate person and a vital member of our Operation Blessing community. For that you have our sincerest thanks. Now we invite you to take the next step in this blessing journey. Join the Operation Blessing Lasting Legacy Society and enjoy lasting significance in your life—in a new way.

To learn more about how you can leave a legacy: Call: 1-800-333-2373 Email: PlannedGiving@ob.org Visit: ob.plannedgiving.org

WHEN HUNGER STRIKES

THANK YOU FOR BLESSING A SINGLE MOTHER AND HER DAUGHTER

s a single mother, LaToya has worked hard to provide for her daughter Zakeya. For years LaToya held down multiple jobs, including working as a security guard at a local university. But her proudest achievement is raising her child, an honor student in the fourth grade. Bringing up Zakeya alone hasn’t been easy for LaToya, though. “It’s a struggle,” LaToya said. “It’s like living paycheck to paycheck. I had to take two jobs to try to pay rent, the light bill. It’s very hard being a single mom, but I’m not going to give up. It’s not an option.”

When the coronavirus hit the United States, LaToya saw her already-shaky world completely rocked. Her four-day-a-week work schedule was slashed to two days a week. She fervently sent out resumes to several businesses, but no one was hiring. Bills were piling up, and she was behind in rent. She said, “I cried, because I didn’t know what to do.” But hope lay just over the horizon. Operation Blessing has been partnering with Eastern Star Church of God in Christ to serve LaToya’s community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, socially distanced food distributions have offered a miracle for many families in the community. LaToya heard of their distributions and immediately visited the church. Your generosity helped make it possible for

NORTH CAROLINA

“WITHOUT YOU, I DON’T BELIEVE WE COULD MAKE IT THE WAY WE ARE RIGHT NOW.” volunteers to safely place bags full of groceries directly into their car to help feed LaToya and Zakeya! “It makes me feel happy, and I’m proud that there’s people out here that want to help us and are helping other people that struggle,” LaToya said. “Without you, I don’t believe we could make it the way we are right now. Thank you so much, because this is truly a blessing to a lot of families.”

Getting a Leg Up

ikita already serves as the man of his house at age 17. He’s watched his single mother, Oxana, endure severe hardships. Oxana broke her leg a year ago, and it never healed properly. This has turned into a disability, meaning Oxana can no longer work to support her son. Suddenly she and Nikita were left without an income.

UKRAINE

YOU PROVIDED THE LIFE-CHANGING SURGERY NIKITA NEEDED Nikita’s grandmothers helped them out. Meanwhile, the teenager decided to get a job to help provide for his family. But an unfortunate motorbike accident left Nikita with a thigh fracture, and he was at serious risk of becoming disabled—just like his mother. He was transported to the National Ukraine Children’s Hospital, where he received four temporary rods in his leg. But these were not enough for full recovery. Nikita would need a more longlasting surgery. Without an income, his mother would never be able to pay for the surgery Nikita needed. Hope seemed to be lost as history repeated itself.

However, thanks to generous partners like you, Nikita’s miracle was right around the corner. In conjunction with Emmanuel Charity Association, Operation Blessing friends funded Nikita’s procedure just in time! A plate was placed in his thigh, and he continues to heal every day. “I want to thank you for your timely help,” Nikita said. “Thank you for not leaving me in my pain and funding the plate for my surgery. Thanks to you, I will not be a disabled person. Thank you from the depth of my heart!” God bless you for your heart to give the gift of health through life-changing surgeries to individuals in need all over the world!

YOU NEVER KNOW THE WORTH OF CLEAN WATER... UNTIL

IT’S GONE You can help provide clean water, medical care, disaster relief, and so much more to vulnerable children, adults, and whole communities! Go to ob.org/give

operationblessing.org

(800) 730-2537