ISRAEL – Operation Blessing is in Eilat, Israel, which is one of the country’s southernmost cities. Families are seeking refuge there because it’s far from the conflict, and friends like you are there with us giving them critical aid and a safe space when they need it most.
Displaced people are checking into the second hotel supported by our Operation Blessing family. Some of them only brought a few bags and their children. They just need some sense of normalcy in a terribly traumatic time.
Lina Schvetz shared her memory of leaving her hometown, “A lot of the houses are ruined. It’s horrible. No one is outside. Everyone is gone. I don’t know if they left everything behind. Obviously, we can’t work. Everything is closed.”
You can see the despair in their eyes. They don’t know what the future holds. Some families are separated. Many mothers are alone with their children while grandmothers are alone with their grandchildren. It’s the children that suffer most in times like these, and they need our help.
Supplies and Safe Spaces for Suffering Families in Israel
But thanks to Operation Blessing partners, our team is caring for these families. We’re not only providing lodging, food, and hygiene supplies, but also help with transportation and even toys for children. Thanks to the support of friends like you, families have a way to travel to this town far from danger and find solace.
Lina sends her thanks. “It’s helping us very much. My children are happy to be here. They can play, and for a moment they forget everything that’s happened.”
Many of these families don’t know what to do or where to turn. But here, in this safe space that friends like you are providing, these families have a chance to heal. They can fellowship, pray together, and eat together until, prayerfully, the terror stops in Israel.
Thank you for loving these families. Thank you for turning your prayers, your concerns, and your thoughts into tangible physical supplies for the thousands of families that need it most.
When you partner with Operation Blessing, you are changing their lives and making a difference in their future today.
MOROCCO AND TURKEY – When tragic earthquakes strike, lives are left in the rubble. Recently, you reached out to survivors in Morocco after deadly earthquakes took thousands of lives and left tens of thousands homeless. You provided vital supplies like food, water, blankets, and solar lights. You offered, both literally and figuratively, a light in the darkness for survivors of tragic earthquakes. One Moroccan named Zouhair said, “It was like a miracle when you came here.”
REBUILDING AFTER TRAGIC EARTHQUAKES IN TURKEY
But long after an earthquake strikes, the rebuilding goes on. As people in Turkey continued the struggle to rebuild their lives after the deadly earthquakes shook their region earlier this year, you gave them hope. You’re helping people like Hakan rewrite their stories.
While most people slept in their beds, that peaceful night in February quickly turned chaotic as the earth shook and turned buildings into rubble. Tens of thousands died, and millions more were displaced. As survivors mourned the loss of their loved ones—family, friends, and neighbors—so many struggled to find a way to move forward and support themselves once again.
Hakan survived, but like many others he lost everything, including his coffee shop. Without it, he had no way to support himself. “It’s been traumatic for me to see my friends’ lives destroyed, and so many lives were lost,” said Hakan. “There’s so much sadness here, but I do not want to leave the city. I want to see the city rebuilt, but I don’t have much hope.”
A FRESH START AFTER EARTHQUAKES
Then you gave him a lifeline when he needed it most! Faithful Operation Blessing friends like you stepped in and provided microenterprise grants to help business owners like Hakan earn a living and restore their dignity. Together, we worked with Hakan to build a new coffee shop— complete with appliances and supplies—so he could restart his business without further delay.
This business is also helping to restore a sense of community and hope for the future to people in his area. Hakan is so grateful for your love and support during this most difficult time. “It has touched me that someone from another part of the world, who doesn’t even know me, comes all the way here to help.”
Your generosity has blessed so many others in Turkey by supplying water filter systems, food, and tents for those still living in tent cities across the region. Thank you for bringing a ray of hope and comfort to these precious people who are hurting in Turkey. May God bless you for helping victims of tragic earthquakes!
MEXICO – Operation Blessing is in Acapulco, Mexico, offering critical relief to storm victims after category 5 Hurricane Otis devastated the region. Residents shared their experiences with us.
One man said, “We heard there would be a hurricane coming, but not one so intense. We didn’t have time to prepare anything.” A mother told us, “It was so ugly. I’ve seen things like that on TV but never experienced anything like it. It was like something out of a movie.” She continued. “I had to hold my children; I thought the wind would just blow them away.”
Operation Blessing Disaster Relief Team Provides Support
After the storm passed, our Operation Blessing disaster relief team deployed to hard-hit communities. As always, the first step is to identify the biggest needs. One local volunteer shared this with us: “The strong winds devastated everything. Electric poles fell, the water and gas pipes were destroyed. There is no water; there is no gas; there is no electricity.” With the ongoing generosity of friends like you, we brought water purifiers and are working with the local church to establish a soup kitchen for this community.
Many people are still sitting in darkness, without power or the means to cook or preserve food. Others had their homes flooded, and everything they own has been ruined. And some have lost those they love most and will be grieving as they face the monumental task of recovery.
You Can Help Hurricane Otis Victims
We want to thank you for your prayers and your support because Operation Blessing partners like you are making this help possible for the most desperate people in Acapulco. You can be part of crucial disaster relief when you visit https://www.ob.org/disaster-relief/ today.
MEXICO – Operation Blessing is responding to Hurricane Otis after the category 5 storm barreled into Mexico’s Guerrero state on the Pacific coast on October 25. The strongest storm on record for that region, Otis came with 165 mph winds that tore the roofs from residences and hotels and destroyed communications channels along with the power grid, leaving huge segments of the population in darkness.
Torrential downpours from the hurricane also caused widespread flash-flooding, making main roadways inaccessible and even causing landslides in some places. Already, authorities have reported that more than 25 people died from storm-related causes. Much of the damage centers around Acapulco, which has descended into chaos since looters began to take advantage of the devastation.
Our international disaster response team deployed right away and is now on the ground to assess damages and determine how we might best help the suffering. Many people are still sitting in darkness, without power or the means to cook or preserve food. Others had their homes flooded, and everything they own has been ruined. And some have lost those they love most and will be grieving as they face the monumental task of recovery.
You Can Help the Hurting
Thankfully, friends like you are there in times like these. We’ll be working to provide food, clean water, and critical supplies for hurting families as soon as possible—all thanks to the generosity of friends like you. If you want to partner with Operation Blessing to help disaster victims, you can give at ob.org/crisis.
Please also join us in praying for those who have lost power—especially people in hospitals—as well as people who are overwhelmed by loss and trauma and the prospect of rebuilding life as they know it. God is faithful to answer when we call to Him in faith for those in need. Together, we can be the hands and feet of Christ to meet them in this difficult time.
ISRAEL – Operation Blessing is supporting displaced families in Israel who have escaped the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israeli military forces.
We met Irina and her family who have had to flee their home due to the violence. She told us, “When we woke up on the morning on the seventh of October, we saw the news, and we were shocked. We didn’t know what to do and didn’t know where we were going. We understand we can’t go back home to Ashkelon.”
As the attacks took civilians by surprise, thousands of families have had to evacuate in a hurry. Unfortunately, they now find themselves empty-handed in a new town, with no clothes and no food.
Irina described the conditions when they first arrived. “We came into this place, and this was like a desert—one big room for 20 people. There were only mattresses on the floor, and people had nothing to eat.”
Food, Shelter, and Support for Displaced Families
In the city of Eilat 4 hours away from Jerusalem, we’re hosting families like Irina’s that are fleeing from the bombs and the horrors of war. Because of the generosity of our partners, Operation Blessing has brought solutions that include everything from providing bus fares, to clothes, food, personal hygiene supplies, toys for the children, bedding, and lodging.
Friends like you are also providing safe spaces for suffering families to re-energize, to reorganize their thoughts, and to check in with their loved ones, as most of them are women and young children.
Irina said, “Thank you for what you’re doing. It’s very important for Israeli people and all people that need help.”
You Can Help Suffering Families in Israel
We want to reach out to you today so that you can help us support these families whose futures are now uncertain. By supporting Operation Blessing, you can help the thousands of Israeli families that just a few days ago lived a normal, peaceful life. To give, visit ob.org/crisis.
Thank you for loving these families. Thank you for turning your prayers, your concerns, and your thoughts into tangible physical supplies for the thousands of families that need it most.
When you partner with Operation Blessing, you are changing their lives and making a difference in their future today.
ISRAEL – On October 7, Israel was brutally attacked by Hamas militants—members of a terrorist organization based out of the contested Gaza strip—and the two parties have been at war ever since. Since the first days of the conflict, our sister organization CBN Israel has been in Israel offering assistance. We have now joined forces there on the ground with an Israel crisis response.
Thousands of lives have been lost, and thousands more people—both soldiers and civilians—have sustained injuries in the days of fighting since Israel’s first retaliatory missile strikes. What’s more, in an attempt to preserve life, Israel ordered the evacuation of everyone in the northern area of the Gaza Strip, by all accounts over 1 million people. And the panicked rush of humanity out of the conflict zone in the days since defies belief.
Now, hundreds of thousands of people who have fled the conflict zone are homeless and hopeless until circumstances change. They’re forced to reside in overflowing U.N. sponsored refugee camps or struggle to survive on their own unless they can get help. Thankfully, compassionate friends like you have made a way for them.
Israel Crisis Response from Operation Blessing
Operation Blessing’s international disaster response team is working alongside CBN Israel to provide temporary hotel housing and meals for displaced families—even preparing a food truck to offer hot meals for people on the move. This way, suffering souls can at least have food to fill their bellies and a safe place to lay their heads at night.
The need is simply overwhelming, so plans are also in the works to provide a variety of other supplies and services for children and adults that will make their stay more comfortable and help them regain some sense of normalcy—even as many of their homes are being destroyed.
Please pray for these families, especially the thousands who have lost loved ones in the conflict. If you’d like to help us bless victims of crisis, you can give at ob.org/crisis.
HAWAII- A caravan of hope has rolled in as wildfire-devastated Maui begins the long road to recovery. The people of Hawaii will forever remember August 8th, 2023. In what’s being called one of the deadliest wildfires in U.S. history, flames overtook the island of Maui and almost completely destroyed the city of Lahaina. In the process, 11,000 wildfire survivors were displaced, and approximately 2,700 are temporarily living in hotel shelters now. Now citizens of wildfire-devastated Maui look to YOU for help.
Shelter for Victims in Wildfire-Devastated Maui
Thankfully, friends like you heard the cries of Hawaiians in need, and together we’re giving them sustainable shelter until homes can be rebuilt. We helped facilitate the transport of 45 homes from Continest in Hungary all the way to Hawaii.
Thanks to the generous gifts of partners like you, five Operation Blessing flatbeds recently arrived at a Long Beach, California. Together, they delivered an answer to many prayers—modular homes. Our staff carried these specially-engineered units on a cross-country trip from New Jersey to California. Next, they’ll be shipped to hurting homeowners in Maui.
Fully Functioning Homes for Hawaii Wildfire Survivors
These homes are ready to use. Once they arrive at their final destination, each can be assembled in as little as 5 to 10 minutes. These mobile homes are being placed in Maui at the Family Life Center’s new Ohana Hope Village. There, nearly 250 displaced people will live in a fully-equipped community including common spaces and running water.
Dr. Ashley Kelley traveled from Maui to Long Beach to see the homes arrive. She said, “Families coming out of trauma deserve the privacy of bathrooms and kitchens. And what we’ve been calling this is a temporary shelter with a home-like feel.”
With your help, families who have survived tragedy have a safe place to stay as they look towards the future.
You can help even more families in need when you visit https://www.ob.org/disaster-relief today!
HAWAII – In August, the Hawaiian island of Maui suffered the deadliest fire to hit the U.S. in over a hundred years. Following the blaze, tensions flared high on the island. As families grappled with grief over lost and missing loved ones, their suffering was made worse by the struggle for basic necessities. With more than 11,000 people displaced when their homes were destroyed, survivors desperately needed help. Thankfully, you were there for them through Operation Blessing to provide vital relief supplies to Hawaii.
With your support, our disaster relief team quickly deployed to Hawaii, responding to those in greatest need. In partnership with a well-connected network of local churches and other organizations like YWAM, you helped to procure and provide vital relief supplies to Hawaii. Our team gathered critical items including tents, clothing, hygiene supplies, tarps, lanterns, generators, grills and propane for cooking, and more.
Relief Supplies For Hawaii Wildfire Victims
Once the supplies were secured on the big island of Hawaii and set for transport, our intentionally small team traveled directly to the hard-hit area of Maui. With the island’s resources already stretched far past capacity, only the most necessary relief personnel were being encouraged to visit directly. Although some relief organizations had been met with resistance, with much sensitivity and prayer our small team began reaching out to residents of the shattered island.
Almost immediately, they encountered a group of survivors struggling without clean water. In partnership with Air Mobile Ministries, our staff secured a set of water filtration units for those families to use and also passed clean water along to others in urgent need throughout the area.
A Maui resident named Edward spoke to us, defeat and suffering plain on his face as he coughed and shared the pain his community had been experiencing on the island, including the severe lack of clean water. Edward said, “It’s so contaminated, we have to fight for bottled water.”
Hope Shines Through the Darkness
But with the help of filtration systems provided by compassionate supporters like you, families could drink water and cook in safety without fear of getting sick.
“They can take their water, whatever the source, and make it clean,” said Air Mobile Ministries’ Joe Hurston. “Most importantly, they can get that water when they need it, and they can get it for their neighbors. It empowers people to be able to give clean water.” As Joe demonstrated the filtration you gave to them, you could see the anxiety lifting from the local residents’ faces as smiles began to break through. Hope was on the horizon.
“Just to have a machine like this, to know that everybody is drinking healthy water, is going to mean a lot to these families,” said Edward. “It means a lot to us that people like you reach out to us in our time of need. We’re so thankful. Thank you.”
Since those early days, friends like you have also provided fishing and diving equipment to families in the devastated area. And now we are sending hundreds of temporary homes to shelter families! These will offer a sense of normalcy as they rebuild their lives. Follow the progress of the homes here.
HONDURAS – In the heart of Honduras, a young couple faces a trial upon the arrival of their newborn. What started as a painful ordeal, quickly turned into a miracle of healing. This amazing story unfolded as a baby named Gael entered the world with a cleft lip. His parents, Cindy and Tulio, were met with a mix of emotions. They were in awe at the birth of their child. This joy was quickly soured by heartbreak as they discovered his cleft lip. The initial shock gave way to determination. Tulio was committed to helping young Gael. He was now on a journey of hope.
Sadness Over The Cleft Lip
Tulio, Gael’s father, was moved to tears upon seeing his son’s cleft lip for the first time. The unfamiliar sight tugged at his heartstrings. This caused him to grapple with emotions he had never experienced before. Meanwhile, Cindy, Gael’s mother, was filled with a blend of emotions. She had a deep seated fear that society might judge and ridicule her child. This worry was so overwhelming that the parents even hesitated to reveal Gael’s cleft lip to their own family, showing just how upset they were.
Cleft Surgery Seems Impossible Due To Financial Limitations
As they faced the challenge ahead, Cindy and Tulio encountered financial hardships that added to their already heavy burden. With Tulio earning a modest income from working on a farm, the parents found it difficult to save money for Gael’s procedure. Their monthly earnings were barely enough to cover essential expenses. This left them with little room to afford the surgery that could change Gael’s life. Yet, their love for their son spurred them on, leading them to make sacrifices. The parents went to incredible lengths to make healing cleft lip in Honduras a reality for Gael. This included sacrifices like cutting down on food and working extra hours to create a fund for Gael’s healing journey.
Tulio’s dedication to Gael’s well-being knew no bounds. He made a heartfelt promise to his son – a promise to work tirelessly until Gael received the surgery he needed to heal his cleft lip. The importance of healing Gael’s cleft lip became Tulio’s driving force. It was a beacon of hope guiding his actions.
Cleft Lip Makes It Difficult For Gael And The Family
Despite their unwavering love, Gael’s condition brought its own set of challenges. Feeding Gael was a struggle due to his cleft lip. This led to heartbreaking moments for the mother. As she saw Gael’s bottle drop from his mouth, she felt overwhelmed by sadness. The fear that Gael might not receive enough nourishment and thrive weighed heavily on her heart.
In addition to their own battles, Cindy and Tulio had to confront hurtful comments and derision from their community. Neighbors made unkind remarks about Gael’s appearance and potential dental problems. This only added to the parents’ emotional burden. Despite these challenges, Tulio held on to hope and was determined to ensure a brighter future for Gael. A future where Gael was free from the burden of his cleft lip.
A Doctor’s Visit Gives Hope
Amidst their struggles, a glimmer of hope appeared during a visit to the doctor’s office. A nurse introduced them to Operation Blessing, an organization committed to transforming lives through medical assistance. Likewise, the news that Gael’s surgery was approved brought immense excitement and relief to Cindy and Tulio. In addition, a spark of hope was ignited, offering the prospect of free surgery that could repair Gael’s cleft lip. This, of course, could change his life forever.
Operation Blessing Partners Change Gael’s Life for The Better
Operation Blessing’s compassionate donors played a crucial role in Gael’s healing journey. Their generous contributions made it possible for swift arrangements to be made for Gael’s surgery. This led to a successful operation. The surgery was a turning point in Gael’s life, marking the beginning of a profound transformation.
Tulio’s emotional response after Gael’s surgery was one of overwhelming gratitude. The weight of their struggles was lifted. It was replaced by a deep appreciation for the kindness and support they had received. Cindy, Gael’s mother, echoed these sentiments. She expressed her heartfelt thanks to Operation Blessing partners for their role in changing Gael’s life.
The story of Gael’s healing cleft lip in Honduras is a testament to the power of compassion and the impact of collective efforts. Through the kindness of Operation Blessing partners, Cindy, Tulio, and Gael’s lives were forever changed. This heartwarming journey from hardship to hope serves as an inspiring reminder of the positive change that can be brought about when people come together to make a difference.
Help Others Start A Healing Journey
The transformation of Gael’s life is a call to action, an invitation for others to join in the mission of Operation Blessing. By visiting https://www.ob.org/surgeries/, you have the opportunity to learn more about this transformative journey. Accordingly, YOU can play a role in healing cleft lip. You can change lives not just in Honduras, but in other parts of the world. As Gael’s story demonstrates, every small act of kindness can transform lives in amazing ways!
MEXICO – Children ran through the grass, laughing and clapping. Some struck a colorful piñata in hopes of collecting a prized treat. Families gathered together to enjoy plates heaped with food and watch a lively puppet show. And some of the children, like 4-year-old Eliza, even received a bicycle! All the activities were possible because of your kindness, which gave hope for a better tomorrow in Mexico.
On the outside, it looked like a typical Posada party in Mexico, where food is abundant and shared around the Christmas holidays. But this gathering was different. It was part of a special brigade you helped provide to give families living in three communities—El Tirol, Montebello, and El Caracol—medical and dental care that is not typically available to them.
Most of the 150 residents who participated couldn’t have afforded such care even if it was available. Poverty prevented pregnant women from receiving key prenatal checkups like ultrasounds that would detect early health dangers. And children like Eliza lived with cavities and other dental problems after years of poor hygiene habits.
Your love for these precious people intervened! Thanks to generous partners like you, Operation Blessing was able to send seven dentists and all the equipment necessary to provide dental care to the children and show them how to properly care for their teeth and wash their hands. You also provided an ultrasound machine to give pregnant women the love and attention they desperately needed. In addition to the brigade, friends like you continued to go above and beyond to show this community even more compassion and care.
Sending Clean Water and Miracles
As a single mother, Lupita worried about leaving her three children alone just so she could fetch water—a 30-minute walk away. Her 2-year-old daughter, Juanita, was born with crossed eyes and often fell when she ran. She needed constant attention. But Lupita didn’t have a choice. She had to leave Juanita in the care of her two older brothers—Caleb, age 9, and Jonathan, age 11—so she could make the journey to the community’s only source of water. What’s worse, the water she brought home sometimes made her children sick.
Your generosity provided their entire community with a rainwater harvesting system that allowed them to access safe water right at their homes. Lupita’s children can now use a hygienic toilet, wash their hands, shower, and drink clean, clear water.
Then friends like you gave Lupita’s family the most precious gift of all—surgery to repair little Juanita’s eyes. Today she runs freely without the fear of falling. Lupita couldn’t contain her joy! “This is a true miracle!” she said. “The doctors told me that Juanita would never be normal, but now seeing her so happy and healthy makes me so grateful. Thank you for everything that you do.” And you did not stop there!
Your Support Builds Hope for a Better Tomorrow In Mexico
Young families in the community, like Sandra’s, also struggled to put food on the table until you provided them with hope. At 18, Sandra had just given birth to a beautiful boy named Héctor. She and her husband needed extra income to provide for their growing family, but in El Tirol, even affording hens that would supply them with eggs was difficult.
Thanks to your support, Operation Blessing gave Sandra 15 hens and trained her in how to take care of them. Now, she uses the eggs for income as well as food—so that she will be able to provide for her son for years to come.
You are not just providing temporary solutions for people in need—you are giving them hope and resources that can last them a lifetime. Thank you for your heart to bless the people of El Tirol, Mexico, and the surrounding communities—giving them all a better tomorrow.
