Healing Cleft Lip in Honduras

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!

Giving Hope for a Better Tomorrow

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.

Your Love Helped Feed Suffering Moroccan Families

MOROCCO – After a deadly earthquake struck Morocco, the lives of so many families were forever altered. The damage destroyed homes, buildings, and, of course, lives. That is where you showed up to help people in desperate need. You helped suffering Moroccan families who had nowhere else to turn.

Imagine the relief these families feel knowing people like you care about them. You may be thousands of miles away from the rocky terrain of Morocco, but your heart is with them!

Your kindness is giving them hope. You have helped us feed thousands of hungry, suffering Moroccans. You are a light reaching out in THEIR darkness. You are showing suffering Moroccan families the love of Christ.

Suffering Moroccan Families in the Village of Ait Saaid

The village of Ait Saaid suffered the fate of so many small pastoral Moroccan villages. The destruction reached just about every area of this small town. Now a modest community is dealing with homelessness. Many may have lost hope, but you are helping to battle that.

Villages like Ait Saaid are isolated in very remote locations with difficult terrain. This makes getting food and supplies a challenge. But YOU rose to the challenge. You helped provide much needed food.

Because of you, families had access to healthy, nutritious food to battle hunger. Essentials like rice, lentils, oil, and tuna were made available by your generosity. As a result, the people are beyond thankful!

Keep your light shining. You have been so faithful through tragedy. Thank you!

You Lifted a Mother’s Burden in Kenya

KENYA – Today, Rose is blooming in Kenya—and it’s all thanks to caring friends like you. It’s been a long time since she felt so free, strong, and capable. Compassion truly has lifted her burdens from a disfiguring goiter and given her hope for tomorrow through life-changing surgery. Her burdensome, disfiguring goiter is now gone!

For years, Rose battled constant fatigue and debilitating headaches while striving to provide for her 10 children. Parenting them by herself was difficult enough, and farming to keep food on the table became that much harder as she got older. But when the glands in her neck began to swell out of control, Rose’s troubles pushed her to a breaking point.

Rose would suddenly grow winded and weak as she worked the land, struggling to do activities she could once sustain for hours. If she went home to rest, the mountain of daily chores pressed in on her—as she labored to choke down a quick meal past the swelling in her throat.

Suffering Due to a Disfiguring Goiter

As if these challenges weren’t enough, the massive lumps on Rose’s throat started to draw attention everywhere she went. She began to feel ostracized in the marketplace and even feared church gatherings. It became easier to withdraw and keep to herself rather than risk damaging her mental health and her business relationships.

But God saw, and He answered—through caring friends like you. Rose found Operation Blessing and received life-changing surgery. The masses on her neck were successfully removed, and she breathed a long-awaited sigh of relief. At last, the weight was gone.

“May God bless Operation Blessing for helping me,” Rose shared. “I saw the hand of God and believe that He indeed uses people to bless others.”

Now, because of your compassion, she cooks and cleans for her family, works hard in the fields, and is building her business in the local marketplace. Rose feels welcome in public again, her confidence renewed. Headaches and heart palpitations are a thing of the past. Today, her mind is set on building a better future for her family. Those 10 kids have a much better chance to thrive, thanks to our partners like you.

Help for Armenian Refugees

ARMENIA – Since February of this year, Operation Blessing and Orphan’s Promise have been working together to provide help for Armenian families as they struggled to survive in Nagorno-Karabakh. Lately, the conflict there has escalated, forcing thousands of families to leave their homes and belongings to flee to neighboring Armenia. There was no food in the stores or medical help for Armenian refugees within the borders of the republic they left behind, and the situation is desperate.

Help Crisis Victims Now!

Providing Help for Armenian Refugees Facing Persecution

With the help of our Operation Blessing and Orphan’s Promise partners, we are on the ground helping refugee families by assisting them with vital supplies, including food and medicine. As refugees arrive over the border, we will provide them with food and hygiene supplies, then connect them to local church members for temporary shelter.

Together with partners like you, Operation Blessing is taking the chance to show God’s love to those who are hurting by offering relief for critical needs. Thank you so much for your support and partnership with Operation Blessing for Armenia. You can join the response and help families in crisis when you visit www.ob.org/crisis today.

Help People Facing Crisis

Your Compassion Brings Hope to Tornado-Stricken Texans

TEXAS – On the fateful evening of June 21, 2023, destruction arrived in Matador, Texas. Seemingly out of nowhere, a merciless tornado tore through the close-knit community, leaving it in shambles. The terrifying twister claimed the lives of four precious souls and injured at least 15 others. In the aftermath tornado-stricken Texans needed relief from the damage.

Local resident Danika heard the surprising news of the tornado while visiting another town with a friend. She recounted her experience: “We blew off the warnings at first … then I called my husband, who was working, and he said, ‘I’m heading that way.’ Later he called me when he’d made it to the house and said, ‘Our house is gone.’ I was like, ‘What? You’re joking, right?’ He said, ‘No, it’s gone.’”

The residents of Matador were faced with the gut-wrenching sight of their homes reduced to rubble. Vehicles had been tossed about like toys, and power lines lay in a tangled mess between battered municipal buildings. The once-vibrant town had been plunged into darkness, devoid of electricity and basic resources. But there was a glimmer of hope. Help was on the way.

Fueled by the generosity of faithful partners like you, an Operation Blessing team rushed to the scene. With compassion and dedication, our supporters, volunteers, and staff worked together with local groups to bear the community’s burdens and provide critical support during this trying time.

Though help was at hand, the extent of the damage was still overwhelming for victims of this powerful twister. Danika had raised her family in the home she’d just lost. Struggling to find words to describe the devastation she witnessed, she said, “That was the bad part, seeing it in the daylight … I feel numb. It’s surreal, hard to comprehend.” She recalled the storm’s “complete and utter devastation—the roof was ripped off, and things were thrown around. My oldest daughter’s valedictorian medal ended up four blocks away.”

Operation Blessing wasted no time. With your support we immediately started setting up a base of operations in collaboration with the local First Baptist Church, forming a partnership to meet the most pressing needs of the community. This collective effort provided a much-needed lifeline for the residents, who now faced the daunting task of cleaning up and rebuilding their lives from scratch.

Helping Tornado-Stricken Texans

Thanks to you, Operation Blessing set up a mobile food truck to meet the most urgent needs of the tornado-stricken Texans in the community. Nourishment and other essential supplies were in high demand, and the team was quick to deliver. For people who couldn’t cook, you provided hot meals to give them strength to keep going. You also made it possible for emergency meal kits and cleaning supplies to be distributed to help in the days ahead.

“It’s just an outpouring of resources, love, and care,” said local EMT Doug. He expressed his gratitude to Operation Blessing and to you. “Just for being here and responding to the need of a community that for two to three days didn’t have food because of the electricity being off. It really is a blessing for the whole community.”

The journey to recovery might be long and difficult, but your compassion became a beacon of hope for the Matador community and helped begin the healing process. The people found solace in knowing that they were not alone in their struggle. Instead of their story ending with fear and despair, you helped rewrite their story with hope.

Mushroom Farm Training Program Yields Income and Independence

THAILAND – Climbing out of poverty often depends on getting a hand up from a caring individual. That’s the idea behind Operation Blessing’s microenterprise programs: supplying the training, tools, and opportunity people need to bridge the gulf between surviving and thriving—a move we couldn’t make without the compassionate support of friends like you.

Here’s how you helped 28-year-old Pitipath and his wife, Hunna, in northeastern Thailand. Their small beverage stall brings in less than $200 a month—barely enough for the family to survive on. Pitipath wanted more for himself, his wife, and their 9-year-old daughter.

He thought mushroom farming would provide additional income for his family—and they wouldn’t have to move to the city. But how could someone launch such an enterprise when they had no assets to speak of?

Blessing Families With The Mushroom Farm Training Program

Fortunately, a local pastor has been partnering with Operation Blessing and supporters like you to bless families from the community that need to develop more income. Seventeen people have already participated in the mushroom farm training program. Operation Blessing staff determined that Pitipath and Hunna, who were no strangers to agriculture, would be a good fit for the program.

At a professional mushroom farm in the area, experts taught participants the skills and techniques needed to run a successful mushroom-growing operation. Managing costs and expenses—the financial aspect of running such a business— was taught by the Operation Blessing team.

But knowledge alone isn’t enough. To help jump-start this dream, Operation Blessing and generous friends like you also provided the supplies needed to build Pitipath’s mushroom hut— bricks, nails, a watering hose, plus materials to protect growing mushrooms from the sun’s UV rays. Once the small farm was built and equipped, we provided 1,500 packs of mushroom spawn—comparable to seeds— to get it started.

Then, because you care, we were able to monitor the progress and serve as mentors for several months. In addition, Operation Blessing and the church team contacted merchants who would buy Pitipath’s nutritious produce directly, ensuring income opportunities for him.

Success at mushroom farming has meant all the difference to Pitipath and his family. “This project has greatly improved our living conditions, especially giving me and my wife hope to serve God and serve others,” Pitipath said. “When the income from the project starts to stabilize, we will give back to the church in order to continue to help others.”

In this way, you are enabling grateful families in Thailand to achieve financial independence and help pay it forward. That’s what we call rewriting a story with hope!

Armenia Crisis Response

ARMENIA – Operation Blessing is responding to a refugee crisis in Armenia as tens of thousands of ethnic Armenians have fled their homes in neighboring Azerbaijan. The scale of the crisis is staggering. In less than one week, more than 50,000 people—including 17,000+ children—have fled.

RESCUE THOSE IN CRISIS

They are leaving Nagorno-Karabakh, a mountainous region within Azerbaijan’s borders where Armenians have lived and governed themselves for decades. This came after Azerbaijan attacked on September 19 and quickly took control of the region.

Because the Armenian population are considered outsiders, the majority-Christian group fears ethnic cleansing by largely anti-Christian occupying forces. Most of the 120,000 Armenians would rather leave all that they have behind than risk the treatment they may face if they remain. Tens of thousands began arriving in Armenia on Tuesday, September 26.

But these refugees have suffered for months, long before they arrived in Armenia. Azerbaijan had cut off the only road to Armenia, leading to shortages of food, medicine, and fuel. When Operation Blessing heard about the shortages of food months ago, we set to work sending food boxes into the country for the hurting residents. Thankfully, some food boxes finally made it through the blockade to Nagorno-Karabakh in June as the situation grew desperate.

When the 10-month blockade was recently lifted, those Armenians who could immediately fled the region. Panic-buying of fuel ensued as hundreds of cars and buses crammed with belongings packed the solitary mountain road. As refugees flood into Armenia, Operation Blessing is going to continue providing much-needed relief for the refugee crisis in Armenia.

supplies for armenian christian refugees

Our sister organization, Orphan’s Promise, has been serving children and families in Armenia for over a decade, and they are well equipped to serve refugees through a network of local church partnerships. As refugees arrive over the border, we will provide them with food and hygiene supplies then connect them to church members for temporary shelter.

Together with partners like you, Operation Blessing is taking the chance to show God’s love to those who are hurting by offering relief for critical needs. Please join us in praying for those who are suffering and check back for response updates.

HELP CRISIS VICTIMS TODAY

Transforming Lives through Cleft Surgery in Indonesia

INDONESIA – The birth of a child is a moment etched deeply into a parent’s memory. For Rosta, a mother from Indonesia, this moment was marked by both joy and heartbreak. She had been blessed with a baby girl, but her daughter, Achava, was entering the world with a cleft lip and palate.

As the family grappled with emotional struggles and financial limitations, Achava’s need for cleft surgery in Indonesia was very clear. While it appeared to be a tragedy at first, her story quickly became one of hope and transformation through an answered prayer.

Change a Life!

Emotional Struggles and Self-Blame for Cleft Lip and Palate

During her pregnancy, Rosta experienced extreme nausea. This occurred especially during the first trimester. Seeking relief, she turned to medication. However, after discovering Achava’s condition, Rosta couldn’t help but blame herself. The possible connection between her medication and the cleft lip and palate filled her with guilt.

Rosta felt as if her consumption of the medicine was the cause of Achava’s condition. This tormented Rosta as she saw her child struggle to eat and do things other children did very easily.

Rosta Prays to God

As a woman of faith, Rosta found solace in prayer during these trying times. She appealed to God, seeking understanding and help. In the depths of her heart, she questioned why such a challenge had befallen their family. The need for cleft surgery became a test of their faith and a plea for help—one that would be answered!

Financial Hardships

The challenges didn’t stop there. Rosta’s husband, Rudi, lost his job, casting a shadow of financial difficulty over their lives. The family’s already strained financial situation was further exacerbated by their inability to afford the necessary cleft surgery for Achava. Their hopes were now dimmed by the weight of economic hardship.

God Answers Prayer through Cleft Surgery in Indonesia

In the midst of their trials, a glimmer of hope appeared when Operation Blessing entered their lives. The encounter with this cleft surgery charity brought a ray of light to the family. Through Operation Blessing’s kindness, arrangements were made for Achava to receive the much-needed cleft lip surgery, an unforeseen gift that held the promise of transformation.

The Healing Journey from Cleft Lip and Palate

The surgery was a turning point in Achava’s life. Rosta’s joy was immeasurable as she saw her daughter’s smile post-surgery. The transformation was more than physical; it was a profound emotional healing that resonated with gratitude and hope. Achava’s journey toward healing had begun, and the path was illuminated by the compassion of those who cared.

The Power of Your Generosity as Operation Blessing Partners

Achava’s healing process was a testament to the power of generosity. Likewise, Operation Blessing’s partners played a pivotal role in changing her life. Their donations, fueled by kindness and empathy, facilitated the healing journey that Achava embarked upon. The impact of Operation Blessing’s donors was profound, a testament to the ripple effect of selfless giving.

Hope for the Future

Rudi’s heart echoed with a wish for continued support for families facing similar challenges. The transformative experience they had witnessed fueled his desire to see more lives changed through acts of kindness. He recognized that the role of donors was not just a financial contribution. It was also a catalyst for instilling hope and igniting change.

Gratitude for Cleft Surgery in Indonesia

In the midst of their journey, Rosta’s gratitude was boundless. She extended her heartfelt thanks to Operation Blessing and its donors. She was grateful for the profound impact they had made on her family’s life. As she looked back on their path from heartbreak to healing, Rosta’s message of hope was resounding, an inspiration for others facing their own trials.

Make The Difference for Children in Need of Cleft Surgery

In the end, Rosta’s story is a testament to the enduring power of hope, faith, and the kindness of strangers. Through the challenges of cleft lip and palate, the transformative impact of cleft surgery, and the unwavering support of Operation Blessing and its donors, Achava’s journey serves as a beacon of inspiration for families around the world and a call to action for the faithful. You have the opportunity to partner with Operation Blessing. You can make a tangible difference in the lives of children like Achava. Together, we can be instruments of change. We can extend a helping hand to those in need and foster a future filled with hope.

Change a Life!

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Compassion in Action for Remote Moroccan Villagers

MOROCCO – Operation Blessing is visiting remote Moroccan villagers with assistance in hand for families who are suffering after a devastating earthquake destroyed their communities. The roads to these far-flung locations are very hard to travel, so help hadn’t reached these families yet—that is, until friends like you stepped in.

HELP NOW

Transporting Supplies for Remote Moroccan Villagers

Our team assisted villages in one area that took several hours to reach with supplies from our base of operations. In order to even arrive there with aid, our staff had to get creative. We loaded up food, clean water, and other critical supplies on donkeys, because it’s the only way to reach them. Now, those basic necessities are making a tremendous difference in the daily lives of men, women, and children who have struggled since their homes were ruined.

Diego Traverso of Operation Blessing addressed some of the people who were suffering and shared the sentiments of all of our partners. He said, “We feel your pain. But we want to let you know that you are not alone. You are very important to us.”

Thanks to YOU

And this is all thanks to friends like you. Without the prayers and donations of compassionate humanitarians, we couldn’t reach people with compassion and support. You can make a difference in the lives of Morocco earthquake survivors by working together with us in the region. Your hands of compassion can show them God’s love. Visit www.ob.org/disaster-relief today to give towards the cause.

SUPPORT DISASTER VICTIMS