UNITED STATES – Dozens of tornadoes recently struck the United States across the South and Midwest, devastating homes and lives only days after an EF-4 barreled through Mississippi for 170 miles. An Operation Blessing disaster relief team is reaching out in these new areas while still offering helping hands in Mississippi.
Operation Blessing Volunteers Offering Helping Hands in Mississippi
In Mississippi, we met storm survivor Minnie. She said, “We went through storms, but nothing like this. It’s a lot to take in.” She continued, “We didn’t even have time to get down. It was just like—boom! And we all hit the floor right there in the hallway.”
Operation Blessing is sending relief items including water, emergency meal kits, and cleaning supplies. We’ve also set up our base of operations in Wren outside of Amory, MS and have volunteer teams working in struggling communities nearby offering hot meals, debris cleanup, chainsaw work, and roof tarping.
Minnie said, “Everybody in my house was okay, my husband and my daughter. We all were okay. But right now, we need help. You know, we need people to help us. First of all, we need prayers. We need each others prayers.”
She told us, “I just thank God for you because you didn’t have to do it. You could have been doing something else. But He sent you our way, and we thank you so very much for that.”
Generous friends like you are offering hope to Minnie and others who have suffered so much. You can be a part of all that God is doing to help those in need by standing with us today!
Throughout the war you have been blessing Ukrainians. You have faithfully reached out to refugees and victims of Russian aggression. But the help you’ve sent has gone far beyond the physical. You have been blessing their bodies, their minds, and even their spirits.
Of course, their most pressing needs were for food, fuel, and safety. And you offered all of these, from warm meals and tents to rest in at the border to truckload after truckload of groceries, hygiene items, and other vital supplies sent deep into the war-torn country. As time went on, you helped outfit refugee shelters with necessities like appliances. Our generous partners even helped establish a bakery in the war zone and provided heating supplies as winter set in.
However, for refugee mothers trying to raise their children with some sense of normalcy far from home, perhaps it has been the emotional and spiritual support that has meant the most. One mom named Antonina, widowed with three children, explained the dire situation. “My children were very scared when all the terrible actions began, and especially when we heard the first rockets hit our city,” she said. “The fear was even from the slightest rustle, and it was terrible. They cried all the time. They were very worried, and they hardly slept.”
Blessing Ukrainians With Opportunities in Poland
After they fled horrific experiences in Ukraine, families like Antonina’s still had much adapting to do. Many refugee children left fathers, friends, and family behind. Once in Poland, they felt adrift in a new culture with a different language and needed opportunities to connect with other Ukrainians and be encouraged.
In order to provide long-term care to these refugees, Operation Blessing has partnered with shelters, churches, and Superbook to hold special events for the children. There, the kids can watch entertaining Bible-based videos in their own language side by side with other Ukrainians. They sing and dance and laugh and play. Often, they’re given gifts, and the families receive food supplies as well.
At one event, we met a mother named Svetlana who, like Antonina, also fled rocket attacks with her son. “There must be such activities—because children who have escaped from war are traumatized,” she said. “The war took away their childhood, happiness, faith in the future.Therefore, organizations that hold such events for them fill in these gaps we all have because of the war. During this event, we saw how happy the children were. They need such emotions!”
Through these outreaches, many children and parents are receiving spiritual nourishment as well. A father named Viktor, who made it out of Ukraine with his wife and three youngest children, truly appreciated the Bible stories in the Superbook programming.“The war is terrible, and many things are frightening, but we are believers. And the biggest and most important thing is when children can learn about the Word of God from a young age,” he said.“Therefore, it’s very valuable for us that our younger children were here and listened.”
Parent after parent shared with us how grateful they were to see their children having such a wonderful experience. Thank you so much for blessing Ukrainians and making these events possible! At the same time, we must remember this important message that Svetlana had for us about the war in Ukraine: “Although we really hope that it will stop as soon as possible, the reality is that help will be needed for another long hour.”
Let’s all determine to stay the course and continue blessing these dear people of Ukraine.
WYNNE, ARKANSAS – After as many as 52 tornadoes left a path of destruction across America’s midsection and east, killing dozens and leveling homes and businesses, Operation Blessing headed to hard-hit Arkansas to assess the damage.
In the devastated community of Wynne where 4 people died, Pastor Marvin Norman described driving his wife through what was left of their town.
The sheer destruction overwhelmed her. She said, “Turn around. Take me home; I can’t stand it. Take me home.”
It was an EF-3 tornado that tore through Wynne and the Arkansas capital of Little Rock, leaving a path of destruction in its wake.
Misti Gardner and her family sought shelter in their basement when the tornado hit. They made it out safely afterwards, but their home was destroyed.
Misti said, “I was watching my husband; he was down on his knees praying, and I was listening to him pray. I was just saying ‘Lord, keep us safe.'”
Relief Team Assessing Damage in Wynne, Arkansas
President Joe Biden declared Arkansas a disaster area. In Wynne, Arkansas, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders praised the recovery effort.
She said, “Obviously this is just an unbelievably tragic moment for our state, but what I’ve found amazing are the people stepping up not just from this community but across all of Arkansas.”
Operation Blessing assessment teams are on the ground evaluating damage to determine where best to offer relief. We’re also meeting with pastors to begin distributing and serving food, water, and other relief supplies to their communities.
Meanwhile, in Mississippi, which was devastated by last week’s tornadoes, Operation Blessing is continuing to deliver loads of food and water through local churches there.
TURKEY – Friends like you are reaching across the world today to help suffering people. Operation Blessing is in Hatay, Turkey helping an underserved community that has struggled since recent devastating earthquakes.
The people our teams have spoken to said they have received hardly any help since the disaster. One resident said, “Before you came, we were all alone. We didn’t have anything—no water or food.”
Teams Give Food Staples to Underserved Communities in Hatay
With the underground pipe network destroyed by the quakes and many homes completely destroyed, water is scarce. If people can find water, it’s going to be contaminated. Knowing the need, one of the first things Operation Blessing did in Hatay was set up a water filtration system and a large set of tanks big enough to serve this entire community. They’ve been receiving clean water ever since for drinking, cooking, and bathing.
However, people are hungry, too. To help, Operation Blessing disaster relief teams are doing regular food distributions in underserved communities. Families with hungry children are receiving rice, beans, sugar, and other essentials to sustain them.
All of these supplies are coming from a warehouse where thousands of food boxes have gone out to the people that need it the most. Those being blessed by our teams are extremely appreciative for the help. And every bit of it is thanks to faithful supporters like you. People moved by compassion are the ones that change the world in disaster situations such as this.
One resident said, “We are so grateful for your help. Now we have good water and food to eat. Thank you.”
Thanks to the support of the Operation Blessing family, people here in Hatay are getting what they need right when they need it the most. Together, we are making a difference.
WREN, MISSISSIPPI – “It’s amazing that Operation Blessing came along at a time when we thought we were still on our own,” said Sheryl Mays with Wren Fire Department. Operation Blessing is standing with the community of Wren, MS after a devastating tornado tore through on March 24. We’re making sure they get the help they need.
Mays also shared the painful reality of the disaster, “It’s not ended yet, and it’s not going to for awhile.” Homes are going to take a long time to rebuild, and people are going to be suffering in some measure until that happens.
Teams and Volunteers are Standing with Wren, MS
What’s worse in the near term, many people lost all of the food in their refrigerators and freezers due to the loss of power from the storm. “I see the food going,” said Amanda Brown, Wren Fire Chief. Food is one of the major needs for tornado victims in Mississippi.
But Operation Blessing is on the ground providing crucial food supplies thanks to your generous support. We’re partnering with local churches and the local fire department where we’ve set up our base of operations, and together with friends like you we’ll continue to provide critical support to those in need.
Because of you, truckloads of much-needed supplies are being delivered to the hard-hit areas like Wren. Volunteer teams are also beginning to get sent out to help local homeowners with work like cutting trees, tarping roofs, and removing debris.
Thank you for your prayers as the Operation Blessing U.S. Disaster Relief team continues to bring support to Mississippi tornado victims. Many are still grieving lost loved ones, and our team members need God’s grace to minister to those in need.
ROLLING FORK, MISSISSIPPI – Operation Blessing is on the ground in Rolling Fork, Mississippi bringing tangible relief for tornado victims. This is one of the hardest-hit areas after the recent storm, and they need help.
Houses and businesses were leveled all across the region by the EF-4 tornado’s destructive winds. Lives were lost, and loved ones are grieving. To have people come help at a time like this is a tremendous blessing to those who have lost so much. And the church is key in this time. Their local, trusted presence can help the work go so much farther and bless so many more people.
Teams Provide Critical Relief items for Rolling Fork
Our team is partnering with Pastor Shannon Crawford of Rising Star Church to distribute much-needed food, cleaning kits, and hygiene supplies to desperate families affected by the disaster. Though these things may seem small in the face of losing a home, they can mean the world to someone who is already overwhelmed and fears not having what they need.
“This is the first time I’ve ever seen anything like this, it is devastating,” said Pastor Shannon. “…especially for our church and the people in the community.”
Our team met with one disaster victim and homeowner to discuss the storm. “I’m speechless. It’s a lot to take in,’ said Twonda Warfield, whose home was destroyed by the vicious tornado. “You know, people need a lot of help. We’re just lucky to be alive.”
Generous Operation Blessing partners are providing tangible relief for tornado victims in Mississippi. You can be part of the effort to change lives and give people hope for a better tomorrow.
PHILIPPINES – Josephine’s home lay in ruins. Just two days earlier, she and her family had evacuated in response to news of the coming super typhoon, hoping against hope that there would be a home when they returned. But when they went back, Josephine fell to her knees and wept. The house was there, but she could hardly recognize it. “The storm tore our whole roof off. Inside, years worth of property and appliances were destroyed,” she said. “Nothing was salvageable, and everything was washed out.”
Super Typhoon Rai utterly devastated parts of the Philippines. Torrential rains and heavy winds demolished homes and destroyed local businesses, displacing more than half a million people. Tens of thousands of residents were left homeless on Josephine’s island of Leyte alone. They had no option except to live in makeshift tents along the road. For families like Josephine’s— with no stable income—all hope seemed lost.
But thanks to friends like you, help came quickly to those in desperate need! Generous support from our donors made it possible for Operation Blessing to leap into action. Our staff partnered with local government to help survivors of the storm by providing critical relief items that included food, sleeping mats, and blankets.
And the Operation Blessing family didn’t stop there. Compassionate givers like you heard of the remaining needs of now-homeless families in southern Leyte and did something about it. Teams determined which communities had the worst damage and returned with much-needed roofing materials, stools, plywood, and sacks of cement. Now, families struggling to make ends meet could rebuild their homes with the free materials. Josephine was ecstatic. “I have no words. I’m just really happy that Operation Blessing is here, reaching out to island people like us.”
Recovering From Super Typhoon Rai
Josephine’s family weren’t the only ones whose lives were radically changed by the help. Many others were also given the resources to begin recovery because of the generosity of our partners.
Rosie and her husband, Rodrigo, were fellow typhoon victims. With a voice weak from stress and grief, 70-year-old Rosie shared her experience: “My husband and I were in Manila to visit our children at the time, and we did not expect to come back to the ugly sight of our ruined house after Typhoon Rai slammed into our hometown.”
What made matters worse for them was the fact that Rodrigo was already permanently injured. He’d lost his toes in an accident and was thus unable to get around easily to work and provide for his family’s needs.
His wife said, “He was impaired and unable to continue his work as a carpenter because of that. It’s really hard. I don’t know how and where to start on recovery.”
But faithful friends like you helped them! After receiving assistance, Rosie extended her gratitude to those who made this possible. “Thank you so much for these God-sent blessings. I am grateful and excited. I hope you will reach more people who are in need.”
MISSISSIPPI – Operation Blessing is responding after a deadly tornado struck Mississippi Friday night (03/24/23), devastating homes and businesses across multiple communities.
The National Weather Service gave the deadly tornado a preliminary EF-4 rating. That means the storm potentially had wind gusts up to 200 miles per hour. The tornado lasted more than an hour and left behind a 170-mile path of destruction in Mississippi.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency reports that at least 25 people died in Mississippi, 55 people were injured, and two thousand homes were damaged or destroyed. The terrible situation drove a meteorologist at a local station to offer up a prayer on air during the storm.
“Dear Jesus, please help them. Amen.”
Teams Responding to Deadly Mississippi Tornado with Relief Supplies
The monster tornado leveled most of the town of Rolling Fork, Mississippi.
Mayor Eldridge Walker said, “I’m not only just the mayor of this community, but I’ve lost personal friends. I’m also the local funeral director. Now I’m having to meet my families—those who have lost loved ones—and help them make it through this traumatic time.”
Jessica Davis says she was on the phone with her mother Wanda when the tornado hit Rolling Fork. She says her mother drove to a local store for shelter. Tragically, she never made it out alive.
Jessica said, “I’m hurt—nothing but hurt ’cause everyone lost something, whether it was a loved one, home. Everyone lost something.”
Yet, in spite of the tragedy and the huge task of moving forward and rebuilding from this disaster, many residents took time Sunday morning to go to church.
The mayor also spoke on matters of faith. “This is the Bible belt. And we were all taught that a family that prays together stays together. This is a family, a family of unity, a family of strength. And this is what we need to make this community come back once again.”
President Joe Biden issued an emergency declaration for Mississippi early Sunday. That makes federal funding available to the hardest-hit areas, and relief teams are beginning to arrive and help the storm victims.
Operation Blessing assessment teams are on the ground identifying needs and building partnerships to send in relief. Today (03/27/23), the ministry is sending a shipment of bottled water, emergency meal kits, and cleanup supplies to Bethel Church in Amory, Mississippi.
INDONESIA – Have you ever experienced a sudden loss? Imagine your main source of income being ripped from your grasp tomorrow, and there not being a thing you can do to replace it. What do you do when all is lost? According to Jorim, you pray. When powerful Cyclone Seroja blasted coastal communities in Indonesia, Jorim and his village lost their livelihoods. The storm’s fury tore apart homes, ruined boats, and washed away their entire seaweed harvest—and the village didn’t have adequate funds to rebuild. They desperately needed help from someone like you.
Cyclone Seroja Devastates Tablolong Village
“I was devastated. Since it is my main source of income, it felt like the ground crumbled. I lost everything—not only the seaweed, but also the ropes and other equipment. Everything was ruined by the storm,” Jorim shared.
For this community that had relied on seaweed farming to sustain them for generations, all hope appeared to be lost. That’s when the church of Tablolong Village committed to praying every week until their livelihoods were restored. Little did they know that you would reach out in answer to that prayer.
Because the whole community relied on the seaweed industry, everyone felt its loss—especially the children. Jorim spoke of how people struggled to obtain enough fuel to get their kids to school. Fifi is a widow who supports her two children through seaweed farming, and the storm made her already difficult circumstances nearly impossible to overcome.
Restoring The Village’s Livelihood After The Storm
But then love sailed in from a distant shore, and your compassion changed everything! Your generous gifts empowered Operation Blessing to provide a canoe, seaweed seeds, nylon rope, and all the necessary supplies to help 10 families restore their livelihoods and care for their children.
At last, the community is beginning to see the answer to their prayers because you cared. Triana, another seaweed farmer, said, “Praise be to God. We’ve had two harvests from this help already. May God always bless the Operation Blessing family to continue to be a blessing to everyone in need.” Friends like you are helping Trina feed her three young children—and her new income could also provide them a chance to pursue an education.
HONDURAS – Clean water access is precious, and people around the world without it are suffering daily—but they don’t have to.
Thankfully, since 1993, the world has taken a day each year to unite around clean water as one of our greatest common needs. This World Water Day is about accelerating change to solve the water crisis. And you can be part of that—investing in a better world and brighter future for families in need.
Clean Water Access Will Transform This Remote Village
We searched for a community that desperately needed clean water access, and when we met the families of Yargüera, Honduras, we saw a need we could meet—with the help of friends like you. Though they have water access from hand dug wells around their small community, they know it might make them and their children sick. They boil and strain the dirty, often contaminated water, but it’s not enough.
Michel shared, “I drank some water because I was very tired. Minutes later, I had a big stomachache. I told my dad that I didn’t feel well and needed to take medicine; I felt like I was being attacked in my stomach. I took some medicine, but the pain wouldn’t go away.”
It’s terrible to have to fear something you need to survive. The good news is, we have the power to rewrite their story. Together, we can give this community a new future where the constant danger of waterborne illness has faded as every household gets the chance to access clean water.
This World Water Day, we’re asking you to join Operation Blessing in building a new community water system delivering clean water to the nearly 140 people in this remote community. Help us realize Maria’s lifelong dream of having clean water to drink, and help us give the children like Michel peace of mind. You can deliver clean water and show this community God’s love by donating today!
