The Gift Of Health

MEXICO – Ena loves taking care of people—especially her neighbors—and meeting their healthcare needs. But the lone medical clinic in the small community Xpanhatoro, Mexico, remained empty. For 13 years, Ena had proudly served as a health assistant. But then a few years ago, she needed to step down, and soon afterward the program closed completely.

“There are no healthcare assistants in any community now,” Ena explained. “And there are no medics in our clinic because there is no money to pay them.”

Healthcare was no longer available for farmers who had accidents or for Ena’s neighbors with high blood pressure or diabetes. The community was simply too remote to access outside help in an emergency. The community was in desperate need of healthcare training in Mexico.

Healthcare Training Program In Mexico

Ena wanted to do something to assist her neighbors. “I had been considering saving money to buy the devices we need in the community.” When Operation Blessing began a food security program there last summer, Ena learned of a potential solution. “When I heard about OB’s Community Health Volunteers, I thought it would be a great opportunity to get back to my passion.”

Thanks to generous friends like you, Ena and others in Xpanhatoro were able to get the training they needed to serve their community through a series of first-aid workshops. You also supplied the community with a health kit that’s complete with a blood pressure monitor, a blood glucose monitor, and basic first-aid supplies. Ena completed her training in March and couldn’t contain her smile. “We’re very thankful that OB gave us the tools to take care of ourselves,” she said. “Health is so important to me. Without it, we can’t do what we love: enjoying life and family.”

Thank you for partnering with Operation Blessing to provide healthcare training in Mexico and bring medical care to those who need it most.

Hunger Relief: Meet Shelby and LeGrand

UNITED STATES – Shelby and LeGrand were surprised and happy when they found out they were having twins. Like so many generations before them starting a family was a source of joy. Also like other generations before them, there are challenges that come with the responsibility of parenthood.

The harsh reality of paying for groceries and baby supplies began to weigh heavily on them. With only one income, the young couple feared they would not be able to feed their children. Due to expenses and the cost of living it is hard enough for a single person to start out in the world. For a young couple with small children, the challenge can seem insurmountable.

Hunger Relief For A Young Couple

Thanks to the generous gifts of friends like you, Operation Blessing was able to provide hunger relief for this young couple. Through the generous support of our partners we were able to provide them with the essential groceries and baby supplies they needed.

When you give, families like theirs are cared for until they’re back on their feet. By providing hunger relief for a young couple, you help them, and their children, get a good start as they build their lives together.

Meet Srey Kouch: Cleft Lip Surgery

cleft lips surgery in cambodia for child

CAMBODIA- Before baby Srey was born, the doctors told her mother she had a cleft lip. The news was devastating to Srey’s mother and father. One minute they were jubilant over the upcoming birth of their child. The next, thoughts of a future in which their newborn would need to have cleft lip surgery in Cambodia brought them crashing back down. The shock of what they had learned from the doctors must have been overwhelming. Then things became even more complicated for Srey’s parents.

Cleft Lip Surgery And Covid

As if the prospect of your beloved newborn needing surgery was not enough, a new threat struck. Three months after she was born, the pandemic hit and shut down travel. But nothing was going to stop this blessing. When Operation Blessing heard about baby Srey, they arranged for her to receive free surgery at a hospital in the capital city, as well as free transportation to get her family there.

After surgery things are very different for Srey. Now Srey does not struggle to feed, and she laughs and smiles freely!

Life-changing surgeries like this miraculous cleft lip surgery in Cambodia are only possible because you choose to give and make a difference.

Relief for Traumatized Family in Florida

FLORIDA- The devastating wind and flooding brought on by Hurricane Ian put many families in terrible danger. Port Charlotte resident Aerielle Dipiazza recounted her experience during the storm. Now disaster relief for Hurricane Ian is critical as Aerielle and her family start the long path to recovery.

“We all thought we were going to die. Water was coming in—sewage water at first and then surge water.” She continued, “It was really traumatic for myself, the kids, my husband, and the animals.”

Once the storm passed, mold and water damage left the home uninhabitable.

Aerielle said, “My reaction to everything was that I definitely needed some spiritual intervention. And I just kept praying. And lo and behold, a beautiful community did come around me.”

Operation Blessing Disaster Relief after Hurricane Ian

In the aftermath of the storm, an Operation Blessing disaster relief team visited Aerielle’s home to help remove soiled furniture, clean up water damage, and help them get their home and their lives back on track.

She said, “Operation Blessing has been just incredible with being able to help us understand what has to be removed, helping us do what we need to do to remove everything, helping us get a lot of the damage gone, and essentially being able to fix what needs to be fixed.”

Thanks to the generosity of our partners, families like Aerielle’s can begin to take their first steps toward recovery.

Aerielle expressed, “For us, my family, this has brought us even closer to the Lord and really made us realize what’s important in our life.”

With the support of friends like you, more families like Aerielle’s can have hope for the future.

“We absolutely would love to thank all of you who have donated, for being able to help myself and my family at this really challenging time,” she said. “And we appreciate you all so much. Thank you.”

Visit ob.org/obdisaster to help victims of disaster now.

To volunteer with Operation Blessing as a disaster relief worker in Florida, visit ob.org/volunteer.

Prayers Answered With A Community Water System In Kenya

KENYA – Mercy trudged along the path, exhausted. Water sloshed atop her head in a heavy container, but the sound caused her as much distress as relief. Her back hurt, her feet throbbed, and her neck had become as stiff as a board from the weight of the full water jug. She still had over an hour to walk, but her babies needed water. Without a community water system in Kenya, Mercy endured this strenuous trek often.

protection-from-contaminated-water-in-kenya

Mercy and her boys live in a remote village of Kenya where clean water access has only ever been a dream and water contamination problems were a common occurrence. Every single day she had to make the exhausting, three-hour round-trip trek at least once to the only water source nearby, or her family would not survive long. They needed water for drinking, for cooking, for laundry, and for bathing—as did everyone else in her community.

The water she did gather was terribly contaminated. She watched, helpless and heartbroken, as her children suffered from rashes and from dangerous illnesses such as cholera and typhoid fever. The doctor had already explained that their water source was causing these illnesses, but there was nothing she could do to change that. So, Mercy prayed. She sought mercy from the God of mercy.

A Community Water System In Kenya To End Water Contamination Problems

And her prayers were answered—through friends like you! Because compassionate partners cared about those in need around the world, Operation Blessing went to Mercy’s village to solve their water contamination problems. Teams installed a deep, solar-powered well as part of a community water system in Kenya that would sustain not only Mercy’s family but also the entire community for the long haul.

And the best part was, it was right near Mercy’s home. No more long treks just to get the most basic of necessities. Now, Mercy says, “I have more time to run my small business, and I even serve as a Community Health Volunteer.” Mercy shared how this changed her family’s life. “God answered my prayers. With the water so near my house, I can get as much as I need. I can drink and cook with it without any problems.”

She also offered her heart felt gratitude to generous supporters like you. “Thank you, Operation Blessing, for bringing us good, safe water, and may God bless you.”

Help Families Stay Afloat

Help Now

WORLDWIDE – All over the world, families are feeling the weight of inflation. They’re finding it harder to keep food on the table and fight hunger. It’s becoming more and more difficult to stay afloat when expenses like gas, diapers, and medical bills seem to overtake the budget. And with supply chain issues still affecting stores worldwide, grocery prices are soaring as well. For many families, it can feel impossible to stay afloat.

Partner With Us to Fight Hunger and Food Insecurity

But Operation Blessing friends like you are tackling this problem every day! Your loving support is fighting hunger and food insecurity all over the world. Whether it’s supplying food to Ukrainian refugees in Poland, providing a garden for a family in Mexico, conducting a poultry project in Kenya, empowering a small business in Peru, or placing food directly into the hands of the hurting, unemployed, elderly, or disaster-stricken right here in the U.S., you are fighting hunger.

Here at Operation Blessing, we’ve seen firsthand just how much of a difference we can make by rallying together behind our neighbors in need. Every gift, no matter how small, makes a difference! Will you give to bless the hungry, hurting, and desperate today?

Together, we can help families stay afloat by providing food for the hungry, water for the thirsty, medicine for the sick, and relief for those affected by disaster! Click here to make your gift today .

Give a Gift!

A Heart To Help In Ukraine

UKRAINE – Meanwhile, in far-off Eastern Europe, your heart to help in Ukraine has also come through for victims of war and displaced families like Yana’s. Yana was working in her garden in Kherson when her daughter came running and pointing in horror. About 20 Russian soldiers had broken into their home like thieves.

“In an instant, my house was filled with chaos, terror, and a huge number of evil soldiers,” Yana said. They were looking for her husband, who served in the Ukrainian armed forces. Taking them into separate rooms, the soldiers interrogated Yana, her 14-year-old daughter, and even her 4-year-old son!

When Yana tried to stand up to protect her children, the soldiers threatened her life, but she didn’t retreat. “What kind of soldier are you after attacking a woman with children with your machine gun?” she challenged. “Where is your honor as an officer?” To her shock, the soldiers backed down.

She could only credit a miracle of God for her family’s safety. Yana and her children immediately fled their hometown.

Help In Ukraine After A Terrifying Ordeal

After an equally terrifying and dangerous journey, they finally arrived at the Lviv Theological Seminary in the eastern part of the country where they took refuge. There, they were received as family and given all the food and supplies they needed to survive because of your heart to help the hurting.

“Without this vital support we would not be able to provide for ourselves and would be destitute like many unfortunate refugees,” Yana said gratefully with tears in her eyes. “It is very important to have a washing machine, a hair dryer, a blender, and a coffee maker at hand. It really comforts a little and gives a minimal feeling of home and helps us to hope for the best.”

Meet Baby Luis: Club Foot Surgery

Baby Luis in Honduras received treatment for his clubfoot condition

HONDURAS – The day baby Luis was born, his mother saw his clubfoot condition and feared he might never walk.

A single mother and seamstress, she spent the last of her savings to take Luis to a specialist. When she learned the cost of the surgery, she realized there was no way she could afford it.

But that’s when friends like you stepped up to help! Because of the generosity of friends like you, Operation Blessing took care of the complete treatment and minor surgery for baby Luis and his clubfoot condition.

Just three months later, we found Luis well on his way to complete recovery. When the time comes, baby Luis will be walking as he should.

When you partner with Operation Blessing, you change lives.

Thank You for Reaching Out to Florida with God’s Love!

Family receives disaster relief in Port Charlotte Florida from Operation Blessing

FLORIDA – Thanks to you, Operation Blessing is on the ground providing disaster relief in hard–hit communities around Port Charlotte, Florida after Hurricane Ian.

Nelida said, “I’ve been through three hurricanes, and this one has really taken a toll on us.”

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, residents like Nelida are still reeling from the extensive damage to their property and are in need of disaster relief in Port Charlotte. That’s where you came in!

“When you see the devastation around you, it really grips you. It grips you really hard.” She continued, “We saw the chaos of all the trees all over the place, and my first thought was, how are we going to clean this up? And how long would it take us to clean it? But look now that Operation Blessing has come to help us out.”

disaster aid in Port Charlotte Florida after ian

You Are Providing Disaster Relief To Port Charlotte for Hurricane Ian Victims

Because you care, Operation Blessing disaster relief teams visited dozens of homes like Nelida’s to help people take their first steps toward recovery. For her, we removed trees and debris and tarped damaged parts of her roof.

Nelida said, “They come out here and stay for hours and hours, cleaning up and helping and encouraging us along the way and praying with us. I can only say thank you. There are no words for the gratitude that we feel for them, to come out here and do this for us.”

Thanks to your loving support, relief teams are equipped and ready to help whenever disaster strikes.

Nelida said, “We’re truly, truly grateful for what they do around the world, not only here and when there’s disasters, but the things that they do for others, the many others. And being a part of that, I think, is amazing. And we’re grateful.”

To help even more disaster victims in need visit ob.org/obdisaster.

To volunteer with Operation Blessing as a disaster relief worker in Florida, visit ob.org/volunteer.

Compassion Changes Everything

help in India for girl in need of shoulder surgery

INDIA – As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him (Psalm 103:13). When your child hurts, you hurt. And God’s heart goes out to every suffering child around the world—including a precious 5-year-old girl in India named Sakshi. Sakshi’s parents discovered the deformity in her left shoulder and spine when she was just a year old, and she’s struggled with it ever since. Doctors said if Sakshi wasn’t operated on at this young age, she’d be partially disabled for life. Her parents desperately needed help in India for their little girl.

Her condition made it impossible for Sakshi to lift her arms above her head or move her left arm without pain. It broke her parents’ hearts to see her cry, but they couldn’t afford the costly surgery needed to heal her condition.

indian child recieves surgery for shoulder deformity

Help In India For Sakshi

Because of her shoulder, she was bullied at school so badly that her parents let her stay home. Mostly, Sakshi spent her days inside with her mother. Although she was now 5 years old, her mother still had to help with basic activities like bathing and putting on clothes. She would say, “Mommy, please make my arm better.” Her mother said, “Our hearts break for her, but we don’t know what to do.” Her family wanted so much more for her! They just needed a miracle.

And by God’s grace, friends like you delivered. Just look at her now! Little Sakshi stands straight and tall and pain-free. She’ll continue growing stronger with physical therapy, and she can look forward to even better days ahead. Her father is overwhelmed with gratitude. “Sakshi has relief! Her posture is also corrected. We are very thankful for all the services we received from the generous support of Operation Blessing. My daughter’s life is better!”