Operation Blessing Rushing Critical Aid to Turkey Following Deadly Earthquake
TURKEY (February 7, 2023) – Just one day after a catastrophic earthquake shook Turkey and Syria, the region has descended into chaos and darkness. But there is hope with Operation Blessing’s international disaster response team rushing critical aid to Turkey. Friends like you are a light in the darkness sending portable solar lanterns and other much-needed relief supplies into the fray to help those in desperate need.
And there are many, many people in need right now. With thousands of collapsed buildings in southeastern Turkey, millions are without shelter. Over 5,000 have been reported as dead at this point, but sadly there is no telling how high that number will soar as search and rescue operations continue. Please join us in prayer for the millions of people agonizing over lost and missing loved ones.
Friends Like You are Showing God’s Love
Operation Blessing President Gordon Robertson said, “It is heartbreaking…But Operation Blessing is doing something about it. We are sending an international team there right now to assess and then determine how we get our international centers mobilized just as we did for the Ukrainian refugee crisis, how we get the teams mobilized to do serious work on the ground, to help the refugees, to help those who are now homeless in the middle of winter. We want to be there for them in their time of need, to let them know that God loves them, and we love them too, and we want to be there and help them.”
Operation Blessing Deploys International Disaster Relief Team to Turkey Following Deadly Earthquake
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA (February 6, 2023) – Operation Blessing is deploying its International Disaster Relief team to Turkey to aid in the relief efforts following the deadly earthquake.
Diego Traverso, director of International Disaster Relief, is currently en route and is expected to arrive in Turkey this evening. Once on the ground, the team will begin distributing emergency relief supplies including portable solar lanterns, which are invaluable at night in disaster zones when the electricity is out. The Operation Blessing team will meet with local officials shortly to determine the best response in the coming days and weeks.
Traverso most recently led Operation Blessing’s ongoing efforts to help the people of Ukraine. Since last March, Operation Blessing has been providing relief both in that country, and to thousands of refugees that have fled Ukraine and crossed the border into Poland.
MEXICO – Nine-year-old Brenda once became so sick, she couldn’t even walk. When her mother took her to a clinic to get help, the doctor told them the cause was the dirty water they’d been drinking. Brenda needed someone like you to come along and make a difference in her life.
“It’s hard to be told that’s what’s harming her—and that’s what I’ll continue giving her,” said her mother, Maria. “For me, it was very difficult to have my kids drink that water, but we didn’t have any other.”
When she was a child herself, Maria had to walk down a dangerous path every day to fetch dirty water in Mexico from a nearby river. Then she watched as her own children, including Brenda, had to do the same thing. As a widowed mother with few resources, Maria had no other choice.
The dirty water in Mexico made Brenda and her siblings sick. They missed school, and sometimes even got hurt along the path. But they had no other access to water, and neither did the other 13 families that lived in the remote community of San José el Paraíso, Mexico.
“It had many insects, and it was very dirty because the cows stepped in it,” said Brenda’s 11-year-old sister Elena of their water source. “I had to drink it fast.”
The family and surrounding village were in dire need of help. Brenda and her siblings prayed for a miracle. “We asked God for blessings from the heavens,” said Maria. “We have no resources.”
Now Her Children Do Not Have To Drink Dirty Water In Mexico
And God answered their prayers through generous friends like you. Your love helped provide 13 complete rainwater harvesting systems—one for each family in San José el Paraíso. They also received training and technical support.
Families and children like Brenda in the community no longer have to walk down the dangerous road to collect dirty water in Mexico that can make them sick. They can now drink safe, clean water right at home. Brenda and her family have a new life—thanks to the compassion and care of faithful Operation Blessing supporters.
“I’m happy because now all my family has clean water,” said Elena. “We don’t get sick anymore.” And we have more blessings on the horizon for them, like toilets and showers!
Maria can see a better future for her children now. “Our lives have changed and a lot! Thanks to you, thank you.”
WORLDWIDE – It’s getting harder to keep food on the table. Around the world, people are feeling the weight of inflation and food supply issues. In many developing nations, famine is even taking lives. But you’re rescuing those who battle hunger and food insecurity worldwide.
Whether it’s providing a garden for a family in Mexico, offering a goat-raising project in Kenya, empowering a small business in Peru, or placing food directly into the hands of the hurting right here in the US, we are addressing food supply issues and fighting hunger together.
You’re entering some of the worst situations in the world and changing lives—lives like Gulmato’s. She and her fellow Kenyans in remote Tubcha village were starving due to a severe drought. They’d lost their livestock and their crops. Parents watched in anguish as their children went to bed hungry. Gulmato said, “All our food was gone, and I don’t know what would have happened to us!” But YOU changed all that, sending enough provisions to feed her family and entire village over several months!
GIVING DAILY BREAD IN UKRAINE
Your love has also found its way to Ukraine, where civilians—everyday citizens like you—are bearing the brunt of Russia’s brutal assault. Millions have fled to neighboring nations for safety. In Poland, you are caring for these refugees as this terrible war drags on. “It’s really depressing being separated from loved ones and leaving my house and livelihood in Ukraine,” said Sergei, one of 3,000 refugees staying at a large refugee center in Poland. Facing such great need, the center reached out to us for help. Because of your faithful support, Operation Blessing quickly responded with truckloads of food, hygiene kits, and cleaning materials.
Some Ukrainians, however, did not flee their homeland. The ongoing battle conditions are leaving many of them hungry as they lose access to basic staples due to constant shelling and danger. With Operation Blessing’s help, a woman named Zhenya and her husband are braving the hazards to run a bakery offering free bread to hurting residents who can hardly find food anywhere.
Faithful friends like you provided the necessary support, supplies, and equipment to make this outreach possible. “Every morning, we visit the cities and villages to find out who needs our help, mostly the elderly,” Zhenya shared. “We deliver bread to people who have nothing—their eyes fill with tears of happiness.”
A HELPING HAND FOR FELLOW AMERICANS
Americans are also struggling to bear up under the tremendous weight of soaring prices and post-pandemic conditions. For many who were already living paycheck to paycheck, they’re no longer treading water—they’re drowning. The devastating effects of inflation force many of us fight hunger in America on a daily basis.
Jen from Michigan understands this all too well. She was a chef before the pandemic, but her career skidded to a halt when restaurants closed their doors. Her husband’s income as a Costco retail worker couldn’t carry the load alone—especially since they were providing for their two granddaughters at the time. So they went to our distribution partner, Buist Community Assistance Center, for help.
And your compassion met them there. Operation Blessing’s partnership with the center provided Jen’s family with all the free food they needed to stay afloat. She said, “It’s pretty amazing to be able fill your car with good food. If you’ve got food, you feel like you still have something. You’ve got comfort.”
PHILIPPINES – The joys of having a healthy baby are beyond compare. But what happens when the child has a health problem?
Rachel knows. Just days after her son’s birth in 2020, Rachel was feeding Jevon when she noticed something odd. His eyes appeared to have white spots on them. She said, “He didn’t respond when we waved our hands in front of his eyes.” But there was no way to do anything about it during the pandemic.
Eventually, when the Philippines eased travel restrictions, the family had Jevon’s eyes checked. The ophthalmologist knew right away that their precious boy had cataracts in both eyes. “I was worried when I found out about his condition— we did not know if there was a cure or if his eyes could still have a chance to see,” Rachel said. “I felt fear for my son.
How could he live a normal life without seeing?”
Cataract Surgery In The Philippines
Jevon’s father lost his job around the same time they got the news, and though he found some work in construction, it barely covered their daily needs. Then they were told how much the cataract surgery in the Philippines to help Jevon was going to cost—around five years of wages. What could they do?
Then YOU saved them from their painful situation. You sent your love across the world, and your generosity paid for Jevon’s cataract surgery. Only a week after the successful operation, Rachel reported to us that Jevon was trying to walk!
Now, when Jevon’s parents hold out their hands to their baby, he reaches back for them— all because you cared! Can you imagine how their hearts soared the first time that happened? Rachel said, “I appreciate your great help to my child, Jevon.
He was given the chance to see the world, to see us and have a chance to live a normal life. It’s OK if he needs to wear glasses.”
She is grateful. “Thank you to everyone who helped us. If not for them, my son would not be able to see. I pray that God will give them long lives to be able to help more children like my son, to give light to other people’s lives, too.”
HONDURAS – Amanda worked hard to support her three growing boys, Jonathan, Milton, and Arnold. Because of her threatening husband, their family situation became unsafe for her and the boys. So Amanda took action. She gathered her children and fled. For the next several months, she used what little she could learn to put food on the table for her family. But as a single mother in Honduras, she was barely able to keep up with their most basic expenses. She didn’t know how she would manage.
Helping A Single Mother In Honduras
Your love and generosity reached out to Amanda not just once but twice during her time of need. Amanda had long dreamed of becoming a professional stylist. Because of her situation, she could not afford the cost of training. But you paved the way for her to attend Canela y Miel, our free cosmetology academy for women like Amanda who were at risk for various reasons.
At the academy, she learned how to give manicures and pedicures, cut and dye hair, and apply makeup professionally. Amanda was determined enough to make it! Even in the midst of difficulties at home, she graduated as a professional stylist. Amanda began setting up her new business—but she still needed proper tools and more supplies to support her family properly.
That’s when you came alongside Amanda for the second time and showed her how much you cared! When Operation Blessing learned about her struggles, you provided professional beauty equipment—along with all the supplies she needed to give manicures and pedicures, as well as to cut hair. Thanks to you, Amanda now has the opportunity to build a hairstyling business that can support her lovely family for a long time to come!
KENYA – A small, one-room mud hut—that’s all Dorcas could provide for her children. They cooked over an open fire, then slept on a blanket on the floor beside it. Smoke often burned their eyes. Dorcas’ back and ribs ached from sleeping on the hard, uneven ground. “We could not afford a good house, because we had no money,” said Dorcas. “I am all by myself, and no one is helping me.”
Then the walls of the mud hut began to crumble. Rain seeped through leaks in the roof, and the cold wind blew through cracks in the walls. Covering the cracks with cloth or patching them with more mud proved only temporary solutions. Dorcas felt helpless, but what else could she do?
“It makes me sad when I see my children coughing because of the cold,” she said. “Because I cannot afford to take them to the hospital for treatment.” Dorcas wanted to give so much more to her three children still living at home—William, 16, Beatrice, 8, and Kitonga, 6. But as a single mother, there was no way.
She often walked for hours, searching for work, and she used what little she earned to buy food. Nothing remained to repair the walls or save up to buy a better house. So every day she sent her children to school, hoping that eventually they would grow up and find enough work to better their lives.“My prayer every day is that God may give me a good house for me and my children,” said Dorcas. “Then I can work and provide food, school fees, and other needs for my children.”
Lack Of Access To Clean Water In Kenya
Another problem they faced was access to clean water in Kenya. Some days Dorcas left early in the morning with a five-gallon can to draw water from a dam a few miles away. The journey took her five hours by foot and left her exhausted. She couldn’t look for work on days she gathered water. Then, on top of everything else, her daughter Beatrice got sick from the water. “It was greenish in color, but it’s all we had,” said Dorcas. “When I took her to the clinic, I was told she had an amoeba because of drinking dirty water.”
Then we heard about Dorcas’ struggles—and friends like you responded and began building her a new home. But that generosity didn’t stop there. Operation Blessing partners gave her a new kitchen, a bathroom, and beds. “The house is warm, and there’s no dust either,” said Dorcas. “It feels great to sleep on a mattress in a bed. I no longer have backaches. No part of my body is aching.”
Supported by our caring partners, we also installed a rainwater harvesting system with a large tank and a filter so that Dorcas would no longer have to walk such a long distance to fetch dirty water. She and her children now have access to safe, clean water at home to drink without getting sick.
Dorcas is grateful for everything that the love and generosity of friends like you provided. “I prayed to God, and indeed, God hears and answers prayers. He answered my prayers, and I love Him so much!” she said. “May God bless you! Thank you for your help. It’s God who made this happen through you!”
POLAND – “The war has begun.” Imagine waking up early one morning to see this message on your phone, knowing everything in your world is about to change in ways you can’t even imagine. You would quickly realize you were not safe in Ukraine. That’s what happened to Olena and her family on February 24, 2022.
The days following the reports of a Russian invasion were peppered with a dizzying barrage of gunfire, explosions, and tough decisions. Olena and her twin 3-year-old daughters slept in their basement for safety the whole week after she got the news, knowing their sleep would be interrupted again and again by air raid sirens.
During the day, they would wait for sirens to cease and then rush to do simple activities like take baths and cook. Olena recalls, “The sounds were very scary and really frightened us.” It wasn’t long before friends and family urged them to leave the country.
Olena knew her girls were not safe in Ukraine, so she yielded, taking a journey into the fearful unknown. They boarded a bus to Poland and headed off into the darkness. Olena, Mira, and Margarita endured the harrowing 15-hour trip in cramped quarters without light to avoid Russian detection.
Love For Ukrainians in Poland
But when the bus finally stopped, they found hope. Thanks in part to your support, Olena and her girls were welcomed with open arms by Operation Blessing partners offering shelter. Because of you, they knew they’d found a safe place to lay their heads. Olena shared, “Everyone took care of us, making sure we had everything we needed—for the children and for me—making sure we were comfortable.”
You reached out in compassion to provide for the needs of many suffering Ukrainian families during this time. When Olena and her girls were hungry, Operation Blessing met their need, holding a food distribution event for the whole refugee community. Having full bellies made the future look brighter.
Mothers like Olena struggled with more than basic necessities, though. They knew their children were suffering emotionally and needed something constructive to do. Olena described the difficulty: “Right now, we as moms are very busy with work and different issues, and for kids there are not so many activities.”
So Operation Blessing family members like you took care of that, as well. Our teams held birthday celebrations along with other fun, encouraging activities that lifted the little ones’ spirits. As you can see by their faces, Mira and Margarita have experienced joy thanks to your kindness. Olena offers her gratitude. “We are very, very thankful to you for such support—for your love and care for us and our children.”
Ukraine – Today we’re celebrating 100 supply trucks to Ukraine! Because of your generosity, we have reached this very special milestone in blessing the people of this war-torn nation.
Since the war started, friends like you have enabled us to bring thousands of tons of food and hygiene supplies to needy communities inside Ukraine. You’ve also helped us provide fuel to heat homes in the frigid winter and love and care to Ukrainian refugees in Poland as well.
Celebrating Your Love!
As we celebrate sending 100 supply trucks into Ukraine, we would like to thank you on behalf of every person and family who received the food and relief that you so kindly provided.
Thank you for your love and your ongoing support of the work of Operation Blessing, particularly during the winter months.
Your gifts are helping families prepare hot meals during the cold Ukrainian winter. Merry Christmas! To make a gift and help more families, visit www.ob.org/crisis today!
HONDURAS – When Antoni’s stomach started to burn, he knew something was wrong. Only moments after he drank a little water, waves of nausea and pain struck him. He grew so sick his family had to rush him to the only clinic available—more than an hour’s drive from their home.
The worst part was, the emergency visit cost nearly half of Antoni’s father’s wages for an entire month. Antoni survived, but he wasn’t unharmed. His father said, “The doctor told me that Antoni had developed parasites because of the type of water that he has been drinking.”
And there was no guarantee this wouldn’t happen again, because Antoni’s family didn’t have another source of clean water in Honduras. You see, little 9-year-old Antoni lives with his family in a remote mountain village in Honduras where water access had always been scarce, and what they could find wasn’t safe. His father explained, “The water we have consumed has never been clean. The hoses don’t have any filters. We see insects and dirt in the cloudy water.” He and others in his village knew this was a problem, but they didn’t have the means to solve it on their own.
So somehow, they kept on going, even though they had to continue using the same contaminated water for drinking, cooking, and washing. Antoni shared one particularly frightening moment: “One day we went with my dad to check the spring where the hoses come from. When we arrived, there was a dead animal in it. We removed it with some sticks. It really smelled bad. Dad said we had to wait for a while before we drank the water.” On days like that one, it was hard for Antoni’s family to hope circumstances would improve.
Operation Blessing Helps Provide A Source Of Clean Water In Honduras
Then they met Operation Blessing, and friends like you changed everything! Young Antoni said, “When Operation Blessing came, I felt relieved, because they were going to fix this water problem.” The clean water team immediately set to work evaluating the problem and potential solutions with the help of the locals.
First, they identified a new freshwater spring higher in the mountains for a spring water catchment system that would replace the dirty, exposed pools the community had been using. Then, together with community members, the team laid a pipe system, built a 5,000-gallon storage tank, and added purification. Water ran free and clean for the first time—right to residents’ homes.
Antoni was ecstatic. “The water that Operation Blessing gave us is very refreshing. There is a strong stream of water right in the house faucets! It feels as cold as if they had put ice in it,” he exclaimed. “Now my family and everyone in the community are happy because of the water that God sent us. Now everyone who drinks this water will not suffer!”
His father’s words perhaps express it best. “First of all, I want to thank God, and then thank the donors of the Operation Blessing project. For us this has been excellent; it is a blessing for this community and for each family. Thank you!”
