Burden Lifted For Kentucky Tornado Victims

After an EF4 tornado struck Kathy’s town of Russellville, Kentucky, her home was left with serious damage. The storm hit as part of a string of deadly tornadoes that ravaged Kentucky and surrounding areas in December. Due to the building’s damaged ceilings and walls, as well as debris in her yard, single mother Kathy and her family needed help—and fast.

When Kathy learned that Operation Blessing teams were working in Russellville, she reached out for help with fixing the holes in her ceiling that had been created by the storm. Thanks to friends like you, not only did she receive the assistance she needed to repair her roof, but volunteers also helped clean up her yard and install new sheetrock and insulation inside her home!

“I credit God for getting us through the storm aftermath and helping us get it all cleaned up,” said Kathy. “Like today—for Operation Blessing coming in and helping us redo walls and windows and all they’re helping us with. I credit God for all that.”

For Operation Blessing coming in and helping us redo walls and windows and all they’re helping us with, I credit God for all that.
-Kathy

The aid came as a true blessing for Kathy, who lives on a limited disability income. She shared that it was already difficult enough providing for her teenage twin girls and her niece, but with the added weight of home repairs, she didn’t know how she would make it. That’s when you stepped in to make a difference.

Recovery For Kentucky Tornado Victims

Because of you, volunteers worked on the sheetrock on her ceilings and walls, laid down new flooring in her laundry room, and installed new windows—all steps on the road to recovery for Kathy and her family.

For Kathy, the facelift to her laundry room proved especially exciting. Until then, she had been limited in how often she could do something as simple as wash clothes, often having to wait for the electrical sockets to dry from rain leaking through the roof. She’s extremely thankful to God and Operation Blessing partners for reaching out to her and her family when they needed it most.

“Operation Blessing being here is really a blessing,” said Kathy. “It means so much to me. They will never know how much it means to me.”

Thank you for your heart to help victims of disaster in the U.S. and around the world. The work you make possible through Operation Blessing brings relief and hope for Kentucky tornado victims in their darkest times. May God bless you for your kindness and compassion!

No Safe Places In Ukraine

POLAND – Operation Blessing sat down with Ania Kozack to hear her story of escape from violence with her younger brother. As is the case with so many other Ukrainians, Ania Kozack and her brother were forced to flee their homeland.

Ania relayed the shock when a Russian missile hit a home nearby. While war raged round them in their home country and on their street, she realized they were in grave danger. When they looked for refuge, they realized there were no safe places in Ukraine. This put them on their journey to reach the Polish border and safety from harm.

A Place Of Respite After A Harrowing Journey

Ania and her brother found themselves in an unfamiliar country. Operation Blessing was there to greet them and give them some respite from their difficult and tragic situation. Accordingly, the Operation Blessing tent provided them a welcoming place to rest and begin planning their next steps. They were also provided with a meal and a hot drink. Operation Blessing helped connect them with a local church partner to get ongoing support.

Simple things can mean a lot to a brother and sister who have had to leave everything due to events beyond their control. In this case, a sister who has very little and must take care of her younger brother. The difference offerings of kindness are making cannot be emphasized enough. Ania herself sums it up best when she says, “Human kindness is like one of the things that’s helped me going on.”

Human kindness is like one of the things that’s helped me going on.

You Make This Kindness Possible

Thanks to the generosity of friends like you, Operation Blessing has offered a place to rest, hot meals, and critical supplies to aid many families like Ania’s in their journey. Additionally, we’ve continued pumping semi-trucks full of supplies into war-torn Ukraine. Please continue to pray for the nation of Ukraine and find out how you can help crisis victims by visiting https://www.ob.org/crisis

Just In Time For A Mother In Need In Peru

PERU – Angie spent her days helping her mother sell chicken at a local market in Peru. But her life changed forever when she and Chemo found out they would be having a baby; they had no idea of the danger Angie would face!

As her pregnancy progressed, Angie was dedicated to keeping up with visits to the obstetrician. For her first ultrasound, Angie had to travel a great distance as the equipment was not available at her local health center. Thankfully, all was well with the baby.

“The first time I had an ultrasound, my baby was only four weeks old. They only said everything was okay,” Angie recalled. Time passed, and Angie was due for another ultrasound. Sadly, Angie and Chemo simply couldn’t afford the exam. Without an update on her baby’s health, Angie began to worry about her precious baby.

Ultrasound Brigade in Peru

Thankfully, help came when Operation Blessing donors like you sent an ultrasound brigade to Angie’s local health center. The program offers free ultrasound services to expectant mothers in need in Peru.

It was a true blessing for Angie, quite possibly saving her life and her child’s! “My doctor told me I needed an ultrasound, and that it was going to be my lucky day because Operation Blessing had brought an ultrasound. I was going to be able to see how my baby was, and for free, since I didn’t have money to get one. And I also wanted to stop having doubts if my baby was okay,” Angie told Operation Blessing staff.

After the ultrasound was complete, a doctor recommended she get another specialized one as he was concerned about the images he saw. “The doctor told me my baby didn’t have enough amniotic fluid and was small. She might be in danger. I was worried, and you all supported me,” Angie said.

Help For An Expectant Mother In Need In Peru

Thanks to Operation Blessing partners, Angie’s ultrasound costs were taken care of, and doctors were able to catch the problem in time to provide her help. Not long after, Angie was admitted to the hospital because of how dangerous the situation could be. A day later, she safely gave birth to a beautiful baby girl whom she named Jaciel.

After Jaciel’s birth, Operation Blessing staff visited the young family to check on them and deliver a newborn baby kit to help them care for their precious little girl. Because of your generosity, critical help was provided to this expecting mother in need in Peru. Operation Blessing was able to help this mother detect the danger in time—and support her through the entire process.

Knowing that his daughter is well has meant so much to the brand-new dad, Chemo. “I am grateful for you all, because of the ultrasound that allowed us to see how our baby was. I am so happy now that my daughter is okay. Thanks to you all, my daughter is here with me and alive.”

Thanks to you all, my daughter is here with me and alive
-Angie

“Thank you for everything!” The life-changing work you make possible through Operation Blessing brings hope to those in need around the world. Thank you for your heart to bless those less fortunate with the vital medical services they need to grow healthy and strong. May God bless you for your kindness!

Thank You For Your Support in Ukraine!

UKRAINE – Thank you for your wonderful heart to help desperate Ukrainian families! Many have been forced from their homes to avoid increasing danger at the hands of Russian invaders, while others face untold suffering in this war-torn land.

Because of you, Operation Blessing staff quickly sprang into action at the start of the war. Your support facilitated partnerships with local churches and community leaders throughout Ukraine to help put supplies directly into the hands of Ukrainian families who need it.

Your generosity also supplied an Operation Blessing warehouse in Poland. This warehouse provides a central location to store and send out these critical supplies across the border into Ukraine as the war rages on.

Help And Support For Ukrainian Refugee Families

Your kindness also helped bring solace to scores of families facing an uncertain future in a new land. You provided a basecamp at the Ukrainian border in Medyka. Here, Operation Blessing staff and volunteers are working tirelessly to provide food, blankets, direction, encouragement, and a warm, safe haven for weary refugees.

Your generosity has offered critically needed support for desperate Ukrainian families. To learn more about how you can continue to support people in crisis, visit ob.org/obcrisis.

Hope Springs From Bitter Drought In Kenya

KENYA- In the Marsabit region, lack of food threatens the survival of all who call it home. Afflicted by a bitter drought in Kenya, the area has seen little rain this year. That severely dry condition has made it difficult for residents to sustain the provisions they need to live.

Here, most community members earn a living as pastoralists—raising goats, cows and camels to sell. They often wander the land, searching for vegetation and water to keep their livestock healthy. In the remote village of Tubcha, Diboya and her husband, Woromo, are small-scale herders who have felt the devastating effects of the lack of rain.

Without access to water, many of the couple’s animals died, putting the sole means of providing for their children in jeopardy. “It has been very hard for us this year,” Diboya explained sadly. “The drought has been very bad for us. Most of our animals have died, and that is what we depend on for our livelihood. We sell the livestock so we can buy food for our families. But now, with most of the livestock having died from lack of pasture, we can hardly find food.”

Bitter Drought In Kenya

As residents faced the harsh reality of the unforgiving drought, the government declared the situation a national disaster. Diboya and Woromo did everything they could to provide for their family, but with each day that passed, things continued to get worse. Food was scarce, and they were desperate for relief.

“As a mother, it breaks my heart when my children are crying because I cannot give them food,” Diboya said. “But mostly there is nothing to eat for days, and when we manage to get a little from neighbors, we are still worried about tomorrow.” As resources dwindled, so did hope. But thanks to the love of friends like you, help was on the way.

Through the generous support of Operation Blessing partners, food packages were donated to Diboya and her neighbors. In fact, about 150 families received enough food to last a month, along with water backpacks, lifting a heavy burden for villagers who had suffered for so long.

“Indeed, God has heard our prayers. No one has ever brought us food before,”Woromo said. “You have really touched our lives and given us hope. It is very hard when a father cannot provide for his children. Now I can smile again when I see my children eating and being happy once more.”

Thank you for the kindness you have shown to this community in need. Because of you, Operation Blessing is there when disaster strikes, to bring healing and hope to those who need it most. May God bless you for the life-changing support you give!

Two Ukrainian Mothers Receive Much Needed Support

A refugee child as we met two Ukrainian mothers

UKRAINE – For weeks now, the war in Ukraine has forced thousands of families to leave their homes and travel to the Poland border. Packed in cars, buses, and trains, many of these refugees have no idea where they are going. Operation Blessing sat down with Tamara and Tatyana, two Ukrainian mothers who met on one of the trains headed for the border.

They shared the story of their harrowing journey with us. Like so many others, they fled the tragic violence of the Russian invasion, leaving everything behind in search of safety. They fled shelling and bombs to keep their sons safe.

Ukrainian Refugees Find Relief

Because of the generosity of friends like you, Operation Blessing greeted these Ukrainian mothers and their children with food, a warm place to rest and recharge, and encouragement. We reach out right at the border with a heated tent, at a refugee center, and through various Polish churches.

At these rest spaces we provide toys and volunteers to play with kids. With your support, we’re also sending vital supplies throughout Poland and Ukraine.

Several of these families left their homes with minimal belongings and almost no critical travel supplies. You ensure Operation Blessing can provide these items to thousands of refugees. Please continue to pray for these families and make a gift of support today.

Thank You For Joining the Mission

WORLDWIDE – Operation Blessing has hundreds of volunteers being the hands and feet of Jesus all across the globe. With your support, teams are quickly on the scenes of natural disasters and crises. They also reach out to meet medical and hunger needs. Operation Blessing volunteers go above and beyond the mission, and represent you and the Lord well.

Because of the generosity of friends like you, these volunteers are able to reach out to hurting people and let them know they are seen and loved. Isn’t it wonderful to be able to fulfill the Great Commission together? Thank you for joining the mission of Operation Blessing. To find out more about volunteering with Operation Blessing or to show your support, visit https://www.ob.org/disaster-relief/volunteer/

No Longer Alone As A Single Mother In Texas

TEXAS – As a single mother in Texas, Christina does her best to provide for her three boys. “My family is the reason I keep going forward,” she explained. “They are the reason why I get up every day and work and do the best I can.”

However, for most of her life, Christina has suffered with lupus, an autoimmune disease that makes it difficult for her to keep a job. Many times she was left bedridden for months and simply did not have the strength to work. The bills would start to pile up and food would become scarce for this single mother in Texas with lupus.

“There are times that you don’t know what you’re going to do. You don’t know how to face your children when it’s dinnertime, or they’re hungry and you really don’t have anything,” Christina told Operation Blessing staff. “It almost feels like you’re drowning and you’re taking your children with you. You lose hope.”

helping a single mother in texas fighting food insecurity

Help For A Single Mother In Texas With Lupus

Thankfully, hope became real once more. Christina’s church, OpenDoor, is an Operation Blessing partner ministry. For 30 years, the organization has received truckloads of food and household necessities from Operation Blessing. When Christina found out about the food distribution, everything changed.

“My mind was blown away. They give, and they give so freely. If you had a need and you were hurting and you were broken, as long as you showed up, they were there to bless you. And when I leave, I always feel empowered, and I feel refreshed, and I feel like I’m not alone. The food that you receive, the quality is great,” she said. “And you feel good as a parent getting to put that on the table for your kids.”

Now, Christina is in the process of starting her own at-home business. She does not have to feel alone as a single mother in Texas. She says she will always be thankful to those who were there for her when she needed it most. “For the partners of Operation Blessing, I would tell them thank you. They have no idea of all the tears that are shed that they have stopped.”

Thank you for your heart to provide food for families struggling to make ends meet. The thoughtful hunger relief initiatives you make possible help fight food insecurity and bring real hope in times of uncertainty.

Polish Churches Working With You To Aid Ukraine Families

Polish churches helping Ukraine crisis victims

UKRAINE – While the dangers of war are driving Ukrainian families from their homes, neighbor Poland welcomes refugees with open arms. By the thousands, refugees are fleeing violence. Some have nowhere to go.

However, with support from you, something can be done. Every day, Operation Blessing teams see stories of fear and despair being turned into stories of hope and safety. Thanks to the gifts from friends like you, we can partner with local churches to offer rest, warm food, and a place to plan next steps to thousands of refugees.

Polish Churches Aid Ukraine Families

Local churches have made a stand of solidarity with crisis victims by offering shelter and comfort. Polish churches are working to assist Ukrainian families in desperate need.

As Polish churches aid Ukraine families, your support of Operation Blessing is making this possible. When refugees cross the border, several have mentioned that they feel almost immediate relief. You ensure there are dozens of smiling faces, volunteer hands offering assistance, and supplies ready to be distributed. Your support arrives immediately and positively affecting families whose lives were changed in an instant by violence and invasion.

Thank you for your continued support. Please consider giving a special gift to crisis victims today.

Real Compassion Brings Real Hope With Surgery Marathon In Mexico

MEXICO – For over 40 years, Operation Blessing has been dedicated to partnering with faithful friends like YOU. Together we demonstrate God’s love by alleviating human suffering. An area that is quickly growing, thanks to your compassionate support, is our Life Changing Surgeries Program. Our generous partners made this initiative possible.

In fact, with help from friends like you, Operation Blessing recently hosted a surgery marathon for medical patients in the impoverished Chiapas region of Mexico. With the support of local doctors who have a heart to help, and thanks to reduced costs at a nearby clinic facility, the life-changing event made it possible for more than a dozen patients to receive the treatment they needed. Through this special project, a faithful supporter changed lives for the poor and hurting.

In all, 14 beneficiaries received much-needed surgeries in just one week! Thank you so much to our special partner, and to all of you for your hearts to give.