KENTUCKY – Brenda, her daughter Deborah, and her granddaughter Kara in Shelby Gap, Kentucky, all suffered during the recent floods. All three of their homes sit on the same property where four generations live together. Thanks to you, we’re on the ground helping Kentucky homeowners like this precious family.
During historic flooding across eastern Kentucky in July, their property was devastated. Brenda, an 89-year-old widow, shared how around 3:30 a.m. she was awakened by her grandson. He told her to leave immediately due to the flood waters that had risen to her windows.
They quickly hopped in their cars and drove across the street to higher elevation. From there they watched in horror as their homes were ravaged by the raging waters. At first glance, Brenda and Kara’s homes looked completely unsalvageable. Brenda felt overwhelmed. Since then, the family has been forced to split up and live in separate temporary homes. It’s been incredibly difficult for the children to be separated from their siblings.
Blessing for Flood Victims
Operation Blessing volunteer teams are helping these homeowners remove damaged furniture and take apart their ruined deck. They’re working to salvage these homes after all. With your help, we’re also giving them essential cleaning supplies, emergency meal kits, and water. The Kelly family expressed their gratitude to Operation Blessing partners and volunteers for showing up in their time of need. Together, we can continue helping Kentucky homeowners throughout their journey to recovery.
Please keep them in your prayers. And consider giving a special gift to disaster victims today at ob.org/disasterrelief.
MEXICO – Seven-year-old Enrique loves to splash in the pila—the small basin behind his house in Galilea, Chiapas, a small community in southern Mexico. On hot days, it’s a refreshing way to cool off after playing basketball with friends. But it wasn’t always this way until a new water system in Mexico changed their lives.
You see, one of the main challenges in this community was access to safe water in residents’ homes. There was a system of pipes in place in the area, but it didn’t support all the families equally, and it didn’t effectively treat the water. So Enrique and his three siblings used to help their father, Javier, fetch water to store it in different containers and tanks around the house. But it was never quite enough for the family of six. And it wasn’t always clean water, which led to stomach pains, diarrhea, and fever.
Bringing Fresh Water To A Community In Mexico
That’s when compassionate friends like you stepped in to improve circumstances for this family and their whole community. When Operation Blessing learned of Galilea’s unequal and unreliable water distribution system—as well as the lack of important water quality standards in the area—we set about to change that. A new water system in Mexico was installed, including the needed pipes and chlorination to make the water safe. Then all 42 families—including the kids, like Enrique—were invited to attend workshops where our staff offered training on hand washing and other good hygiene habits. The staff even provided a puppet show to reinforce the lessons.
Now Enrique and his entire family can enjoy a safe, reliable water supply. No more hauling water from far-off places. No more worries about safety. They are so grateful to have easy access to clean water that comes out of the faucets right at home. “Understanding hygiene habits helped us to wash our hands better and know the importance of having correct cleaning practices in our lives,” his father said. “Thanks to Operation Blessing, we have better health!”
KENTUCKY – In Hi-Hat Township, KY, Operation Blessing had the privilege of delivering a case of water bottles and a bucket of cleaning supplies to residents impacted by the recent disaster like Ralph Johnson. The Kentucky flooding did immeasurable damage to the community, catching many people off guard. Many found themselves facing the flood waters without warning as they encroached on their homes and families. Some lost their lives in the wake of the destruction. Many others have lost their homes, possessions and now lack basic necessities to survive.
Flood Relief And Support
Ralph Johnson lives with his wife in an area that was heavily struck by the flooding. Compounding the difficulty, the 71-year-old is retired due to disabilities. He and his wife lost much in the East Kentucky flood, including their food, essential appliances like their washer and dryer, and other valuables. They now find themselves left with the difficult task of putting their lives back together after this natural disaster.
Help For Flood Victims
Operation Blessing spoke with Ralph. He shared that he is thankful for the Lord’s faithfulness and for Operation Blessing volunteers stopping by his and his neighbor’s houses. These visits showed them much-needed love and care — care made possible by your kindness and generosity.
Please keep these victims impacted by East Kentucky flood in your prayers. Also continue to partner with us to help people like Ralph who have lost so much to the flood. To give a special gift for disaster relief today visit ob.org/disasterrelief
KENYA – Life was already hard. Najire and her six children live as pastoral nomads, roaming to feed their livestock. Then a catastrophic drought swept across their region. Without rain to bring life to the land, most of Najire’s livestock starved to death, and her children appeared to be next. Help from friends like you was one of the few things that kept them going.
How A Community Survived A Catastrophic Drought With Your Help
Najire shared what it has been like weathering this trial, as a few weeks without rain have turned into many months of hopelessness. “This drought has been very long and very hard for us,” she said. “I am a single mother and I have to take care of my children all by myself. It is really hard to find food.”
She also shared that her family makes a living caring for a herd of goats, but since the drought struck, more than 90 percent of their animals have died. Najire said, “The remaining goats are so weak, it’s impossible to sell them. So now I can’t buy food for my family because I can’t get the money.”
It’s not just Najire and her family facing these terrible circumstances, either. Times are tough for everyone in Tubcha village and for most communities across their county. In the best of times, community residents live hard lives in small thatched huts that they must deconstruct and move for their nomadic lifestyle.
Lately, life has been all but impossible. “We are barely surviving,” Najire said. “On so many occasions, we sleep hungry because we have no food. The situation is getting worse. There were times you could beg some food from a neighbor, but now no one has any food around this village. Sometimes we just take some water and sleep. It is very hard on the children especially.”
You can imagine how these mothers and fathers must feel as they watch their families suffer. “It breaks my heart when I see my children crying because they are hungry, and yet there is nothing I can do to get them food. It’s very sad to see them lying down weak because they are too hungry to get out and play.”
But she is not alone. Your compassion has reached out to her in her worst moments, and to the whole community!
Najire’s fervent prayers to God were answered when your support sent Operation Blessing to her village with enough food to feed 150 families for more than three months. Since that time we’ve returned to provide holistic care to this village, including a medical brigade and a sack garden project to grow spinach and kale with minimal water. Now, they all have hope for tomorrow.
On their behalf, Najire offered her heartfelt thanks. “I knew God would not abandon us! He heard my prayers and has sent you to rescue us.” She said joyfully, “I can’t thank you enough! My children have enough food now and I don’t have to worry about what they will eat tonight or tomorrow. May God bless you indeed! Thank you!”
UPDATE 08/05/22 – Operation Blessing is continuing to send emergency food and water to those in need while offering volunteer support. Thanks to faithful partners, we’ve also set up a Mobile Kitchen and begun serving hot meals to hurting community members in and around Pikeville, KY.
In partnership with volunteers from East Kentucky Dream Center, teams are delivering hot meals directly to families. These efforts have been critical to residents in areas still struggling with food and water access since flooding caused extensive damage to local utilities and infrastructure.
UPDATE 08/03/22 – With help from compassionate supporters like you, Operation Blessing teams are on the ground in Kentucky with 12,000 pounds of Emergency Meal Kits for families in need. Flood-stricken residents continue to suffer from critically-low food and water supplies locally, so volunteers are hard at work packing the next loads.
Homeowners are also receiving volunteer help with debris removal and salvaging precious belongings as they try to recover after the storm. Continue to check back for more details, and please continue to pray for the communities affected by these tragic storm.
KENTUCKY– On July 27, torrential rains swept across eastern Kentucky, causing a river to rise at record pace and overflow into the surrounding communities.
Powerful floodwaters swiftly devastated homes and businesses all across multiple counties, surprising people in the middle of the night. Residents were struck unprepared. And the cost was high.
Operation Blessing helps Victorious Faith Church in Kentucky offer critical supplies to neighbors in need.
Flooding in Eastern Kentucky Costs Lives
The storm covered hundreds of homes, ballparks, and public buildings in several feet of water, causing 12,000 people to lose power and tens of thousands to lose clean water access.
It also destroyed other critical infrastructure in key areas, including more than 50 bridges in Perry County. Search and rescue crews have had such difficulty accessing areas with major flooding that they are still trying to account for missing people days later.
What’s worse, the sudden storm has taken at least 30 lives, including the loss of several precious children. These families desperately need help and hope in this terrible time.
Teams Rush Relief to Kentucky Residents
Thanks to the ongoing support of generous friends like you, Operation Blessing teams quickly arrived on the ground to help hurting residents. And we aren’t coming empty handed—we’re bringing several thousand pounds of supplies.
For residents struggling with compromised water systems, partners like you offered them clean water in their time of need. And those facing the overwhelming task of cleaning out their flooded homes received much-needed supplies to help them get started.
We are also in the process of mobilizing volunteer support to help residents restore their homes and sort through precious belongings. In partnership with Connection Church in Kentucky, Operation Blessing family is showing Kentucky residents that God’s love is real and reaching out to them, and more help is being planned!
Please Pray for Storm Victims
Please pray for the families who have lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods. As people suffer the loss of so much, they desperately need hope. Thank you for being part of our Operation Blessing family. You shine as a light in the darkness of disaster.
UKRAINE—The war in Ukraine has displaced many millions of people who previously only knew peace. These displaced citizens have been forced to seek refuge in other countries and now find themselves in new and unfamiliar lands like Poland. They are unsure about their future.
Life is vastly different for them there than it was in the Ukraine. Families who had not lived in poverty find themselves in shelters and at frequent food distributions. Normal daily life for them is now on hold, with no clear timetable for when and where it will resume. Sadly, even this situation is much better than the violence they escaped in Ukraine.
Displaced Refugees From Ukraine
For many, the reality of invasion was incomprehensible and unexpected. This was the case for a Ukrainian refugee and mother named Liliya. She recounted her experience upon first learning of the invasion. Initially she thought it was a joke. Against the backdrop of a peaceful and prosperous life, it was unimaginable that her world was in the process of being turned upside down. But with increasing violence, staying home was not an option for Liliya.
Now, she is one of the displaced Ukrainian people whose lives are on hold as they watch the fate of a neighboring country they once called home. Liliya laments when she thinks of her happy, stable life that is now gone. She talks about the feelings of panic and the emotional strain that such an experience has put on her family. But YOU are making a difference.
Operation Blessing and Orphan’s Promise have been partnering with local churches and humanitarian groups to offer critical aid and support to Ukrainians fleeing from the war. Your donations help provide better lives for these unfortunate displaced refugees from Ukraine. Thanks to faithful friends like you, these families have plenty of fresh, healthy food, hygiene supplies, and a safe place to stay.
VIRGINIA – Operation Blessing is in Buchanan County, Virginia, providing aid to the elderly after a flood. This is part of a larger relief effort for the thousands of residents across the county who’ve been affected by recent flooding. The disaster occurred mid-July and did untold amounts of damage to the area.
Operation Blessing responded to help beleaguered residents who found themselves displaced from their homes and without basic services. Teams have helped provide food, supplies, and manpower to those in need.
We’ve recently been at the residence of Mrs. Beulah Laime, a victim of the flooding. Her home was impacted when raging floodwaters deposited massive amounts of mud, sticks, and flood debris underneath. This, of course, poses a risk to the foundation of her home. Operation Blessing has been helping her and others in her area to remove the debris so they can get back to normal.
Her daughter Julie was overwhelmed at the response of Operation Blessing volunteers coming to provide aid to the elderly after the flood. The Operation Blessing team and disaster volunteers diligently cleared the flood debris both to protect the structure and to make the home accessible for electricity restoration.
Beulah has received a tremendous blessing, thanks to friends like you. Yet, there’s still much to do, and it is only possible with your help!
INDIA – There’s no question that coming alongside budding entrepreneurs can change lives and transform communities. In India, where approximately 70 percent of the population lives in villages, rural women play an essential role in supporting their families and communities. Yet all too often, they lack the support needed to help them break out of poverty.
That’s where Operation Blessing microenterprise and skills training projects—along with your support—come into the picture. These special projects focus primarily on rural women in India, because they struggle the most among the poor. With the help of these groups, women have an opportunity to empower each other through encouragement, education, and financial assistance to achieve their goals for a better future.
Women Like Deepa For Example
Deepa is a young wife and mother who lives in the remote village of Khatima in northeastern India, a region that’s crossed by the Himalaya mountains. Her husband doesn’t have a steady income, and their two-acre farm can’t support this family of six. Watching her family struggle for years, Deepa knew she was their best hope.
Microenterprise And Skills Training Projects In India
Today, thanks to the generosity of friends like you, Deepa and her family are benefiting from skills training that has empowered her to run a small dairy farm. Along with the in-depth education on how to oversee her farm, Deepa has learned bookkeeping and other essential skills to run her business.
A small loan allowed her to buy two buffaloes and two goats, and within just a few months she was selling milk in her village — enabling her to help support her family and begin repaying the loan. She has also started growing organic vegetables on their property and making use of composting, to increase the quality and yield of her crops. Working with Operation Blessing has given Deepa and her family so much hope for the future.
“I am grateful to the field coordinators for the training I received under the Operation Blessing projects,” Deepa said. Deepa is a shining example of what microenterprise and skills training projects in India can do to help the lives of people in need.
Our extraordinary partners made it possible for Deepa to lead the way in her village, change her family’s future, and be an inspiration to her community. Thank you for making such a huge difference for these precious families in India!
POLAND – As early as 4:00 a.m., Kseniia and many other crisis victims arrive at Operation Blessing’s hunger relief distribution event in Krakow, Poland. Forced from their homes due to the Russian invasion, they are refugees in a foreign land.
Most are unemployed and lack a long-term plan as they bide their time in Poland. They need real, tangible assistance to get to tomorrow, and thanks to you, Operation Blessing is ready to help.
In Poland, however, helping refugees has become increasingly difficult due to a lack of funding. Thankfully, with the support of Operation Blessing partners, we’re linking arms with Fundacja On Life, Fundacja Nidaros, and DNA Church to distribute hundreds of bags of food to Ukraine crisis victims.
Hunger Relief Distribution Event In Kraków
Each bag of food supplies is enough to sustain a hurting family for at least two weeks. In addition to providing food and supplies, Operation Blessing is encouraging the hearts of crisis victims. Our team prayed for families at the hunger relief distribution event to show God’s love for them and lift their spirits in this difficult time.
Operation Blessing also partnered with Superbook to bless the children staying in different shelters with uplifting events and programs to bring them an extra dose of joy.
VIRGINIA – In mid July, a terrible storm producing dangerous floods hit Buchanan County in Northern Virginia. Residents were taken aback by the speed and volume of the floodwaters. “It almost looked like the sky opened up and just dumped on that area,” said Marcella who lives in the community.
Reports of homes affected by this disaster are still climbing above 400, with a quarter of those homes now destroyed or uninhabitable. Marcella has witnessed the devastation to neighborhoods firsthand, including the damaged houses of her co-worker and family members.
Soon after the storm, Operation Blessing teams were launched to offer supplies and volunteer help to Virginia flood victims. Thanks to our faithful volunteers and the support of friends like you, Emergency Food Kits were packed and ready to go to meet the needs of hurting residents. These meal kits last for days and do not require water or electricity. We are also mobilizing volunteer support to help community members restore their homes.
Marcella said, “It’s such a blessing for folks here in this nestled little mountains to have Operation Blessing come to our aid and to be able to donate supplies and their time to help others that they don’t even know.”
There is a lot of work still ahead for this community, but with your compassionate assistance, Operation Blessing is dedicated to continue blessing the people of Buchanan County.
