Hope in a Food Insecure World

WORLDWIDE – Security is something most of us long for, especially for our families. But we rarely have to think in terms of being food insecure. For much of the world, and even as many as 10 percent of Americans, a secure and reliable source of food can be hard to come by.

Food insecurity can take on several forms. For some it could mean lacking certain basic nutrients, or a home where parents skip meals to offer more food to their young ones. For others, it could mean ongoing hunger or even malnourishment.

That’s why, with your support, Operation Blessing fights to cut off food insecurity at the root by helping families to help themselves. Agricultural opportunities, skills training, and small businesses make it possible for people to earn more income to better feed themselves and their families—hopefully long into the future. You give them essential tools to help them in a food insecure world.

Agriculture

Mirna and Willy’s family in Mexico faced double tragedies last year between the COVID-19 pandemic and tropical storms that ruined their harvest. This farming couple lives in a tiny home with their seven children between the ages of 4 and 16. When the storm hit, their home and the area around it flooded. After a scary few days, the water subsided, but they lost their chickens, crops, and fruit trees. Mirna grew desperate. Since they reside in a remote area, it’s difficult to find any work. She asked, “My God, what will I feed my children?”

Then you came to the rescue of this precious family! Because you care, Operation Blessing in Mexico was able to deliver more than 150 pounds of native seeds so Mirna, Willy and their kids could replant their future and restart their business.

But you didn’t stop there! You also gave this family over a hundred pounds of groceries like beans, rice, lentils and more to help see them through to their next harvest. This was just one of many families in their village to receive these blessings. Our staff will also return to the village to follow up and offer more support, resources, and workshops for Mirna, Willy, and the others in her community.

Skills Training

Krishna in India is another parent who can feed her two children thanks to you! This single mother wept as she told us, “I owed my landlord 4 months’ rent, and I had to take care of the electricity bill and food expenses. No one wanted to help us. I had lost all my hope to survive.”

Then Krishna found hope through an Operation Blessing mask-making opportunity. There she received training and was even given a professional sewing machine. “I am very happy that I found some help to earn money,” said Krishna. “Now, I can take care of my children.”

Microenterprise Support

In Peru, Dora and Mamerto use their traditional ceramic skills to earn a living. During the pandemic, they had to shut their business down because there was no way to deliver their products. Desperate to feed their two boys, Mamerto tried fishing for food, but guards shooed him home and threatened to take his nets.

When the quarantine ended, sales started picking up, but they were so far behind financially that they had no funds to restock their supplies to continue earning money to support their kids.

Then you made a huge difference for this family! Not only did you give them the needed supplies to keep their business going, you also provided training that should enable them to increase their profits moving forward. Dora said, “Now with all this, I can work much better.”

And Much, Much More

These are just a few of the many people around the world that you bless by providing new opportunities to keep their families fed in a food insecure world. You’re not just giving them a hand out, you’re also giving them a hand up for the future, and helping to make food insecurity a thing of the past. Thank you so much for reaching out to people in need!

Mother Faces A Drought in Africa

KENYA – “Just this week I have gone for four days without any food.”

That’s what Nempaso had to say about the situation in her area. She lives with her children in the Arapal Village of northern Kenya. Recently this village began experiencing a severe drought in Africa. It has devastated her community. Animals are left without water, crops are not growing, and many families are struggling with severe hunger.

Days Without Food Due To Drought

Nempaso did everything she could to alleviate the burden on her children due to the drought in Africa. She would often give them a cup of water and send them to bed. Nempaso never wanted to reveal that they had to no food to her children. She knew it would just devastate them. But her options were limited and time to find nutrition to stay alive was running out.

But that’s when YOUR love stepped in! When Operation Blessing learned of Nempaso’s situation, our staff delivered food supplies to her family and her neighbors! Nempaso could not believe her eyes, as she as her children praised God for the abundance your kindness provided. Thank you! TO learn how you can get involved, visit https://www.ob.org/hunger-relief.

Support For Lake Charles Flood Victims

LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA- Meet Mary, a proud life-long resident of Lake Charles, Louisiana. She has lived through countless storms, hurricanes, and severe weather patterns. But she has never experienced anything like the recent flood. As the waters rose, Mary could barely believe it. She had to escape her home. And she watched in horror as several feet of water engulfed her community in a matter of hours.

Flood Damage

When she finally returned, the sight of her damaged home devastated Mary. Now she and so many others desperately needed someone to provide them with flood relief in Lake Charles. She discovered mold throughout the house. All the walls, floors, and furniture had to be removed. On top of that, Mary did not have flood insurance. The task of cleaning up and starting over seemed too expensive to hire help and too big to complete by herself. Mary didn’t know where to turn.

Flood Relief For Lake Charles

But that is when YOU stepped in! Your love made it possible for Operation Blessing teams to travel to her community and provide Lake Charles flood relief. Your kindness supports volunteers who work tirelessly mucking and gutting out these damaged homes, clearing debris, and offering spiritual support to disaster victims. Mary has been blessed by your generosity. Thank you! To learn how you can get involved, visit https://www.ob.org/obdisaster.

The Miracle House – Rebuilding After the Storm

FLORIDA – In October of 2018, Hurricane Michael slammed into the Florida Panhandle as a category 5 storm. It made history as one of the most powerful hurricanes ever to make landfall in the United States. Communities all along the coast were left in ruins by the strong winds, torrential rain, and relentless storm surge. And as Denis and Kathy know all too well, rebuilding after a hurricane can take years.

Earlier that year, Denis and Kathy had moved to Panama City Beach. After multiple heart attacks, Denis’ doctors had suggested that the salt air would be good for his health. Just three months after their move, Hurricane Michael turned their dream into a nightmare.

“Hurricane Michael came out of nowhere,” Denis recalled. “In just a few short days, it was upon us. We left. We weren’t going to take a chance with a storm that size.”

When they returned to their home after the storm, what they found looked encouraging—or so they thought. “When we came back it appeared we were in pretty good shape,” Denis said. “It was a couple of months later that the walls started getting really soft… That’s when we knew we had a problem.”

Days Following the Storm

Unbeknownst to Denis and Kathy, the storm had permeated their house with water. Soon, mold began to grow. “The house just started disintegrating around us,” Kathy remembered. “Big pieces of sheet rock actually caved in, and when it caved in we saw that it was black inside the wall.”

Denis and Kathy were forced to move into their garage. While they received some money from their insurance company to help with repairs, it wasn’t nearly enough to cover the catastrophic damage their home had suffered. With Denis’ health issues and without the resources to pay for the repairs, Denis and Kathy grew desperate. Time stretched on without a solution. “I asked God to please help us,” Kathy said. “Please tell us what to do; show us which way to go.”

Then God sent YOU as an answer to their prayers! “We got a call from Operation Blessing, and they told us that they wanted to rebuild our house,” Kathy said. “We just couldn’t believe it. I could hardly talk I was so excited!”

Rebuilding After The Hurricane

Thanks to you, Operation Blessing soon began work on Denis and Kathy’s home. The generosity of Operation Blessing partners like you helps people with rebuilding after the hurricane, even years after the storm has come and gone. The house had already been taken down to the studs. Our team treated for mold before rebuilding with new sheet rock, ceilings, trim, flooring, window framing, cabinets, and more. Denis said, “They built the whole thing back up. Everything that you see they did.”

After two years of living in their garage and a camper in the backyard, Kathy and Denis finally came home again. “I pray that God will open heaven and pour out his blessings on Operation Blessing… I just pray that God will bless you like he’s blessed us,” Kathy exclaimed. “Just come look at my house because it’s a miracle house.”

Still Hard At Work In Louisiana

LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA — Operation Blessing is still hard at work in Louisiana after unprecedented flooding swept through the area in May. Thanks to the compassionate support of friends like you, our staff and volunteers are still giving life-changing aid to victims of the storm. Elridge Dartez, a long-time resident of Lake Charles, needed help desperately. The record-breaking rainfall flooded his house two times within the last year, and he was ready to give up. But thanks to you, Operation Blessing arrived and helped Elridge get back on his feet!

Operation Blessing staff were also blessed to meet with Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. Mr. Nungesser met our staff members as we were clearing out Elridge’s home. “Today I wanted to come by and thank Operation Blessing for the hard work you’re doing here in the community,” he said. Your compassion is changing lives in Louisiana, and we cannot thank you enough! We are still hard at work in Louisiana helping people who are dealing with flood damage. To get involved with our ongoing disaster relief efforts, please visit ob.org/obdisaster. Thank you!

Food For Hungry Families in Kenya

KENYA – Ngaiduana lives with her children in the Arapal Village of northern Kenya. Recently her village began experiencing a severe drought that devastated the community. Animals are left without water, crops are not growing, and many families are struggling with severe hunger. Because of the drought, the need for food for hungry families in Kenya has become a critical issue.

Ngaiduana did everything she could to provide for her children. She could often only find herbs to feed them. Their goats were so weak that they stopped producing milk. Her heart grew very sad, as that of any mother of hungry families in Kenya would.

But that’s when YOUR love stepped in! When Operation Blessing learned of Ngaiduana’s situation, our staff delivered food supplies to her family and her neighbors! Ngaiduana could not believe her eyes, as she as her children praised God for the abundance your kindness provided. Thank you! TO learn how you can get involved, visit https://www.ob.org/hunger-relief.

Operation Blessing is a nonprofit, humanitarian organization dedicated to partnering with YOU to demonstrate God’s love by alleviating human suffering in the U.S. and around the world. For more than 40 years, your love has shown through OB as together we’ve provided hunger relief, medical care, clean water, and disaster relief to millions around the world.

Through compassionate, efficient, and locally-focused programs we are able to target the specific needs of those we serve and provide a gateway for our partners to truly be the hands and feet of Jesus for those who are suffering and in need.

Myanmar Refugees Endure Nightmare – You Respond!

MYANMAR – Many citizens in the nation of Myanmar (formerly Burma) have been living through a nightmare in past weeks. Few Americans are likely aware of this far off crisis in Asia, and even fewer understand it. However, as the military government violently attacks opposing groups, residents have fled to the border region and to nearby Thailand. These Myanmar refugees desperately need our help.

Although minority groups in this nation have struggled for decades, the situation recently came to a head following a coup in early 2021. The country quickly fell into violence, with the new regime attacking civilians who protested the coup. Thousands now seek refuge. Many of them are known as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), as they currently live as refugees within their own nation’s borders. And each of those many citizens has a personal and unique story of tragedy.

A Christian mother of four shared her experience with us. While Naw May’s husband served with the forces opposing the new government, her family’s situation grew more and more dire. She is part of the ethnic group known as the Karen people, who are now being attacked.

“There were shootings and the bullets fell beside our area. The village leader told us to dig a hole for hiding,” she said. “We had only spades and hoes to dig the ground. We used stones and wood to cover the hole.” During breaks between attacks, the family would emerge from the hole to cook and eat. “The battles go on and on. Guns and bombs can come anytime and anywhere.”

Like so many others, Naw May took her children and fled in hopes of finding safety. “The whole village ran away so we had a large group, but we had to separate to hide and run,” she said. They hid in temples and other villages along the way during the three-day journey. “We had to walk along the river and hills, and I carried my youngest child.”

Finally, her family reached safety in one of the Karen people’s camps near the border with Thailand.

And that’s where your love reached out to her, and so many others like her on both sides of the border. You have been sending relief supplies like tarps for shelter, bags of rice, headlights to see in the dark nights, and vital medications. The staff also prays with the recipients during this difficult time.

As Myanmar refugees, it’s hard for Naw May and her children to be away from their possessions, their home, their farm animals, and their father. They have no idea what the future might hold or what they might return to. However, your kindness and support have encouraged them, and she sends her blessings to you.

Please keep the people of Myanmar in your thoughts and prayers. And please consider making a special gift for victims of disasters and crisis today.

Clean Water Gives New Hope for Father and Sons in Mexico

MEXICO – Humberto lives in Chiapas, Mexico, with his five young sons. For many years, each day he and his family would journey over an hour by foot to find water, desperate for a clean water solution in Mexico.

They undertook a tiresome trip along a dangerous road. Plants, dirt and rocks covered the path, making the trek a difficult one. But without a water source nearby, Humberto and his beloved sons had no other options. They had to find the water essential to their survival.

The family’s struggle began again every morning. Humberto and his sons each carried containers along the trail to their only water source. They filled their containers before beginning the grueling journey home. Humberto carried up to 10 gallons. Meanwhile, the boys would carry from one to five gallons each, depending on their size and strength.

The Need For Clean Water In Mexico

When they finally arrived home, Humberto and his family had to boil the water they found. Only then could they use it for everyday tasks like cleaning, cooking, washing and drinking. Clean water provided an essential resource that this family could not function without. The lack of a local water source and basic systems such as a pipeline or indoor plumbing made their daily trek to find water a continuous, backbreaking cycle.

Operation Blessing is dedicated to providing life-changing solutions to poor communities around the world in need of clean water. Because of YOUR faithful support, Operation Blessing was able to provide Humberto and his sons with a rainwater catchment system right in their backyard. This would offer the clean water solution in Mexico they so desperately needed. The device harvests, cleans and filters rainwater. This gives the family a sustainable water source that is readily accessible and safe to drink!

The new system has been a true blessing to Humberto’s family. His son, Mario, shared his gratitude that he and his family no longer have to worry about having enough water to survive. “I’m very happy now that I don’t have to go for water,” he said with a smile on his face. “We don’t have to go far away now because we now have it here. Thank you, Operation Blessing!”

Your Love Continues To Support Flood Victims

LOUISIANA – James has been a Lake Charles resident his entire life. In the past year he has lived through several bad hurricanes, including Laura and Rita. Storms are nothing new to this Louisiana native. But James has never experienced anything like the recent flood that swept through his area. Now he is a reminder of the need to support flood victims recovering from disaster.

The storm seemed to come out of nowhere. James didn’t realize the severity of the storm before the flood waters started to reach his knees in his home. He and his wife were sitting on the back of their couch when they realized their need for serious help. It was hours later when a boat arrived to rescue James and his wife.

His home was completely flooded on the inside. Walls, floors, and personal belongings were left soaked, stained, and molded by the time the waters subsided. The huge project of cleaning up loomed in front of James, seeming like an insurmountable task.

But thanks to YOU, Operation Blessing teams were poised to help! Your kindness supports volunteers like the ones who helped James in Louisiana. They assisted James and his neighbors in mucking out their homes, clearing debris, and with other tasks as they began to repair the damage. Thank you for your commitment to support flood victims! To learn how you can continue supporting disaster victims, visit https://www.ob.org/obdisaster.

You Are Breaking Poverty for Generations

KENYA – Dora, a hardworking single mother and grandmother, lives in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro. While five of Dora’s children are grown, two remain in school. And she now cares for several grandchildren as well. Her whole family depends on Dora.

Unfortunately, Dora has no education. This makes it impossible for her to get a formal job. “I did not have the opportunity to go to school,” Dora recalls. “During our time, girls were not allowed to go to school.” With few opportunities, Dora has struggled to provide for her family. It looked like this cycle would continue and there would be no hope of breaking poverty for generations to come.

First Steps to Breaking Poverty

But then, Operation Blessing partners like you intervened! Years ago, Operation Blessing donors made it possible to provide Dora with a plot of land to farm along with seeds and supplies. Not only that, you helped build and support a school in Dora’s village that her younger children attended.

However, you didn’t stop there. You continued to extend blessings to Dora and her children and grandchildren.

A New Home and Water for Dora

Dora and her family lived in a small traditional Kenyan hut made of sticks, cow dung, and thatch grass. The hut had poor ventilation and the smoke from their cooking fire filled the interior. “It was very tough, especially for the children because they couldn’t study or do their homework well because of the smoke,” Dora said.

When it rained the hut’s thatched roof would leak, sometimes drenching Dora and her family in the night. “I was always worried whenever rain clouds gathered,” Dora remembers. “When it rained, we couldn’t sleep… We had to stay awake and cover ourselves with an old cow hide to keep us from the dripping rain.”

Despite these challenges, Dora stayed strong in her faith, and she would often pray for God to make a way. When Operation Blessing learned about Dora’s living situation, there was no question what had to be done: Dora needed a new home, and Operation Blessing friends like you made it possible. Your generosity makes it possible to give families the necessary tools for breaking poverty for generations to come.

OB Kenya built Dora a brand-new brick home and even installed a rainwater harvesting system to provide water for the family. “I am so happy because of what you’ve done for us,” Dora exclaimed. “The house is warm and roomy; the children have space to study and play, and nice beds to sleep in. And water just by our doorstep!”

It’s only the generosity and kindness of people like you that make these blessings possible. Thank you for your heart to bless Dora and the generations after her. “Thank you so much,” Dora rejoiced. “We are always praying for you. May God bless you for the house and the water tank!”