Showing Your Love to Persecuted Christians: Refugees Get Help

JORDAN – Imagine if you will: Islamic extremist overrunning your home city with terrifying violence. You grab your family—along with a handful of belongings—and suddenly become persecuted Christian refugees on the run.

In desperate fear for your life, you flee down dark roads through the night. So many have already died. Eventually you reach the safety of Jordan, a neighboring country much more accepting of your faith, and you breathe a deep sigh of relief.

The New Nightmare For Christians

But your nightmare is not really over. Not yet. In your new country, you’re denied refugee status, which might afford you a right to assistance. At the same time, you’re not given resident status, a work permit, or access to public education for your children either.

Yours is one of thousands of Christian families termed “guests” in this nation; you have few rights or recourses as you await the decision that determines your future. The small savings you managed to bring with you from home is quickly running out. And this goes on…for years!

Persecuted christian children

Persecuted Christian Refugees Need Our Help

This is exactly the situation for far too many Christian refugees right now. Although they escaped the terrible persecution of terror groups, their hometowns in Iraq and Syria have been decimated and remain unsafe. These Christians still suffer for their faith. Caught in limbo as refugees in places like Jordan, they badly need us to help.

And wonderful friends like you have stepped up to do exactly that! You are blessing these dear people with the humanitarian aid they need like food, supplies, and medical clinics.

Friends like you also helped provide a wonderful Christian school for refugee children who don’t have access to education. Even during the COVID-19 crisis, Christian refugees continued to be blessed with food, and the children took their school classes online just like here in the states!

You’re also supporting persecuted Christians in places like Kenya and Pakistan. Thank you so much for your love and for reaching out to suffering brothers and sisters around the world with hope and encouragement.

“My Home Was Completely Totaled.”

Nancy Ryan is a single-mother and grandmother living in Lake Charles, La. When Hurricane Laura hit her community, her home was completely destroyed. A few years ago, Nancy had to recover after Hurricane Rita, but Laura left her house unsalvageable. Nancy has been spending her days recovering what she can of her belongings, but finding a place to stay has been a challenge. All nearby hotels are full and her daughter’s home in town was also destroyed. Nancy has resorted to living in her shed in the meantime, but many singles were blown away in the storm. She felt overwhelmed and devastated after her home was destroyed by Hurricane Laura.

Operation Blessing Volunteers Arrived to Help Nancy in Her Time of Need


But thanks to generous partners like YOU, Operation Blessing teams arrived to help Nancy in her desperate hour of need! You made it possible for volunteers to tarp her roof, clear debris, and clean up the tree branches in her yard after her home was destroyed by Hurricane Laura. More than that, your love transcended time and space to offer encouragement to a woman in the midst of trouble. Thank you for your heart to see Nancy supported as she continues to recover from Hurricane Laura.

Feeding A Single Mother In Need

Danielle is a single mother in Georgia fighting for her family amidst the COVID-19 crisis. Before COVID-19 hit the United States, she was living with epilepsy and Grave’s Disease. So when high-risk individuals were recommended to be extra careful, Danielle decided to leave her job in the medical field. She suddenly found herself with no job, no income, and no sight of when the mass lockdown would come to an end. She was struggling to decide whether to pay for electricity or food for her children.

Your Generosity Helped This Georgia Single Mother

But thankfully, Danielle saw a flyer for Operation Blessing partner Destination Church in Blackshear, GA, and her life was changed. Thanks to YOU, Danielle and her family can now regularly visit DC Downtown to receive food supplies while their budget is tight. Thank you for your heart to see a single mother supported in these trying times!

Volunteering With Operation Blessing During Hurricane Laura Cleanup

LAKE CHARLES, La. – Volunteering with Operation Blessing is a great way to give back to the community after disasters like Hurricane Laura. Hurricane Laura devastated Lake Charles, leaving massive trees downed and many homes severely damaged. Because of the widespread destruction caused by the storm, OB is in dire need of volunteers. Ivonne Adame is one individual who gave up her time to volunteer with Operation Blessing. “There’s such a big need here,” Adame said. “And mostly for volunteers. These things can’t get done without hands.”

Volunteers like Adame are a great help to Operation Blessing staff during cleanup. Like Adame said, things cannot get done without the hands of generous volunteers. When you volunteer with Operation Blessing, you will receive all the tools, supplies, and first class volunteer coordination that you need to make the most of your time on the ground. And knowing that you are helping people at their most vulnerable is a great gift. “It’s been amazing to get the opportunity to come out here and get to help them!” Adame exclaimed joyfully.

We here at Operation Blessing thank God for all of our wonderful volunteers. Please click here to learn more about volunteering with Operation Blessing. Because of you, we are able to respond to crises like Hurricane Laura. Click here to show your support for disaster victims here at home and around the world. Thank you!

Relief for Homeowner Devastated by Hurricane Laura

Georgiana and her children fled Lake Charles when they saw Hurricane Laura was forecasted to make landfall as a category 4. Even her husband, who has stayed behind to endure hurricanes in the past, decided to evacuate. They hoped that the storm would spare their house. But when they arrived back home the hurricane damage was everywhere. Georgiana and her family saw that their lives were devastated by Hurricane Laura. Their home, while still standing, had been ravaged by the storm. The doors to their home were blown open, making way for wind, rain, and debris to soak and cover their home, floor to ceiling. Their yard was covered in fallen branches. The amount of work to be done seemed insurmountable as their home and yard were devastated by Hurricane Laura.

But hope was not far behind! Thanks to our generous partners, Operation Blessing volunteers arrived to take action for Georgiana’s family. Debris was cleared, trees were rid of hanging branches, and their home was mucked out. Georgiana described the work done in just a few hours as something that would have taken them months! Your gift made it possible to respond in her family’s darkest hour. Thank you for your heart to see disaster victims cared for.

Operation Blessing Provides Aid for Hurricane Laura Survivor

LAKE CHARLES, La. – Operation Blessing provided aid for Hurricane Laura survivor Cassie, a homeowner in Lake Charles. When Cassie heard the storm was coming, she decided to stay and ride it out in her brick home. When OB staff asked why, Cassie explained that after Hurricane Rita hit in 2005, her home had minimal damage. Many members of her family were unable to evacuate, so they decided to try and ride out the storm in Cassie’s house. “I mean, Rita was bad, but I figured we could stay, you know… I figured it’d be about like Rita. I will never stay again,” Cassie said firmly.

Hope For A Hurricane Laura Survivor

Hurricane Laura tore through Lake Charles like a freight train, leaving a path of absolute destruction in its wake. Cassie’s home was damaged, and her yard was a disaster. Debris from all over the neighborhood made its way to Cassie’s property. The hurricane knocked out power so the refrigerator was useless. And cleaning supplies were flying off the shelves, if one was even able to make it to the store. Things looked bad for Cassie. “It’s like, I was helpless. I didn’t know where to turn. I didn’t know what to do,” she said. “And then when you all got here, it’s like I was saved.”

Your incredible support gave hope to Cassie after Hurricane Laura. Thanks to you, Operation Blessing’s disaster relief team arrived on the scene just when she needed it most. OB staff came prepared to chop up fallen trees, clean up the yard, and lend support to Cassie as she began to recover from the storm. Thank you for supporting Operation Blessing as we respond to the Hurricane Laura crisis. To learn more about volunteering with us, click here. God Bless you for your generosity.

Operation Blessing Begins Hurricane Laura Cleanup in Louisiana

LAKE CHARLES, La. – Operation Blessing began Hurricane Laura cleanup in Louisiana after the category 4 storm ripped through the state. Laura’s 150 mile-per-hour winds caused major destruction in the city of Lake Charles, where OB’s Disaster Relief crew is now stationed. We were introduced to Larry, a homeowner in the Lake Charles community. Larry and his wife evacuated to Texas during the storm. Thankfully, the family was safe, but they had no idea what they were going to find upon returning home.

Fortunately, the couple’s home had minor damage, but the yard was a different story. Larry and his wife found nearly every single one of their trees and shrubs completely demolished. The storm sent tree limbs, leaves, and debris flying all over their yard. Larry told OB staff, “I’m not as young as I used to be. I was feeling overwhelmed, to think about doing this all by myself.” Because of the extent of the damage, Larry and his wife needed help desperately.

Then your generosity came to the rescue! Because of your support, an Operation Blessing cleanup crew arrived at Larry’s house to help with Hurricane Laura cleanup. Equipped with chainsaws, our team made quick work of the massive tree limbs and debris in Larry’s yard. Larry is so grateful to have received this help. With emotion in his voice, Larry thanked OB for the help: “I wouldn’t have been able to do this by myself. I really appreciate it.” This is all thanks to your generosity. Click here to get involved with Operation Blessing’s disaster relief efforts. And if you’re interested in volunteering with us, please click here. Thank you and God Bless!

OB Ready for Volunteers in Louisiana After Hurricane Laura

LAKE CHARLES, La. – Operation Blessing is ready for volunteers in Louisiana after Hurricane Laura. Our United States Disaster Relief team is on the ground and is ready to start responding to the devastation caused by the category 4 storm. We have deployed our Mobile Command Center, Mobile Kitchen, box truck, and more. Our vehicles are stocked with vital disaster relief supplies such as tarps, chainsaws, cleaning supplies, and tools. We are ready to jump into action and provide hurricane relief, but we need your help!

Operation Blessing needs volunteers in Louisiana after Hurricane Laura to help supply relief to hurricane victims. When you volunteer with Operation Blessing, you can make a huge difference in the lives of disaster victims. If you would like to get involved and volunteer with Operation Blessing, please click here. Thank you for your continued support as we respond to the Hurricane Laura disaster. We couldn’t do any of this without you!

New Life for Survivors of Trafficking and Abuse

THAILAND – Perhaps nothing sparks our outcry for justice more than the plight of children trapped in sex trafficking. Once rescued, those kids desperately need a safe home, counseling and education. YOU are sending that type of fresh start to girls rescued from abuse and human trafficking in Thailand. Girls like Rainy.

Rainy* was born in a remote village high up in the mountains of northern Thailand as a member of the Hmong tribe. Her father passed away when Rainy was young, compounding the family’s vulnerable economic situation. Rainy’s mother decided to rent a shack on the property of a fruit orchard where she and her two youngest children could sometimes find work. Many other Hmong people had also moved to the area, creating a small but bustling village of day-laborers.

human trafficking

A Victim of Human Trafficking in Thailand

Near Rainy’s home, an elderly man called Uncle Dtom opened a bar. When Rainy was about 9 years old, Uncle Dtom told her that if her family ever had a need, he could give them money. She believed his kind offer and decided to go to him for help. But instead of helping her, Uncle Dtom took advantage of her trust and sexually abused her. He then gave her money and threatened that if she told anyone, he would never help her family financially again.

Each time Rainy needed money, she went to Uncle Dtom, and the abuse continued. When a teacher at Rainy’s school finally became aware of the situation, she immediately took Rainy and her mother to the police to file a report. Uncle Dtom was interrogated but denied the allegations. Before he could be arrested, he took his own life.

New Life Center Foundation for Victims

That’s when Rainy was referred to New Life Center Foundation, and through our partnership with that amazing organization, YOU were there to give Rainy the help she needed! Through NLCF, you provide safety, counseling, care and education to Rainy and so many girls like her, the victims of human trafficking in Thailand

When Rainy first arrived to NLCF, she was the youngest resident ever to enter their care, at just 10 years old. Her mother visited often, which helped Rainy adjust to her new home. Rainy quickly became known for her sweet and cooperative disposition.

Then, Rainy’s mother passed away. Rainy was devastated, and nearly quit school so that she could go back and live near her family. Knowing how that decision would affect Rainy’s opportunities in the future, the residential program manager worked closely with Rainy’s older siblings to convince her to stay and finish her counseling and education first—and she agreed.

Today, Rainy is thriving. Because of your support, she has found her smile again. The sound of her laugh as she returns from school each afternoon reminds all who hear it of the incredible power of fresh starts. Thank you for changing Rainy’s life!

*Name changed to protect identity

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? – Micah 6:8 NKJV

From the Field

Ready to Respond to Hurricane Laura in Louisiana

NATCHITOCHES, LA – Hurricane Laura has passed and Operation Blessing is on the ground in Louisiana. Our U.S. Disaster Relief team arrived in Natchitoches, LA, early in the morning on Thursday, August 27. Our team hunkered down as the storm passed over them, knocking out power in the area. We are coordinating with several local churches in anticipation of moving further south in the coming days. Equipped with our disaster response trailers and trucks full of supplies, Operation Blessing’s Disaster Relief team is ready to help disaster victims.

Assessing The Damage

Thank you for your prayers as we continue to assess the damage left by Hurricane Laura. To show your support for hurricane victims, please click here. Because of your generosity, we are able to respond to crises like Hurricane Laura whenever they arise.