Blessing the Vulnerable in Japan During COVID-19

By Don Thomson, National Director of Operation Blessing Japan

The coronavirus pandemic has hit virtually every country in the world. Even Japan, with its high standards of hygiene and social etiquette where many are accustomed to wearing facial masks to prevent spread of flu and colds even during ordinary times, has not been immune.

Many medical and welfare institutions have found their supplies of disinfectant dwindling, with no hope in sight for replenishing. These institutions include homes for the elderly, handicapped service agencies, day care centers, nursing homes, home care nursing service agencies, orphanages, kindergartens, child care centers, agencies that work with the homeless, and others that serve the vulnerable.

We at Operation Blessing Japan considered what we could do to help meet this need, and thanks to friends like you, we were able to make a difference. Trying to find disinfectant among dwindling supplies in the nation was not really an option. So we started to think, was there any way for us to actually produce our own disinfectant?

Chlorine Production Makes a Difference

The team at Operation Blessing Japan working to bless the vulnerable during the coronavirus crisis.

I was familiar with Operation Blessing’s projects in other countries for producing chlorine, using salt and water with electrolysis equipment. This method had been highly effective as a disinfectant during the Ebola crisis back in 2014 – 2015 and was being produced at a number of OB offices around the world even in this crisis. I began to wonder if this was something we could also do in Japan. Producing chlorine had never been on our radar, as there really was never a need in this advanced country. But now the situation was different.

After doing some research, I found a local Japanese company that made the very equipment we needed. Hoshizaki Corporation, a major brand in equipment used by food manufacturers, kitchens in restaurants, hospitals, and other types of institutions, had a newly released machine that would produce free-flowing, safe, yet stable, and powerful type of chlorine called Slightly Acidic Electrolyzed Water (SAEW).

Producing Chlorine for Disinfecting During COVID-19

Making and distributing chlorine.

SAEW is a novel disinfectant, known to be effective against viruses and other pathogens. The machine offered by Hoshizaki produces chlorine at a rate of 4 liters a minute using electrolysis. The equipment is simply attached to a water supply, a small tank of hydrochloric acid and salt solution, and a power outlet. 10 liters (2.5 gallons) of solution will produce 5,200 liters (1300 gallons) of virus-busting chlorine.

Our team put together a distribution plan, and reached out to our partners and contacts across Japan, serving vulnerable communities. The chlorine produced at our base in Fukushima is stocked in 20-liter (5 gallon) plastic tanks, and then sent directly to the requesting institution by a door-to-door express trucking service.

Just in the first three weeks since starting the project we delivered 2,720 liters (680 gallons) to 133 institutions, all over Japan, serving a total of over 12,000 beneficiaries. The response has been overwhelming, with many more requests coming in from as far north as Hokkaido, and from Okinawa in the south, with the biggest concentrations in the Tokyo and Kansai areas which have been hit the most from the virus.

Distributing Disinfectant to Those in Need

Distributing disinfecting supplies to help the vulnerable in Japan.

We are receiving email messages of thanks from the directors of these institutions who are ecstatic with the speedy and timely support friends like you made possible. Japan’s national broadcaster, NHK, featured our unique project on their 5 o’clock evening news television programs on April 28, which reached up to an estimated 2.3 million households.

Thank you to all those who gave and are continuing to give to this important project, to help the vulnerable in Japan. Your support will build a sense of community and deliver hope throughout the country. This project is being done in partnership with SAP Japan who provided a significant donation to launch the project. SAP SE is one of Europe’s largest business-to-business software development companies with over 50,000 employees around the world.

Conoly Phillips – Beloved Friend and Servant Leader

Conoly Phillips was a close friend of CBN since the early 1960s. Pat Robertson personally led him to the Lord over lunch at a Norfolk, Virginia, restaurant in 1964. His struggling automobile business later became one of the most successful dealerships on the East Coast. 

A humble man with a passion for souls, Conoly traveled to Bogota, Colombia, for the opening of CBN’s first international radio station. He was called to run for Norfolk City Council and earned the support of the Christian community, serving from 1976 to 1980, and from 1986 to 2002. He was instrumental in ridding Norfolk of pornographic bookstores and paved the way for downtown revitalization. Conoly began the tradition of opening City Council meetings with prayer, saying, “Never be anywhere of importance without a call from the Lord.” He made an unsuccessful bid for a U.S. Senate seat in 1978, considering his campaign “a ministry of the Lord in calling Christians to active political participation.”

Throughout his personal writings, Conoly Phillips acknowledged God’s hand on his life, business and family. In his later years, he served on the board of directors for Operation Blessing since 2014, on the Regent University board from 1991-1995, as chairman from 2008-2011, and again as a member from 2013 to the present. He also served numerous philanthropic and civic organizations.

Pat Robertson said, “I am saddened by the passing of my dear friend, Conoly Phillips. He has been a dear friend of mine for decades, and his wife is a shining example of someone totally committed to the service of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Conoly was a pioneer in marketing, a pioneer in the sale of automobiles, a pioneer in Christian political involvement, and a pioneer to the faith community.  I prayed with Conoly before his passing and asked that God would send the angels to carry His beloved son to his heavenly resting place. I can say with great confidence that this wonderful man is now fully alive and rejoicing in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

We will deeply miss Conoly’s mentorship and encouragement. He trusted God and sought Him daily. Our love is with Betsy and his family.  

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made at www.regent.edu/give, select “Scholarship Fund”, and note “In memory of Conoly Phillips” in the text box or special instructions.  Mail-in gifts can be sent to Regent University, Office of Advancement, 1000 Regent University Dr, ADM 128, VA Beach, VA 23463 (757.352.4773) with a notation of “In Memory of Conoly Phillips” in the memo line.

Heavenlight Finds Healing

TANZANIA – Heavenlight’s mother welcomed her into the world as a beautiful—and seemingly whole—child. Then, when Heavenlight was 2 months old, her mother found a bump on the baby’s head. Little did she know that it was a condition called Encephalocele, and that it would lead to the need for child brain surgery.

She didn’t think much of it at first, but instead of healing, the bump grew larger over time. It was filling with cerebrospinal fluid and this would eventually require surgery to have it removed.

The Brain Bump, a Symptom of Encephalocele, Did Not Go Away

Her mother worried about her and tried to protect the bump as Heavenlight grew to the age that she wanted to play. And as Heavenlight developed speech, she would touch her head and say, “Mommy, get this off.” Her mother began to understand how truly dangerous it could be, and looked everywhere for help, not really understanding that the brain malformity was a serious condition with far reaching consequences for this child’s brain development.

As it turned out, the bones on Heavenlight’s skull, covering her brain, had never fused properly, and brain fluid, or cerebrospinal fluid, had built up there. This condition is called Encephalocele, and over time, her brain could actually begin growing through the hole, and she would likely develop mental disabilities if the condition wasn’t taken care of. 

Successful Brain Child Surgery

Young Heavenlight Needed Child Brain Surgery

Her mother grew desperate once she realized Heavenlight needed child brain surgery, because she had no way to afford it. She said, “I prayed God would make a way for us,” and she continued to search for a solution.

Child Brain Surgery Was Available At Operation Blessing Supported Arusha Lutheran Medical Center

Then she learned about an Operation Blessing supported hospital called Arusha Lutheran Medical Center. Thanks to your generosity, Heavenlight got the brain surgery she so badly needed free of charge! The malformity caused by the brain condition known as Encephalocele was repaired. “She recovered completely,” her mother happily reported. “I am so relieved and at peace now.” 

Heavenlight also noticed the difference right away. She smiled and said, “It’s gone now.” She’ll be able to safely play and attend school like all the other children. This Encephalocele surgery has made all the difference and was made possible by your love and support. Heavenlight’s future is as bright as her name, all thanks to friends like you. 

Encephalocele

Coronavirus Pandemic – Hunger Relief in the U.S.

VIRGINIA: The coronavirus pandemic has brought more than just illness to our world. It’s caused panic, heartache, and financial crisis as well. With quarantine and social distancing measures in place throughout the world, many have lost their sources of income and struggled to find food on the grocery store shelves.

Food Distribution in Times of Crisis

But thanks to faithful friends like you, Operation Blessing has been actively feeding the hungry for decades! And during this changing time of crisis, we continue to look for innovative ways to get food into the hands of the hungry around the world.

Here in the U.S., our hunger strike force regularly sends out semi-trucks full of literally tons of free groceries! The food is then delivered to our distribution partners throughout the country and given to those in need. The sick, the elderly, the disabled, the unemployed and the working poor can all receive the nutrition they desperately need.

During this time of crisis, we won’t back down with our hunger relief efforts—instead, thanks to you, we’re ramping them up to meet the growing need around us. As many school children stay at home and millions find themselves recently unemployed, with your help, we’re determined to bless as many as we can.

COVID-19 Crisis Causes Food Shortages

Grateful recipients have been sharing the food you supplied with elderly neighbors and kids in need. You are making a huge difference in this difficult time!

In this time of the coronavirus pandemic you’ve also been supplying medical protective gear and disinfectant supplies all around the world, as well as continuing our work in supplying the clean water essential for good health and hygiene.

Thank you again for your heart of love and faithful giving that makes this food distribution possible.

Watch Hunger Relief During COVID-19

Learn About Operation Blessing’s Worldwide Hunger Relief Program

You Gave Clean Water and Fresh Food to a Boy in Need

MEXICO – Not far from Guadalajara lies Lake Chapala, the largest freshwater lake in Mexico. Surrounded by mountains and green hills, the lake’s beauty attracts tourists, vacationers and retirees from nearby cities and around the world. Along the lakeshore, numerous towns and villages rely on the lake for fish and for water.

Polluted Water From Lake Chapala And The Need For Clean Water Solutions

But Lake Chapala’s scenic views hide a deadly secret—heavy metals. Flowing down the Lerma River from numerous industrial operations, the heavy metals, along with other toxic substances, empty into the lake, making its polluted water unsafe to drink and its fish unsafe to eat.

For the poor living in communities along the lake, the water’s toxicity has had devastating consequences, especially for children and the need for new clean water solutions has never been more critical. OB staff receive many reports of birth defects, kidney disease, and stymied mental development among residents. But there are other issues here too. Malnutrition and lack of healthy food create constant problems for adults and children alike. One of the roots of chronic malnutrition is the polluted lake water, which makes growing safe food difficult in the area.

Your Support Helps Provide Clean Water Solutions

With all they faced, the poor villages on the lake needed help. That’s when YOU sent Operation Blessing. Thanks to your support, teams from OB Mexico began working to provide clean water solutions and improve nutrition along the lake. These efforts brought Operation Blessing staff to the El Chalpicote elementary school where we met seven-year-old Carlos.

Clean Water Solution From A Rainwater Catchment System

Carlos is a rambunctious and fun-loving little boy, who enjoys chasing his friends around the school during recess. He, like the other children at the school, lives close to Lake Chapala and has had limited access to healthy food and clean water. Thanks to the kind and compassionate support of Operation Blessing friends like you, OB Mexico staff installed a rainwater catchment system at El Chalpicote, so that Carlos and his friends can have clean water to drink.

Not only that, OB partners built an organic garden at Carlos’ school. You provided nutrition and gardening classes so that Carlos and his classmates can learn how to grow nutritious food and eat a well-balanced diet. At first Carlos seemed a bit wary of vegetables, instead preferring potato chips as his snack of choice. However, after getting to participate in the classes and in planting the veggies, Carlos became excited to try them all. When harvest time came, Carlos was the first to try the lettuce, and he loved it!

It’s only because of the faithful and generous support of Operation Blessing partners like you that we can bring life-changing clean water and hunger relief to people like Carlos. Thank you for showing God’s love to the poor in Mexico, the U.S., and around the globe!

Back on Track after the Nashville Tornado

TENNESSEE – Years ago, Patrice received the amazing blessing of a Habitat for Humanity home. She, along with her three daughters and first grandchild, settled into the community, built strong ties, and many loving memories in that home. More recently, she enjoyed caring for her great-grandchildren in the same house. But a violent tornado nearly took it all away.

Patrice didn’t hear any sirens that night. Then she heard a sound like explosions. The house started shaking and windows shattered. Once she realized what was happening, she felt as if God told her to move and take shelter in a safer area of the house, where she rode out the storm. After the tornado passed, it took her awhile to push past the debris blocking her front door. “When I stepped out here,” she said, “I was just dumbstruck.”

Operation Blessing staff and volunteers tarping Patrice's damaged roof.

Unlike some of the homes nearby, Patrice’s house still stood, but the tornado had taken part of the roof and left the interior and yard in shambles. Patrice explained that because she’s disabled, she had no idea how to get her home back in order.

When the Operation Blessing team arrived, she felt incredibly relieved. They quickly got to work clearing debris, tarping her roof, covering her windows, and helping her sort through the rubble in her home, finding some cherished items along the way. “I’m just very blessed by everyone who came out from Operation Blessing…because I didn’t have a clue,” she said.

Patrice surrounded by volunteers.

Nashville Tornado Recovery Efforts…Thanks To You

Thanks to you, OB workers and hundreds of volunteers provided disaster recovery to the people of the Nashville area. You also sent over 30,000 pounds of groceries to local food pantries, and made it possible to deliver pillows, sheets, blankets and towels donated by Ikea to those in need after the tornado.

Patrice said, “You just don’t know how much I appreciate you guys being here, being so supportive. God sent an angel, and then sent all the rest of the angels—you guys.” She now feels back on track to move forward with her life. And to all of you who made this possible, she said, “I love you!”

HOW YOU CAN HELP


During times of crisis and disaster victims desperately need your help. Click here to make an online donation today. Your gift can make a huge difference. Thank you for your compassion to bless the hurting.

You Can Give Justa a Miracle

“Can the Lord not hear my cry?” Justa asks through tears. Justa and the members of the remote community of Pistuni, Peru need your help. For years, these people have walked for hours each day to reach their only source of water: a muddy hole in the ground. The contaminated water causes severe illness among the families, but they have no choice. But YOU can be the miracle these people desperately need. By partnering with Operation Blessing, you can give Justa a state-of-the-art water purification system. Go to ob.org/waterday to learn more. 

HOW YOU CAN HELP


Your support is critical to providing relief for the hungry, water for the thirsty, medical care for the sick, disaster relief for those in crisis, and so much more. Click here to make an online donation today and let your gift make a significant impact in the lives of those who urgently need it.

Operation Blessing Gearing Up in Nashville

NASHVILLE, UNITED STATES – A devastating EF-4 tornado has ripped through Nashville and surrounding areas. Operation Blessing is bringing emergency relief and sending out volunteer teams to help victims clean up and recover. Thanks to your support, we are on the ground in Nashville, making contacts with local authorities and bringing in trucks full of disaster relief supplies. Please continue to pray for the victims as we do all we can to bring relief. Help disaster victims at: ob.org/obdisaster. 

HOW YOU CAN HELP


During times of crisis and disaster victims desperately need your help. Click here to make an online donation today. Your gift can make a huge difference. Thank you for your compassion to bless the hurting.

Nashville Tornado Recovery – Deadly Storm Rips Through Tennessee

TENNESSEE, USA – The deadly EF-4 Nashville tornado ripped through eastern Tennessee early Tuesday with 175 mile per hour winds, leaving behind total devastation. At least 24 people lost their lives.

High winds destroyed dozens of buildings and homes, including large structures in the downtown part of Nashville. While the greatest impact of the Tennessee tornado damage hit Nashville, a number of areas were also affected: Davidson, Putnam, Wilson and Benton. Putnam County reported the largest number of casualties in early estimates.

Nashville Tornado Recovery

Operation Blessing is on the ground to provide disaster relief to victims of the Tennessee tornado. Nashville tornado victims and those in the surrounding areas will receive disaster aid in the form of food, water, and recovery assistance. Operation Blessing will be providing disaster recovery supplies and volunteer mobilization in the coming days.

OB is often one of the first humanitarian organizations on the ground following natural disasters in the U.S. and around the world. To help with tornado assistance and disaster relief around the globe please visit: ob.org/obdisaster

HOW YOU CAN HELP


During times of crisis and disaster victims desperately need your help. Click here to make an online donation today. Your gift can make a huge difference. Thank you for your compassion to bless the hurting.