Sending Love in Their Darkest Hours

WORLDWIDE – Thanks to you, Operation Blessing is able to rush relief to people in disaster and crisis situations. Whether the emergency results from natural causes, or man made turmoil, you reach out to victims in their darkest hours with love and support. Over the last several months we’ve been very busy helping victims of Hurricane Dorian and Tropical Storm Imelda recover from disaster related damage. And here are some of the other crises you’ve responded to recently, by sending love both through immediate aid and long-term assistance.

SYRIAN AND KURDISH REFUGEES – Sending Love through Disaster Relief in the Midst of Turmoil

When Turkish forces invaded Syria, Syrian families fled the conflict area with little beyond the clothes on their backs. Many poured over the border into the Kurdistan region of Iraq, while others remained trapped in Syria.
One aid worker said, “If you talk to people here…you will feel their sadness, their suffering. They’ve lost hope.”

Christians, Kurds, Yazidis and Muslims alike all left the area, looking for a safe place to take refuge from the disaster related damage. Immediately, you sent aid via our Kurdish partners, the Barzani Charity foundation. You provided food, water, blankets, shelter, hygiene kits and more to the weary refugees on both sides of the border. Together with Barzani, we shipped convoys full of supplies to those in need.

Even after the official cease fire, the area remained dangerous and conflict-ridden. The Turks seemed intent on an ethnic cleansing. Before long hundreds of thousands were reported to have left the region in search of peace. And you continued sending love and relief their way.

PHILIPPINE EARTHQUAKE RELIEF – Immediate Disaster Aid for the Hurting

Starting in late October, multiple earthquakes shook their nation destroying homes, business establishments, infrastructures and farms. The Cotabato area was first hit by a 6.3 magnitude earthquake, followed by several aftershocks leaving 22 dead, 424 injured and 4,800 families traumatized and displaced by the natural disaster.

An Operation Blessing team rushed in to help following the earthquake. Thanks to your faithful support, we’ve distributed close to 1,000 relief packs to affected families. They’ve received tents, blankets, food, hygiene kits, and medicines. In addition, you are supplying victims with clean water, medical care, trauma counseling, and vital encouragement.

The OB team has even been providing fun activities for the children, to keep them occupied and lift their spirits during this painful time.

MEXICO BEACH, FLORIDA – Sending Love through Long-term hurricane relief

Ten months after Hurricane Michael struck Florida, Mexico Beach was still a shadow of its former self. Many families still struggled in the aftermath of this destructive storm. But thanks to your support, Operation Blessing volunteers returned to help those who hadn’t yet recovered, including Marie and Herman in Mexico Beach.

The couple lived just a few blocks from the gulf. They drove home several days after the hurricane to a scene of total devastation. The house stunk of stagnant water. The roof had collapsed, and their possessions were destroyed. The couple’s insurance company helped them replace the roof, but the inside remained gutted down to the studs for 10 months. Between Marie’s Parkinson’s disease and Herman’s heart and respiratory issues, they were running out of hope of ever having their house inhabitable again.

Then you sent OB to help! Marie wept and still seemed incredibly overwhelmed as we arrived at her home. OB volunteers quickly installed new drywall, ceilings, insulation, and flooring to get the Petersons back into a real home. “I want to tell you how grateful I am for your sacrifice and service!” Marie said.

Thank you for sending your love to those in need during their darkest hours of natural disaster and crisis all around the world.

Reaching Out to Many Tribes, Tongues, and Nations

WORLDWIDE – One of the great things about partnering with Operation Blessing, is that you have a chance to reach out to so many different tribes, tongues, and nations. By sending humanitarian aid around the world, you show people from various backgrounds how much God loves and cares about them.

In each region, our programs are tailored to the specific needs and cultures of the people who reside there. We stay hard at work on your behalf in over 30 countries. So we wanted to give you a quick peek into what that looks like.

And behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb – Revelation 7:9 NKJV

Africa – Africa is full of many tribes and languages. You’ve transformed entire Maasai villages in Kenya. You offer life-changing surgeries throughout Burundi and Tanzania. With health training, agriculture and poultry projects, schools and nutrition programs, and strategic partnerships to assist vulnerable families, you create lasting change. During times of famine, drought and cyclones you’ve been there too, sending food, clean water and more.

Asia – To many people groups throughout Asia, you provide important care like life-changing surgeries, mobile medical clinics, and water wells for remote communities. You offer skills training to help people break out of poverty and abusive situations. Through partnerships, you help rescue women from human trafficking in nations like Thailand and India. And provide them with vital after care. During the infamous earthquakes and tsunamis of that region, you quickly send disaster relief.

Middle East – In the Middle East, you bless Jews, Christians, Arabs, Kurds, and Yazidi’s alike. Elderly Holocaust survivors receive support and medical care. Refugees get emergency aid as they flee the terrors of ISIS and foreign invasions. In the Judean Desert, you provide clean water solutions and emergency food supplies to Bedouin tribes. And you send relief to persecuted Christians throughout the Middle East and beyond.

Caribbean – In the poor country of Haiti, you offer support to several communities. This includes medical care, dental care, clean water, and schools for the children. You also provide enriching programs like chess, art, soccer, and martial arts. Older children have a chance to continue their educations thanks to scholarships and housing. When storms such as this year’s Hurricane Dorian hit the Caribbean, your love and support is there for islanders in their hard times.

Latin America – Whether to the mountains of Guatemala or the jungles of the Amazon, you send vital aid to the nations of Latin Americans. Community Health Volunteer training, medical and dental brigades, school nutrition programs, and clean water initiatives all provide better health. Microenterprise opportunities, educational support, housing, and agricultural programs offer opportunities to break out of poverty. And during volcanoes, floods, and earthquakes, you’re there making sure victims have essential disaster relief.

United States – Here at home in the U.S., there are still many needs to be met. Hunger in America is a real issue. The sick, elderly, disabled, unemployed, and working poor often need supplemental food. Because of you, our Hunger Strike Force delivers semi-truck after semi-truck full of groceries to our distribution partners every month. During times of disaster, you send immediate food, water, and hygiene supplies to reeling communities. In addition, both our donors and our volunteers provide help restoring the homes of disaster victims.

Thank you for sending God’s love to those in need, both around the corner and across the globe!

Gifts that Keep on Giving

Dora in Kenya received gifts that keep giving

KENYA – Like the bright morning sun’s rays at dawn, Dora’s smile is bright and warm, her handshake firm, her hug motherly and reassuring. It’s hard to tell all that Dora has been through in her life, but she’s also received many priceless gifts.

As a mother of seven, Dora has single-handedly done everything possible to provide for her family. She has no education, so finding a job has been a challenge. And without land to farm, her family’s fortune depended solely on her ability to find casual work, which was hard for an aging woman with few skills.

“I did not have the opportunity to go to school because during our times girls were not allowed to go to school. Girls stayed home to help their mothers and to learn to become wives. Because sooner than later, they would be married off,” Dora said.

Whenever she went out to search for work and found none, she dreaded the look of despair she would find on her children’s faces. “There is nothing more saddening than returning home to your hungry children empty handed. It broke my heart, but what could I do? I only prayed to God and waited,” Dora said.

Not only did Dora not have enough food or money to take care of her family, they had no water in her village. Whenever she wasn’t out looking for work, she trekked many miles through dangerous terrain full of wild animals for water. What she managed to carry back was hardly enough for her family and their few goats to drink.

“I do not wish my children to go through the problems I have been in life, so I am always praying to God to help me take all my children to school. It’s not easy, but I have faith, and now Operation Blessing is here!”

Because of your generous gifts, today Dora and her family have a lot to be thankful for. Her bright infectious smile tells of the miracles they’ve experienced.

Several years back, your faithfulness allowed Operation Blessing to build a school in her remote village of Sompet right next to her home. This made it possible for her younger children to attend preschool, where they learned for free, got a snack, and ate a healthy meal each day.

You also sent abundant clean water right to her village through a new well. “It’s incredible that just a few years ago, we would go for days without bathing. Our goats would go without water. But now, we can drink clean water, wash and bathe as many times as we want! God is great!” She laughed as she shared her story.

But you didn’t stop the gifts there. Operation Blessing provided Dora with a plot of land to farm as well as seeds and supplies, so she could grow crops to sustain her family. She’s also part of our poultry project, which generates both food and income. Now her family has plenty to eat and doesn’t have to worry about going hungry.

You’ve given Dora the best gifts of all, the gifts that keeps on giving—the opportunity to advance in life through hard work! Dora said, “I can’t thank God enough. I can’t thank Operation Blessing enough for everything you have done for my family. I don’t know what I would have done without your help and kindness. May God truly bless you!”

*Field Report by OB Kenya Media Manager, Tim Wainaina

Relief for Kenyan Landslide Victims

Landslide following Cyclone Idai in southern Africa.

KENYA – Although you might not have heard much about it in the news, the Pokot area of Kenya has faced severe devastation in recent days.

Floods and Landslides Strike Pokot

Floods and landslides have killed over 50 people, including children who were swept away from their families. Crops and livestock have been destroyed. And thousands have been displaced by the torrents of water and mud.

Many Kenyan landslide and flood victims have been forced into campgrounds to survive. Meanwhile, aid organizations have had a difficult time getting supplies to this hard to reach area.

You Sent Disaster Relief

Thankfully, because of your support, we moved quickly to the scene. Operation Blessing was able to work with contacts in the area and get the much-needed items to the victims. You sent blankets, mosquito nets, solar lamps, and clean water sources.

Our teams began by distributing disaster relief supplies to those who had lost their homes completely. Thanks to you, we then passed out more supplies to those unable to return to homes in vulnerable locations. You helped approximately 1,800 people.

Simon lost his home, his wife, and his three children, but he found the strength to smile when he received his gifts of aid. Naomi lost a child, a brother, home, crops, and livestock. Yet she still found time to help as a volunteer to distribute the supplies.

Please keep the Kenyan landslide and flood victims in your thoughts and prayers. And consider giving a special gift today.

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.

Responding to the Albania Earthquake

Destruction from the Albania earthquake.

ALBANIA – Recently a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck the northwest region of Albania, killing at least 51 people and leaving hundreds of others injured.

People are sleeping outside, as even those with homes are afraid to go indoors due to aftershocks. In addition, the hundreds of aftershocks have complicated the rescue efforts. People in the area are in dire need of help.

Churches have moved into the area with food, blankets, and other supplies. One pastor said, “Everybody here has suffered some measure of material damage.”

And thanks to your support, Operation Blessing is responding with disaster relief to the Albania earthquake. We are currently planning and preparing our response to this devastating crisis. Check back for more details as they become available.

Please consider giving a special gift to disaster victims at this time at ob.org/give/disaster

Sending Help in their Darkest Hours

SYRIA – Thanks to you, Operation Blessing is able to rush relief to disaster and crisis situations. Whether the emergency results from natural causes, or man-made turmoil, you are sending help to victims in their darkest hours along with love and support.

One aid worker said, “If you talk to people here…you will feel their sadness, their suffering. They’ve lost hope.”

Christians, Kurds, Yazidis and Muslims alike all left the area, looking for a safe place to take refuge from the turmoil. Immediately, you sent aid via our Kurdish partners, the Barzani Charity foundation. You provided food, water, blankets, shelter, hygiene kits and more to the weary refugees on both sides of the border. Together with Barzani, we shipped convoys full of supplies to those in need.

Operation Blessing’s Diego Travero explained, “Operation Blessing has been here since 2014. We originally came here because of ISIS attacking the minorities. We provided food, shelter, solar lamps and the most needed help thanks to you. And again they need our help. They need our prayers.”

Philippine Earthquake Relief

PHILIPPINES: The past days had been difficult for the people of the Philippines. Three consecutive earthquakes shook their nation destroying homes, business establishments, infrastructures and farms.

Damage and crumbled buildings from the earthquake in the Philippines.

Tremors Rock the Philippines

The Cotabato area was first hit by a 6.3 magnitude earthquake, followed by several aftershocks leaving 22 dead, 424 injured and 4,800 families traumatized and displaced.

Operation Blessing Friends Send Help

Operation Blessing Disaster Response team rushed in to help following the Philippine Earthquake. Thanks to your faithful support, we’ve distributing close to 1000 relief packs to affected families. They’ve received tents, blankets, food, hygiene kits, and medicines. In addition, you are supplying victims with clean water, medical care, trauma counseling, and vital encouragement.

The OB team has even been providing fun activities for the children, to keep them occupied and lift their spirits during this painful time.

Thank you for your ongoing support that enables us to respond quickly in disaster situations like the Philippine Earthquake. If you would like to give a special gift to disaster victims at this time, please visit ob.org/give/disaster-relief

Ready to Love and Serve in Any Disaster

Operation Blessing chef Lonnie Dushane ready to love and serve in disaster.

UNITED STATES – Thanks to you, Operation Blessing teams are ready to love and serve wherever and whenever we’re needed most. Today, we’d like to give you a behind the scenes peek at how that works.

Meet Lonnie Dushane, Operation Blessing’s new production chef. Lonnie is responsible for running our mobile kitchens during times of disaster. His work helps provide up to 3,000 meals a day at a disaster scene!

Lonnie has a background in both the restaurant business and military logistics. He’s also part of a close-knit family, including his wife Judy of 56 years and two sons. He owned and ran a restaurant with one son for seven years, which led to him supplying food to disaster zones. He also writes, speaks, and volunteers his time with drug addicts, the homeless, and abuse victims. Lonnie says, “I’m just an ordinary old man, but God opens the doors and I walk through them.”

Operation Blessing first ran into Lonnie following Hurricane Michael in Panama City Beach, Fla., when Lonnie had taken a food truck to the disaster site. Lonnie turned out to be a kindred spirit, and soon joined the OB team as a production chef. He manages our three mobile kitchens, which he keeps up to date with the most efficient equipment. And he stocks them full of supplies, including lots of spices to keep the meals tasty.

Today, Lonnie, the mobile kitchens and OB stay on the alert and ready to serve whenever needed. Lonnie says that while people often look for some huge monumental purpose in life, “My purpose is just to love everyone the best that I can.”

It’s why Lonnie, and so many like him—including compassionate partners like you—are a part of Operation Blessing.

You Give Water, And Water Means Life

Water means life for families in Honduras.

HONDURAS – Honduras is such a beautiful place. The heart of Central America. It has stunning beauty: green everywhere, lots of mountains, many rivers. But there are many issues too.

I find it striking when I learn there is no water in some of these places. Or there is water, but it’s not clean water. Or people don’t have access to water. Water is so important for us and for our bodies. It’s important for many aspects of life. But what happens to a family that doesn’t even have a faucet, or doesn’t have access to clean water?

When you see those beautiful children. When you meet the women here. You see how desperate they are, and how much they want help. And Operation Blessing is here to help them. Because water means life.

It makes me think of all the great support Operation Blessing receives from generous friends out there like you. And that allows us to come to these beautiful places, because there is beauty all around here. But also great need. We’re able to tell the people of Honduras, “Hey, we can assist you because we’re supported by people who have great hearts. They live far away, but they say, ‘I want to help families like yours.’”

So, I want to say to you, thank you for your generosity that makes this work possible and reaches out to give the hurting this precious liquid—clean water.

*A Field Report by Hilda Romero, OB Director of Honduras

Transforming Lives for Patients in Need

TANZANIA – Meet adorable young Sadiki. His life has significantly changed—for the better—thanks to Operation Blessing friends like you. He is just one of the many happy people around the world to benefit from our powerful and transforming Life-Changing Surgeries (LCS) Program.

Born into a low-income family in Tanzania, Sadiki is the youngest of four siblings. When this social and playful child was about one and a half, his mother started noticing a problem with his legs. At first they just seemed to curve slightly, but over time, the issue got worse. He walked with a limp and couldn’t run at all. When he attempted to walk far distances, he suffered pain in his bowed legs.

Sadiki desperately needed surgery to correct his legs, but between the vegetables his mother sold and his father’s small income as a garbage collector, his parents couldn’t begin to it afford it. That’s where YOU stepped in and changed everything!

Not only for Sadiki, but for so many in need of transforming surgeries. Children and other individuals like Sadiki all over the world who can’t afford the operations they need get fresh starts thanks to you. They receive critical treatments that allow them to live healthy, productive lives. And in some cases, even save their lives.

Orthopedic Conditions: Patients with birth defects, deformities from trauma, and other disorders desperately need surgeries to allow them mobility like walking and running. These surgeries often help them overcome social stigmas. And in virtually all cases, the procedures prepare them to better learn, work, and support their future families.

Heart Problems: Congenital heart defects and other heart issues can threaten a patient’s life. While some survive, they experience a poor quality of life, unable to run, play or work. Even a little excitement can endanger them. But with the correct treatment and surgery, they can go on to live long, full lives!

Cleft Lips and Palates: Although cleft lips and palates might seem like surface issues, they cause serious problems. Children often have a difficult time eating, drinking, and learning to speak. The condition can also stir up negative superstitions and cause seclusion. However, surgery gives them a better life.

Eye Issues: From cataracts, to crossed-eyes and more, eye issues keep people from experiencing so much of life. In areas of the world, these problems restrict learning and earning potential for the patients. That’s why we offer so many surgeries to restore the precious gift of sight.

Burns and Scarring: Burns and severe scarring can cause intense pain, limit mobility, and lead to social isolation. They can prevent children from growing strong and limit educational and job options. But thankfully, surgical solutions are available with a little help from friends like you.

And our Life-Changing Surgeries program isn’t limited! We’re ready to help with any treatable condition and change lives whenever possible. Today our young friend Sadiki is well on the mend. Soon he’ll be able to play and run just like all his other siblings. He and his parents truly appreciate this transforming gift. And your support of Operation Blessing put that adorable grin on his face.

If you’d like to help spread the word or make a special designated gift to the LCS program, please visit ob.org/surgery