Making a Home with Help from New Friends During Hard Times

VIRGINIA – Hard times can prove challenging for any family, even more so for those who have recently relocated far away from their family and friends. That’s what Nicole and her husband, Oscar, discovered when they moved recently to Norfolk, Virginia. Since the move, finances have been tight for their small family. Oscar takes on whatever construction jobs he can find, and he’s pretty versatile. “I do everything I can,” he said, “from building a house to electrical. Everything.”

Nevertheless, Nicole told us, “It’s hard to make ends meet. After bills are paid, it’s hard to find the funds to get food.”

“It’s hard to make ends meet. After bills are paid, it’s hard to find the funds to get food.”

So she was delighted to hear about the food bank at nearby New Hope Christian Community Center, an Operation Blessing partner organization that you help keep supplied. She can’t say enough about what’s available through this outreach. “It’s good quality. There’s always a bunch of fruits and vegetables. There’s good meat, and even little snacks for my daughter. I’m never disappointed when I come in.”

Helping Families During Hard Times

The food you help provide has a profound impact on families facing hard times. Nicole says it’s “incredible” that friends like you are aiding people who need help. “It just makes the quality of life better. It helps us get through day by day.”

overcoming hard times in Norfolk Virginia

Critical partnerships like the one we have with New Hope allow us to deliver aid where and when it’s needed most—and make your thoughtful donations work as hard as possible. We’re told that recent reductions in government programs have led to a drastic increase in New Hope’s food recipients. Military families, single moms or dads, elderly couples, young adults, teenagers living on the street—all are welcome.

Nicole wishes more people knew about this outreach. “It means everything just to be able to provide and feed our children and ourselves. Thank you so much. … You all are doing incredible work!” As a cherished partner, your kindness and compassion are making a world of difference— whether you’re feeding hungry families on the other side of the globe, or right here at home.

Rainwater Harvesting: A Lifeline for Indigenous Communities in Mexico

MEXICO – In the remote indigenous communities of Mexico, families like Manuela’s face a daily struggle for safe water. Their reliance on distant contaminated small pools is not only exhausting but poses serious health risks, especially to children. They desperately need sustainable clean water solutions.

Can You Imagine If Your Children Had To Drink THIS Water?

In the United States it would be considered inhumane, even cruel, to allow someone to drink the water Manuela’s children have had to drink. The consequences of consuming this dirty water are appalling. Manuela’s children suffered from vomiting, stomach aches, and diarrhea, illnesses born of necessity and a lack of options. And if that was not bad enough, they had to make a long trek to get more of this water, all while recovering from what it did to them previously! But you cared enough to help mothers like Manuela.

The Gift of Clean Water: Your Kindness Reached Out To Help Manuela’s Children

Your donations were used by Operation Blessing to help transform their suffering. Each household in Manuela’s community received a transformative gift—a rainwater harvesting system capable of collecting, storing, and purifying up to 1,300 gallons of water. This simple yet innovative method captures, stores, and purifies rainwater, offering a beacon of hope for communities grappling with water scarcity.

Rainwater Harvesting: A Sustainable Solution for Clean Water

Operation Blessing’s goal to install a rainwater harvesting system has been a blessing for Manuela’s family and other families in her community. Children who once fell ill due to contaminated water now enjoy a life free from waterborne diseases, thanks to the support from generous donors.

Water Management Education: Sustaining the Change

The benefits of rainwater harvesting extend beyond immediate access to clean water. By training families in water management and conservation, especially crucial during the dry season, the initiative ensures long-term sustainability. It’s not just about surviving but thriving, with clean water as the cornerstone of community health and well-being.

Education and Empowerment

Beyond the provision of equipment for a rainwater harvesting system, Operation Blessing ensured that the community was equipped with the knowledge to manage and conserve water, a vital skill during the unforgiving dry season. This education marked a pivotal shift towards sustainability and self-sufficiency.

Your Impact on Villages Like Manuela’s

Manuela’s story is just one among many, highlighting the stark reality of water issues in Mexico and the profound difference that rainwater harvesting can make. It is also a story of what YOU can do. With your support we changed the lives of an entire village. We also were able to do it in a way that is environmentally friendly and cost effective.

Please continue to make these blessings possible as we help people in need! Help provide clean water in Mexico and multiple places around the globe.

Hope for Traumatized Victims of War In Israel

ISRAEL – Jovelle is alone now—because terrorists took her husband’s life. “He didn’t even see our son,” she said, weeping. “It was only three weeks before my due date.” Jovelle is now one of many traumatized victims of war in Israel, trying to piece their lives back together after the attack.

On October 7, Hamas militants invaded Israel near the Gaza Strip, brutally murdering civilians without mercy. One of their victims was Jovelle’s husband, a Filipino national named Paul. And she received the heart-wrenching news just before she was about to give birth to their son.

“It’s been a long time since we dreamed of having a child— ten years,” shared Jovelle as she spoke with an Operation Blessing counselor.

“At first, I didn’t believe it. I said that I wanted to see my husband— they only showed me pictures. He was unrecognizable,” she said, wiping away her tears. “I only identified him through his tattoo, which is my name.”

Now, Jovelle will try her best to raise their new son without him.

Trauma Counseling For Victims of War In Israel

But she hasn’t been alone through this experience—because friends like you are there. Operation Blessing helped provide trauma counseling for Israel war victims to assist Jovelle in processing her grief. And she received special love and comfort from our team on the ground, who also happened to be from her home nation of the Philippines.

Our relief teams and CBN Israel have been working together since the war began to help some of the nearly 2 million people who have fled the conflict zone in Israel. When war broke out suddenly all around them, families like Jovelle’s had no choice but to flee for their lives. They had no time to pack; they just had to run. A tale very common among Israel war survivors.

help for survivors of Israel terror attacks

Today, our team is working with displaced people in the city of Eilat, four hours from Jerusalem. There, we’ve been providing families with shelter in local hotels along with food, clean water, and hygiene supplies. And for the traumatized souls who are willing, we’ve helped offer psychological support.

Jovelle opened her heart to us, and we responded with encouragement and a warm embrace. You also provided diapers, formula, milk, and other baby supplies to help her have a great start with her new baby. Our team was able to rejoice with her to see the new life God brought out of such darkness and pain. And we’re thankful to you for your part in it.

Bringing Tornado Relief to Ohio

OHIO – A powerful storm system spawned deadly tornadoes that ravaged communities across the Midwest, especially in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. The twisters left a path of destruction, claiming lives and damaging homes, businesses, and an RV park. After all they’ve been through, families in Ohio need our help.

Team Deployed to Hard-Hit Ohio

Operation Blessing immediately deployed to Wapakoneta, Ohio, one of the areas heavily impacted by the tornadoes. Our disaster relief team is on the ground, facilitating tornado relief to Ohio by providing immediate supplies for those in desperate need. Our mobile kitchen is also there, serving hot meals to residents struggling in the aftermath.

Many homes and businesses were severely damaged or destroyed, leaving families without basic necessities. Closed establishments and widespread power outages have made it extremely difficult for people to access food, water, and other critical supplies.

Help Disaster Victims Now!

Assessing Widespread Damage

The recent storm system proved devastating for the Indian Lake area in Ohio’s Logan County. At least three people lost their lives in the state, with dozens more injured. An entire mobile home park was leveled, and multiple buildings suffered catastrophic damage including shattered windows, partially ripped-off roofs, and punctured walls.

To help, we’ve hosted a community cleanup day where we coordinated volunteers to remove debris and downed trees, bringing some sense of restoration to the ravaged region. Our teams also continue to assess damages to determine the best way we can bring tornado relief to Ohio and focus on areas of greatest need.

Housing Homeless Families

With many families now made temporarily homeless by the destruction of their property, the relief team has also seen a unique need we can meet. We determined which families were most in need of assistance in partnership with our partner Wapak Church and will be providing them with temporary lodging in local establishments. We intend to give them 30 days of relief through this effort. Together, we can help hurting families have a save space to plan for an uncertain future!

Friends Like YOU Can Help!

In the wake of such widespread devastation, the affected Ohio communities face tremendous challenges. But they don’t have to go through this alone.

Your generous support allowed Operation Blessing to be there from the very start with emergency relief supplies and hot meals. As the recovery efforts continue, we’ll be there to share your love with hurting families in their time of need.

Thank you for your compassionate heart. Please remember to pray for those who are suffering after this tragic event.

Give Hope!

You Brought Healing in the Wake of Hurricane Otis Destruction

MEXICO – In the midst of Hurricane Otis destruction, families in Acapulco found themselves struggling to survive the devastation caused by the Category 5 storm. Parents tried to protect their children from sickness while also grappling with the loss of nearly everything they owned. Thanks to the invaluable support of caring donors like you, stories of healing and renewed hope have emerged from the eye of the storm.

Hurricane Survivors Get Help from the Operation Blessing Medical Brigade

Pregnant with her sixth child, Rosa faced the terrifying reality of trying to safeguard her family as Hurricane Otis tore off the roof over their heads. After a few days, the family returned to the ruined remains of their home—where they became sick after sleeping on damp beds. That’s when your love stepped in and made all the difference for Rosa’s family. Because of the support of faithful donors like you, an Operation Blessing medical brigade was ready and waiting to provide Rosa’s children with much-needed attention.

Rosa was also given an ultrasound, providing a reassuring glimpse at her unborn baby.

Medical bridge helps hurricane survivors

Elsewhere in Acapulco, Laura’s two young daughters, Mikeyla and Itzy, developed coughs, headaches, and fevers—all aggravated by the dust, heat, and constant exposure to sun and burning garbage after the hurricane. You helped to provide medical care when this family needed it most! Your support became a lifeline and supplied the family with medicines and a renewed sense of hope.

“Operation Blessing has been a big relief and has renewed the hope of people like me, who don’t have the resources to care for our children,” Laura said. “Having health, we have the possibility of getting ahead.”

More Families Receive Help and Hope

But the miracle of your compassion doesn’t end there. Vanessa, a first-time mother, and her 7-month-old baby, Iris, faced the hurricane’s relentless winds as their home was stripped away, leaving them exposed to the elements and frightened. When Iris developed a persistent cough, Vanessa was desperate for medical assistance. Through your support and Operation Blessing’s medical brigade, a family doctor provided Iris with medication, offering relief beyond measure.

Amaya, a 4-year-old girl, suffered a facial injury after being knocked over by a dog during the cleanup efforts. Her father, Oscar, discovered Operation Blessing’s medical brigade and little Amaya received immediate care, easing her parents’ worries and highlighting the role you have played during this critical time.

And 4-year-old José Luis and his family lost their roof during the powerful storm. Struggling with drastic temperature changes, José Luis developed a troublesome respiratory problem. His parents, Azucena and José, searched for health clinics or pharmacies in vain until they heard about Operation Blessing’s medical brigade at a nearby church. Soon after, José Luis received the treatment he needed, and his father even obtained medicine for his diabetes. “We had been looking everywhere and couldn’t find help,” said José Luis’s mother. “Thank you for being here and offering this aid. We really needed it!”

Hurricane Otis Recovery was made possible by YOU

These powerful stories display the profound impact you have made in the wake of Hurricane Otis. Your faithful support has brought healing and helped build a brighter future for families facing a long and difficult hurricane recovery. Immediate medical needs have been met and a spark of hope ignited in the hearts of families in Acapulco—thanks to you!

You Are Making a World of Difference with Clean Water Solutions

WORLDWIDE – Did you know that through your partnership with Operation Blessing you are making a world of difference with sustainable water solutions. All around the globe, you are changing lives every day, and one of the amazing ways you’re doing this is through clean water. Today we’d like to introduce you to a few of the people who’ve had their lives transformed thanks to your love and care.

Transforming The Lives Of School Children With Sustainable Water Solutions

The struggle to access water—even dirty water—is common in rural villages around the world. Without a reliable supply of clean drinking water, entire families remain entrenched in poverty, unable to focus on anything except basic survival. But your generosity is reaching into mountain valleys, jungles, and deserts to make a difference for generations to come with sustainable water solutions.

Tucked away in the remote mountains of Costa Rica, children like Geovania (age 11) walk for up to an hour through the Palmera Indigenous Reserve just to get to school. The path is rocky. Many children have to cross rivers, which swell with heavy rains, and they can encounter dangerous snakes along the way. When they finally arrive, imagine their disappointment when school is cancelled because there is no water—a journey wasted.

“In the summer, the river dries up, but in the heavy rainy season, the hose is damaged,” Geovania’s mother, Lucrecia, explains. “If there is no water, they can’t cook, they can’t drink, and the children go back home.” Without classes, the more than 60 students who attend there don’t learn enough to pass their exams.

The problem of drinking water access had been an ongoing one for the elementary school in Palmera Reserve. Sometimes parents came to help their children collect untreated water from a stream three miles away in order to keep the school open. “I was sad to miss my classes,” Geovania told us.

“I would like the school to have water, to study and learn.”

Friends like you answered her plea! Our compassionate Operation Blessing donors provided a rainwater catchment system that could collect and store more than 5,000 gallons of rainwater. Enough water would then be cleaned, filtered, and pumped to the school to cover the basic needs of 100 teachers, students, and visitors. And the rainwater harvesting system would keep the school open!

You are giving hope, comfort, and joy to so many in their darkest hours and paving the way for a brighter future through the gift of clean water.

Bringing Hope For Future Generations With Safe Drinking Water

On the other side of the world, Neelmuni raised livestock on a small piece of land in India. The closest source of water was the river a half-mile away—only accessible by a treacherous path through fields and jungles. Sometimes, she made the trip three or four times a day in the subtropical heat to collect enough water for her family and animals. During the rainy season, the ground became slick, and the water she brought home was full of silt.

The journey was tiring and difficult, Neelmuni didn’t ask for help. Her husband, frequently weakened by tuberculosis, was not strong enough to travel and Neelmuni insisted her two sons focus on their education.

When your love supplied a water pump to Neelmuni’s community, she couldn’t contain her joy. Neelmuni would no longer have to make the long journey to the river several times each day and her sons would never have to endure to what she did to access clean drinking water for their own families someday.

Offering Comfort To Those In Need With Clean Water Solutions

After a deadly earthquake struck Morocco, families in small villages struggled to climb out of the rubble and rebuild their lives. Residents like Khadija were afraid to drink the water for fear that it might have become contaminated. The damage from a major disaster often disrupts clean water access to victims.

Your generous support brought much-needed food, tents, clothing, and hygiene supplies to the suffering people in Morocco. But you didn’t stop there. Your kindness also alleviated Khadija’s fears by providing portable water filters. These people no longer have to worry about drinking dirty water, thanks to clean water solutions from you!

Texas Wildfire Relief: A Beacon of Hope

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TEXAS – In the wake of Texas’s most catastrophic wildfires, the Operation Blessing team, equipped with essential supplies, has emerged as a beacon of hope for those affected by the disaster. The fires ravaged over a million acres. Over 60 counties in the Texas Panhandle have been impacted, as well as parts of Oklahoma. This disaster has left communities grappling with unprecedented displacement and destruction. Continuing to provide Texas wildfire relief is of paramount importance right now, and we’re thankful that you always stand ready to help.

The Urgent Need for Wildfire Aid in Texas

As communities begin the difficult process of recovery, the immediate focus has shifted towards clearing the massive amounts of debris caused by the blaze. Essential tools such as shovels, rakes, and wheelbarrows have become invaluable during these cleanup efforts. In response, Operation Blessing has joined forces with The Home Depot Foundation, swiftly mobilizing resources to meet these critical needs and support the Texans who are struggling to recover.

Texas Fire Recovery: A Community Effort

The path to recovery is paved by YOU! Our faithful partners are the lifeline these communities depend on to recover. Your compassion for these disaster-stricken areas provides a beacon of hope. You are showing them day by day how much you care. You are a reminder that GOD’s love is always reaching out to help.

A Call to Action: Support and Prayers for Texas

As the recovery process unfolds, continued support remains critical. In addition to your material support, Operation Blessing friends are doing something else just as important: praying! Your prayers are making a difference to people who have lost everything.

Thank You for Your Continued Support

Texas fire relief is likely to be an ongoing project. Your faithfulness is making that possible! Please continue to support those who are hurting in Texas. Together, we can rebuild lives, restore hope, and ensure that no one has to face the aftermath of such tragedies alone. In these tough times, let us all be a source of God’s love and light for those in need. Please visit ob.org/mc/obdisaster.

Help Disaster Victims Now!

supplies for Texas wildfire victims and survivors

Warmer Beds, Warmer Hearts

KENYA – For some, the sound of rain coming down outside is calming and therapeutic. The aroma of food cooking stimulates the senses and brings forth comforting thoughts. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case for Rajab and his family living in a quiet village in eastern Kenya.

While Kenyans in other areas of the country suffered debilitating drought, the harsh reality for Rajab was that when it rained outside, he had to improvise a way to keep the water from pouring into his home. At night, the cold would seep inside, chilling their bones. This dilapidated old house was a testament to their trials. Rajab and his family needed a new house in Kenya.

“The roof had a lot of holes, and it leaked a lot when it rained,” Rajab told us. “It was usually very cold inside the house. That’s why I tried to patch the holes with pieces of sacks and such things.”

But that wasn’t the only problem. “Sometimes the smoke from the open kitchen became too much—it filled the house and made the children stay outside in the dark at night,” added Rajab’s wife. “So, I couldn’t cook during the evening, and that was very inconvenient. The smoke irritated the children’s eyes, so they kept rubbing and hurting their eyes.”

Rajab faced a heartbreaking dilemma. Should he put education first and pay fees associated with his children’s schooling? Or would it be better to put what little money he earned toward repairing their home? Despite his desperate attempts to find work, he simply couldn’t afford both.

From Hope to New Housing

You were like a miracle, when you entered their lives through Operation Blessing. With the help of a housing project, Rajab’s family received a new home in Kenya—a haven of comfort and joy. The new house is a source of warmth, a relief from the cold they had grown accustomed to. The holes in the roof are gone, replaced by a sturdy, leak-free covering.

Proper ventilation in their new kitchen has banished the smoke that once filled their house. Rajab’s children now have their very own bedroom, a space they cherish thanks to you.

“One of the best things about this new house is, it is very warm,” said Rajab’s wife. “We have a new kitchen, so we don’t suffer from the smoke anymore. My children can study comfortably; there is no more smoke to irritate their eyes! My children are really happy about their bedroom. They are proud of it, and they have fun in their room. They are very happy because they are sleeping in a warm room and in nice beds!”

A New Home in Kenya and a Rainwater Catchment System

Thanks to the outpouring of kindness from friends like you, Rajab and his family have a new home in Kenya. A safe shelter that protects them from the harsh elements and even came with a rainwater catchment system to provide clean water. “Thank you so much,” exclaimed a relieved Rajab, who had carried the weight of this struggle for years. “May God bless you and prosper you!”

You also helped them via a goat-rearing project that provides extra income for the family. Rajab’s family was forever changed by your act of compassion. As they gathered around their living room for a cup of tea, they knew that despite life’s challenges, their journey was now illuminated by the light of your love and support.

Smokehouse Creek Fire: Providing Help in Texas

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TEXAS – In the heart of the Texas Panhandle, a devastating wildfire known as the Smokehouse Creek Fire has become the biggest in the state’s history. It’s left a trail of destruction, loss, and an urgent need for aid.

Engulfing nearly 1.3 million acres, this catastrophic blaze has not only claimed lives but also razed dozens of homes and buildings,. It forced residents into life-threatening escapes. The rapid spread of the fire, powered by high winds and dry conditions, caught many off guard. Sadly, ranchers suffered immense losses, as thousands of cattle perished in the inferno.

Operation Blessing Wildfire Relief Efforts

Amidst the devastation, thanks to friends like you, Operation Blessing is collaborating with local churches to deliver essential items and support to those affected. From providing food and water to hygiene kits and emergency meal kits, we are addressing the immediate needs of the community. We want to offer a glimmer of hope in the face of despair.

relief effort for smokehouse creek fire in Texas

Recovery from the Smokehouse Creek Fire

As the battle against the Smokehouse Creek Fire continues, the spirit of resilience shines brightly within the Texas Panhandle. The community’s response, marked by unity and unwavering support, serves as a powerful reminder of the strength found in collective action.

In these moments of crisis, every helping hand and every prayer offers solace and strength to those facing the unimaginable. Through the generosity of donors like you, the path to recovery is paved with hope and the promise of renewal.

Help Disaster Victims Now!

A Smile Makes All The Difference

CAMBODIA – Although he was her second child, Lak Sopheap was not prepared for his birth. It should have been such a joy. But when she first saw Thaina, her smile turned to tears. He had a severe cleft lip that stretched up to his nose. She held the child in her arms and promised that she would try to help him recover.

But that promise, sadly, proved impossible to keep. Lak Sopheap couldn’t work. She had to take care of the children. Her husband earned less than $9 a day at construction jobs—when they were available. At other times, he helped local farmers tend their cassava fields, but he only got paid at harvest time. Money was always a worry, and milk was expensive.

Now that they had an extra mouth to feed, how would she help her baby boy with his severe cleft lip? Thankfully, an answer came through friends like you!

Constant Battles Due to the Impact of Severe Cleft Lip

For six months, Lak Sopheap struggled to care for her son. His severe cleft lip made feeding time a constant battle. Milk escaped through the infant’s nose and lips—milk they couldn’t afford to waste. In addition, Thaina was not able to get the nutrition he desperately needed as a growing baby. If not repaired soon, his condition could become life-threatening.

Lak Sopheap longed to get Thaina the surgery he needed, but the family simply couldn’t afford it. “I just want to see my son smile again.” Still, she kept hoping that one day a miracle would happen. And it did!

Thanks to the kindness of Operation Blessing family members like you, Thaina was able to get the life-changing surgery he needed. Within a few weeks, he was able to eat better and even smile. The family is relieved, and also thankful that Thaina will also receive cleft palate surgery when the time is right.

“We are happy, and every time I look at my face, I always have a smile,” his mother said.

Friends just like you are making a difference in the lives of people around the world through our Life-Changing Surgeries program. These surgeries relieve the financial burden from families in remote areas who can’t afford medical care and give them the chance to thrive. Their smiles make all the difference!