blessings OPERATION BLESSING
AUGUST 2019
Stories of how YOU help the hurting around the world.
YOU’RE
sending comfort IN THE STORMS OF LIFE! P A G E
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PRAYERS OF WEARY SINGLE MOTHER ANSWERED
YOU GAVE NEW LIFE TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS
YOU PROVIDED BRIGHT SMILES FOR HAITIAN KIDS
P A G E
P A G E
P A G E
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Happenings
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Catch up with the goings-on at Operation Blessing!
Prayers of Weary Single Mother Answered
Cori was beginning to run out of hope when you stepped into her life
You Gave New Life to Human Trafficking Victims
An anti-trafficking program and recovery home is rescuing girls in Thailand
Inside this this issue issue
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You’re Sending Comfort in the Storms of Life
Safe water for a mother in Zimbabwe after Cyclone Idai
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On the Front Lines Helping Venezuelan Refugees
A field report by Roberto Torres
Finding Joy in the Midst of the Dayton Tornado
You sent encouragement and help after their devastating nightmare
You Provided Bright Smiles for Haitian Kids
Bringing dental health to rural communities
operationblessing.org | 977 Centerville Turnpike, Virginia Beach, VA 23463 | (800) 730-2537 3
OPERATION BLESSING
HAPPENINGS GUATEMALA: Thanks to the support of faithful partners like you, these
kids are enjoying a new handwashing station and clean water at their school.
INDIA: A patient consults with
a doctor at Bangalore Baptist Hospital. Because of OB friends like you, people from rural areas in India receive access to basic medical care.
OHIO: Faithful Operation
Blessing volunteers gather to help victims recover from a powerful EF-4 tornado. (See more on page 19)
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HAITI: Because of support from you, Operation Blessing’s Dora Nemere
shows Haitians how to use a SE-200 chlorine generator to treat their water for safety.
ZIMBABWE: Thanks to your
support, a water filter provides clean water after Cyclone Idai contaminated local water sources. (See more on page 12)
PERU: These
microenterprise beneficiaries show off their new sign and materials thanks to your generosity!
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TEXAS
PRAY ERS
OF WEARY SINGLE MOTHER ANSWERED Cori was beginning to run out of hope when you stepped into her life
C
ori has lived through the kind of tragedy that can easily break the human spirit. She lost her husband in a drive-by shooting and her home to a house fire shortly after. Yet it was the devotion a mother
has to her children that kept her going. After the tragedies, Cori decided her family needed a change of scene. She loaded up a moving truck with her 9-year-old son, Hunter, and the two took off for Texas. “I was shaking for the whole drive. I felt like I had PTSD. I was exhausted,� she said. But Cori held onto hope that a fresh start in a new place would refresh her outlook on life.
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Cori was also struggling
However, the new start quickly became a heavy burden for Cori to
emotionally. She realized her need
carry alone. She found employment
for a support system, someone she
at an airplane and auto parts factory,
could lean on through her trials.
but this meant waking up at 3:00 a.m.
“You’re trying to grasp for anything
every day to make it to work on
you can to hold on to, and it’s like,
time. Despite long hours and little
there’s nothing else,” she remembers
spending, finances were still tight.
thinking. “I need a mentor; I need
Bills began to pile up, and Cori
to get plugged in somewhere.”
wondered how she would pay them all. It often came down to deciding
You’re trying to grasp for anything you can to hold on to, and it’s like, there’s nothing else. –CORI
between food and electricity. “I had to say, ‘I don’t know, Lord. You’re going to have to take care of this bill because I didn’t see that one coming.’ I didn’t have anything,” she said.
v
Continued on page 8
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Continued from page 7
Her prayers were answered
and encouragement.
when Cori found Operation Blessing’s distribution partner, Hill Country Daily Bread. She began to receive groceries for free every week! Relief filled her when Cori realized this meant her income could go towards paying bills and taking care of her son’s other needs. Your generosity makes it possible for OB to send these resources and Between the support and food,
supplies to people in need. Hunter is now flourishing.
Cori said, “I don’t know where I
He’s blessed by the nutritious meals.
would’ve seen myself without that.
In addition, Cori also receives the
It makes a huge difference in a
spiritual support she needs. She
single mom’s household to have a
now meets with a mentor from
stable, reliable plate on the table.
Hill Country for regular prayer
... Thank you!”
INCOME SECURITY IN AN UNCERTAIN ECONOMY Establish a Charitable Gift Annuity that pays you a fixed income for life. • Delivers immediate partially tax-free benefits • Supports the poor and hurting through Operation Blessing • Minimum gift amount is $10,000 Contact Planned Giving to receive your illustrated guide showing your payment rate and benefits at 800-730-2537, by email at PlannedGiving@OB.org, or visit OB.plannedgiving.org.
ARE YOU PREPARED FOR
HURRICANE SEASON? Stay alert to the news.
With the availability of hurricane tracking, it’s easier to prepare for them than other disasters. Usually, there is at least a day of warning before a hurricane.
Keep an emergency kit
including water, non-perishable foods, medications, infant supplies, pet supplies, copies of important documents, insurance information, and key telephone numbers.
Have an emergency plan with your family. Know the evacuation zones for your area. Decide at what degree of danger you would evacuate, destination options, and evacuation routes.
Prepare fresh batteries for flashlights, electrical lanterns, and a battery-operated radio or TV to receive weather and emergency information.
Pay attention to watches and warnings
Evacuate early, if you decide to leave, to avoid traffic congestion.
Track storms to see their approach and whether or not your area will be affected.
If you stay during a serious hurricane, prepare sand bags, window boards, and other protection items as needed.
issued by the National Weather Service.
Secure all outside plants, furniture and items
not bolted to the ground for protection from high winds—and to keep them from becoming dangerous projectiles.
Volunteer now to help victims of tornadoes, hurricanes, fires, floods, and other natural disasters in the U.S.
ob.org/volunteer
*And for more great tips on disaster prep, go to ob.org/disaster-prep
THAILAND
YOU GAVE NEW LIFE TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS An anti-trafficking program and recovery home is rescuing girls in Thailand
L
et’s take a trip to the Mekong region of Thailand. In this
this region, you’ll see a bright
river basin area full of forests,
spot in the troubling situation.
wetlands, and rare wildlife,
Through Operation Blessing’s
you’ll find yourself surrounded
partnership with New Life Center
by a rich tapestry of tribes,
Foundation, YOU are making
cultures and languages as well.
a huge difference in the lives
You’ll also notice that as the
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But as you continue to explore
of trafficked, exploited and
modern world collided with
vulnerable young women in
ancient tribes in this beautiful
Thailand. Thanks to your
region, problems developed.
support, the center provides a
When Mekong became more
home, medical care, counseling,
urbanized, poverty levels rose
advocacy, and skills training
in the villages. Today, young
to help the girls start a brand
women often leave their homes
new life. The center also
in search of work, but without
conducts anti-trafficking
being fluent in the Thai
campaigns and holds classes
language—and in many cases
in vocational skills. This
not having legal citizenship
helps protect other village girls
papers—these girls become targets
from ever falling prey to human
for human traffickers.
traffickers in the first place.
“I fe l t i r r ep ar ab l e , like a piece of glass t h at ha d b e e n s ha t t e r e d . ”
LAINA, AGE 13
Laina* arrived at New Life after being sexually abused and
healthy ways to think and gaining confidence in my own value.”
giving birth to a child at the tender age of 11. When she arrived, she felt worthless. She said, “I felt irreparable, like a piece of glass that had been shattered.” But thanks to the care and support you provided through Operation Blessing and New Life, Laina has come a long way over the past two years. She’s experienced restoration through counseling and therapeutic
That’s the difference you’ve made
activities. She’s learning to read,
in the lives of Laina and so many
write, sew and bake. Laina now
other girls like her. Thank you for
says, “I’m finding clarity and relief
partnering with Operation Blessing
about [what] happened, and about
to support such vital and life-changing
my own feelings. I’m learning new,
programs around the world. *Name changed to protect identity 11
Young Simon and his mom were left devastated by Cyclone Idai after it destroyed their community and water system. You were there when he needed you most!
ZIMBABWE
YOU’RE
sending comfort IN THE STORMS OF LIFE
Safe water for a mother in Zimbabwe after Cyclone Idai
When Cyclone Idai struck Zimbabwe, many homes along the river banks flooded or were swept away in the storm. Residents who survived found their water sources destroyed or contaminated. Even those on higher ground suffered severe damage. Single mother Idah lives in the hillside village of Mwadzinga, but her mud hut and a large portion of her crops were wiped out by the powerful cyclone. Nonetheless, she pressed on, trying to farm her land and single-handedly rebuild her home for herself and her precious young son, Simon. The one thing she couldn’t fix on her own was the water. Previously, Idah and others in her village had used water piped to them from higher in the hills. But the storm had destroyed their water system. Continued on page 14
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Continued from page 13
“When I saw you coming to help it felt like HOPE was restored, and the LIGHT that had dimmed within me LIT UP again.” –Idah, cyclone victim Without the system of pipes, the
cyclone victims in Zimbabwe,
water laid stagnant, allowing dangerous because of your support, we were able and even deadly bacteria, parasites
to quickly respond with the help they
and malaria carrying mosquitoes to
needed. You sent a safe water specialist
flourish. It also filled with debris as
to the area. You also provided filters
it was used by villages higher in the
and chlorine tablets to purify the water
hills, turning the water to nasty,
for villagers like Idah and Simon.
brown sludge along the way. Due to her strenuous farm work in
Not only are they now enjoying safe, clean water, but thanks to
the hot African sun, Idah had no
you, Idah has recovered. And the
choice but to drink large quantities
dangerous waterborne illnesses aren’t
of the dirty water. She said, “Every
spreading anymore. These safe water
day I become more and more ill. For
solutions will provide their community
two weeks I was too weak and sick to
with up to a year’s worth of healthy
do anything. I barely had the strength
water. That will give authorities in the
to get up. I was afraid that I would die.” region lots of time to repair the water system and get back on their feet. Idah said, “When I saw you coming to help us, it felt like hope was restored, and the light that had dimmed within me lit up again. … Thank you very much for coming to But thankfully, YOU stopped that
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assist us. May God give
from happening! When Operation
you peace and may you continue to
Blessing received a request to help
help other people.”
COLOMBIA
ON THE FRONT LINES HELPING VENEZUELAN REFUGEES A field report by Roberto Torres from the Colombian border
The smell of feces lingered
F
for thousands of Venezuelan refugees,
in the humid air of the
but on this day, the staggering need
decrepit, open-air shelter where
brazenly stared us down at the resting
Venezuelan families stopped to
place in Bochalema. A foul, murky river
recover from the strenuous
was the huddle spot for the bedraggled
three-to-five-day walking journey.
migrants to soak their feet, and,
lies buzzed all around.
Forced by the socioeconomic collapse and humanitarian crisis in their country, these Venezuelan refugees had crossed into Cúcuta, Colombia, and had walked up the perilous Colombian mountainside— malnourished, dehydrated, and in need of basic medical aid.
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This is the heart-wrenching reality
shockingly, to fill up their water bottles.
Rober to Tor res was on the g round in C olombia at the Ve nez uelan borde r, helping O peration Blessing respond to the need s of re f ugees , whe re he met young Emmanuel.
Children were drinking from
I told him, “Your name means ‘God
this polluted river, and the majority
is with us’. Emmanuel, I want you to
were suffering from diarrhea and
know that no matter how hard it gets,
stomach infections.
in all this suffering and hardship, God
As my colleagues from Operation
is with you. Jesus is not going to leave
Blessing began to set up a high-tech
you. You can pray to Him, and God
water filtration system to provide clean
will answer you because He loves you.”
drinking water, a young Venezuelan boy by the name of Emmanuel began to chat with me. I asked him if he knew the meaning of his name. He smiled and said he didn’t. Looking straight into his eyes, Continued on page 18
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Continued from page 17
A few minutes later, he was drinking from the water filtration
Colombia and neighboring countries, clean drinking water is paramount.
system, which pumped the polluted river water and converted it to clean, potable water. On this day, Emmanuel and hundreds of other Venezuelan children saw the love of God in a real, tangible way. Our words were not empty; they were life-giving and provided a vital resource for their survival. This was possible, thanks to
my wife, to a safe home, to running
the generous support of Operation
water, I can’t forget Emmanuel’s face.
Blessing partners who, like you, have
I want him to continue experiencing
joined our mission to demonstrate
that God is truly with him. We have
God’s love by alleviating human need
the privilege and opportunity to show
and suffering around the world.
him and thousands of others the
Yet the need is ever growing. As Emmanuel and thousands of Venezuelan refugees travel for hundreds of miles to cities in 18
Coming back home to Virginia, to
truth of Jesus’ comforting presence in the midst of adversity and suffering. Thank you for not forgetting Emmanuel and standing with us.
OHIO
Finding Joy
IN THE MIDST OF THE DAYTON TORNADO You sent encouragement and help after their devastating nightmare
W
hen you have a 10-year-old daughter as joyful as Shiloh, it’s hard to feel down. Even if less than one week ago you narrowly escaped a devastating EF-4 tornado, only to be left with fallen trees and
mounds of debris strewn across your yard. Debris so thick you can hardly take a step without stumbling. None of these things broke the spirit of Nicole, a 45-year-old single mom in Dayton, Ohio. The only thing that brought her to tears was talking about her daughter, Shiloh, and how much she loved her. The night of the storm, rain fell hard, and hail banged against the windows. Nicole was upstairs with Shiloh and her older son, Jimmy. Their TV was turned off, and she didn’t hear any alerts come across her phone. But she started to become concerned as the storm grew worse. Continued on page 20 19
She got up to look out the
tornado damage. Trees lined Nicole’s
window, and as soon as she did,
lawn, many snapped in half and
she was startled by a loud cracking
strewn in pieces across the ground.
noise. The family hurried down to
A massive blue spruce in the
the basement together just as the
backyard was uprooted and lying on
storm hit full force. “You could hear
its side. Nicole’s family couldn’t even
the transformers popping,” Nicole
get off their street because a huge tree
recalled. “It almost sounded like
blocked the entire road.
gunshots: pop, pop, pop, pop, pop.” Meanwhile, down the street,
Anita had more damage to her actual home. Although insurance
Nicole’s retired mother endured her
would help with the house, she also
own intense experience with the
had a smashed shed and debris that
storm. Anita, 73, didn’t know the
she could never manage on her own
tornado was on top of her. The only
and lots of rubble to sort through.
reason she woke up was the sound
But, thanks to your support,
of breaking glass. That sound might
Operation Blessing rushed in to
have saved her life. Moments after
help the community of Dayton
she got up, a tree came crashing
with disaster aid. As our volunteers
through her roof right over her bed,
walked up to Nicole’s house, we could
leaving it covered in heavy debris and
see the relief wash over her face.
branches. Anita believes that the Lord
Someone had come to her rescue.
saved her life.
We prayed with her, encouraged her, and then got right to work. We took
“It made me tingle inside because you’re just a group of people here to help. I’ve felt nothing but joy all day.” –Nicole
a chainsaw to those heavy limbs and hauled off the debris. By the time our volunteers finished, a giant wall of branches was piled high on the edge of her front yard ready for pickup. “It made me tingle inside,” Nicole
The next morning the three generations of ladies faced significant
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said, “because you’re just a group of people here to help. I’ve felt nothing
but joy all day. This is the most
“Please donate. They need it so
normal I’ve felt in over a week. I’m so
they can bless others like me.”
thankful.” While we worked, Nicole
Thank you for your prayers
told us about her mother, and we
and support for Dayton, Ohio.
quickly sent help to Anita as well.
Without you, precious ladies like
Anita said, “They were like angels.
Anita, Nicole, and young Shiloh
It was like I’d known them forever.
wouldn’t have gotten the help they
They’re God’s people.” She also said,
so desperately need.
THANK YOU FOR HELPING THE VICTIMS OF THE VIRGINIA BEACH SHOOTING On Friday, May 31, 2019, 12 members of the Virginia Beach community were shot and killed while at work in the Virginia Beach Municipal Center. Four others survived but were badly injured. Your support is aiding the victims of this tragedy.
HAITI ALABAMA
YOU PROVIDED
BRIGHT SMILES
FOR HAITIAN KIDS A partnership between Operation Blessing and the Emmaus Dental Clinic is bringing dental health to rural communities of Haiti
Because of generous partners like you, a dental brigade was organized for the students at the OB-supported ENLA school to receive treatment by a team of dentists, nurses, and an OB physician. Each day began with a presentation on oral hygiene. Students were then treated as needed, including fluoride, restoration, fillings and more. Finally, you made it possible for each student to receive their own dental hygiene kit. The community is very grateful for this brigade and is excited to put into practice all of the new information they received about dental health!
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Jhonny received treatment for gingivitis, as well as a teeth cleaning and plaque removal. His mother is very grateful.
Madame Petit Homme is a mother of 8, and raising them alone. Thanks to you, her four school-aged children receive an education and dental care.
HURRICANE SEASON IS HERE! Help your neighbors through life’s storms. Visit operationblessing.org today.
operationblessing.org
977 Centerville Turnpike Virginia Beach, VA 23463 Copyright © 2019 by Operation Blessing
(800) 730-2537