blessings OPERATION BLESSING
SEPTEMBER 2019
Stories of how YOU help the hurting around the world.
YOU ARE BLESSING FAMILIES IN THE PERUVIAN AMAZON PA G E 1 2
HELPING PERSECUTED BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE MIDDLE EAST PA G E 6
YOU ARE TRANSFORMING MAASAI VILLAGES PA G E 1 0
EMPOWERING CYCLONE VICTIMS PA G E 1 6
Happenings
4 6
Catch up with the goings-on at Operation Blessing!
Helping Persecuted Brothers and Sisters in the Middle East
You are sending aid to refugees forced to flee from ISIS
You Are Transforming Maasai Villages
10 2
Making a difference every day in the lives of African villagers
Inside this this issue issue
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You Are Blessing Families in the Peruvian Amazon
Families in the watery village of Belen receive health and healing thanks to Operation Blessing partners
Empowering Cyclone Victims
16 18
Cyclone Fani victims in India receive precious resources thanks to YOU
An Exceptional Woman Sends Love Across the Globe
Karen from Virginia reached out to help the blind in Israel through OB
Safe at School
22
OB partners give children in Honduras a safe place to learn
operationblessing.org | 977 Centerville Turnpike, Virginia Beach, VA 23463 | (800) 730-2537 3
OPERATION BLESSING
HAPPENINGS MICHIGAN: Volunteers take a photo break at an Operation Blessing food distribution partner in Michigan.
HAITI: Eric Lotz, director of OB Haiti, holds a baby at a medical brigade YOU made possible in Penkwa.
KENYA: Maasai women perform a traditional dance as part of a gathering for a jewelry-making microenterprise program you made possible.
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COLOMBIA: Venezuelan refugees line up for help at an Operation Blessing medical station.
EL SALVADOR: OB staff check up on a patient who received a Life-Changing Surgery—all thanks to you!
GUATEMALA:
Thanks to you, Geraldina Motta, director of OB Guatemala, cuts the ribbon on a new clean water project!
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JORDAN
HELPING
PERSECUTED BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE MIDDLE EAST
B
ubbly and cheerful young
six hours or be killed. The family
Maryam doesn’t even
had to flee their lovely home, their
remember the nightmare
community, and their employment
her family endured in Iraq when she
to escape sure death. As they
was just a baby. For her, the days are
desperately rushed out of the city,
spent playing with friends at her
the car they had hired was in an
safe, Christian school in Jordan. But
accident, rolling over five times and
her family has faced—and still faces—
injuring Maryam’s mother. Shortly
many difficult challenges after suffering
after, ISIS destroyed their house and
persecution for their Christian faith.
much of their Christian city.
When ISIS took over their city
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For the next several years,
of Mosul, Maryam’s parents, along
Maryam’s father, Sameer, moved
with many other Christians, were
between Jordan and Iraq in search
sent an eviction notice: Be gone in
of any income. Her mother, Nour,
OB friends like you are sending aid to refugees forced to flee from ISIS
found employment cleaning for
limbo, hoping to find a new country
the American Embassy, and her
they can truly call home.
father ended up working as a
Sameer said, “The biggest
driver for the U.S. Army. After
problem is that I’m not allowed to
establishing such close associations
work, and everything here is very
with the U.S., they knew they could
expensive.” Like most men, he just
never return home again.
wants to provide a decent home and
The family now resides in Jordan.
living for his wife and daughter.
They live safely in that progressive nation, but still suffer at the same time. Similar to so many who fled ISIS, they haven’t been granted citizenship, but they don’t have true refugee status either. They’re stuck in Continued on page 8
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Continued from page 7
But thanks to Operation Blessing supporters like you, and our
In addition to food and schooling,
partnership with a Jordanian partner
they get medical care and free lessons
called Messenger of Peace, Maryam’s
for adults in English, sewing and
family is getting the help they need
computers. These new skills will
during this transitional time. They
hopefully help them once they find
received a heater to better face the
a permanent homeland.
cold Jordanian winters, several
Maryam, Nour and Sameer
months’ worth of food, and
are still waiting to find their final
a Christian education for Maryam.
home in a new country. But in the
She now attends a school
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like you and partners in Jordan.
meantime, partners like you have
where she gets nutritious meals
made a huge difference in their
every day along with her lessons.
lives. Sameer said, “I’m very happy
Maryam said, “I have a lot of
there are Christian people thinking
friends. … I like to eat with them,
about helping the Christian Iraqi
study with them, and play with
refugees. … I’m very thankful for
them … especially hide and seek.”
these people doing things for Jesus.”
So many Christian refugee
Young Maryam also thanked
families have escaped persecution
those helping and praying for them.
and are now receiving hope,
She summed up her thoughts by
encouragement and assistance
folding her hands into a heart and
through Operation Blessing friends
saying, “I love you.”
WILDFIRE SEASON IS RAGING! The height of wildfire season has come again. You did so much to bring hope to the victims of fires in California last year through partnerships with local churches. “I would like to take a moment to say thank you so very much for all your help getting us started after the Camp Fire. Your gifts and lessons were key to the success God has granted us. We serve more than 1,000 people each week and that number is growing as people make their way back onto the ridge.” –Pastor Kevin, Magalia Church
LET’S BE THERE FOR THEM AGAIN THIS YEAR. Donate now at operationblessing.org
KENYA
YOU ARE TRANSFORMING MAASAI VILLAGES You make a difference every day in the lives of struggling African villagers
A
llow us to take you on the trip of a lifetime to Kenya and the land of the bright, cheerful Maasai people—a land where Operation Blessing friends like you make a difference every day.
Along the way, through the broad valleys of reddish-brown earth and patches
of tall grass, you might spot zebras, lions, elephants and giraffes. Once there, you’ll notice that these villagers love to sing and dance and wear the most colorful clothing and jewelry you can imagine. However, many of these villagers also struggle with extreme poverty and survive in mud homes. Women have few legal rights. Food and clean water can be scarce, and children lack educational opportunities that might help them break out of poverty in the future.
“ T H E O N L Y M A N I E NV Y I S T H E M A N W H O H AS N OT Y E T B E E N TO A F R I CA — F O R H E H AS S O M U C H TO L OO K F O RWA R D TO. ” –RICHARD MULLIN
But you’re making a huge
You send opportunities like an
difference for the Maasai villagers.
agricultural program, including
You are reaching out and providing
gardens, chickens and goats, to help
the compassionate care they need
women struggling to support their
to keep those bright smiles on their
children. In this region, you offer
faces. In the community of Kimana,
other vital care like health services,
pictured here, you support a
clean water, and irrigation as needed.
high-quality preschool that helps
The Maasai have a lot of beautiful
give children a strong start and
culture and community to smile
prepare them for further education.
about, and now, thanks to you, their
The school also feeds the kids two
most basic needs are also being met,
nutritious meals a day, helping
and they’re moving into an even
them to better learn and develop.
brighter future.
PERU
YOU ARE BLESSING FAMILIES IN THE PERUVIAN AMAZON
M
eet Celina, a hardworking
There is little access to clean
and humble mother of five
water and electricity for the near
young children. Though living
64,000 residents that reside in this
in one of the poorest communities of
community. Located near the Amazon
Iquitos, Peru, she tries to provide a
water basin, the streets of Belen flood
happy home for her family. But health
during the Amazonian rainy season,
concerns kept plaguing her precious
exposing locals to environmental
children, threatening the happy life
contaminations and diseases.
Celina strives to provide. Celina and Juan Gabriel, the
No exception to these struggles, Celina’s children had developed
children’s father, work hard selling
respiratory issues, while two of her kids
fish in the local market. Living in
also suffered from anemia. As she noticed
the floating slum of Belen, one of the
symptoms in her children, Celina
poorest districts in the city of Iquitos,
thought she had nowhere to turn,
many families like Celina’s struggle
because the Belen community doesn’t
with extreme poverty and hardships.
have easy access to medical clinics. Continued on page 14
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FAMILIES IN
THE WATERY VILLAGE OF BELEN RECEIVE
HEALTH AND HEALING THANKS TO OPERATION BLESSING PARTNERS
Continued from page 13
But thanks to YOU, Celina found hope. “One day, [a neighbor] told me
community health workers and staff provide medical attention, treatment, and medicines—free of charge.
they were going to have a medical clinic at the San Jose school. So, I went there because my children were feeling weak. They were pale and coughing,” Celina said. As it turned out, Operation Blessing holds regular medical brigades in the low-income area for residents. Because of your support, Celina’s miracle showed up at just the right time! Working diligently for the people of Peru, Operation Blessing
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LIVING IN THE FLOATING SLUM OF BELEN, ONE OF THE POOREST DISTRICTS IN THE CITY OF IQUITOS, MANY FAMILIES LIKE CELINA’S STRUGGLE WITH EXTREME POVERTY AND HARDSHIPS
All of Celina’s children were
to leave this family with more than
checked and treated by OB Peru’s
just medicine. They also gave Celina
medical team. They all received
and the kids an educational talk
medicine for bronchitis, and two
on proper hygiene habits, such as
of her sons received medication
handwashing to prevent disease
for anemia. OB Peru staff also
and infections.
provided antiparasite pills for the
“I’m thankful for Operation
whole family, as they continue to
Blessing who has helped me with
live surrounded by high levels of
medicines to cure my children,”
contaminated water.
Celina said.
Celina returned home with a
Celina’s children now live
full supply of medicine to nurse
happy and healthy lives without
her children back to health, as well
respiratory problems and with
as a heart full of gratitude for the
restored hemoglobin levels. As they
medical brigade made possible by
laugh, play and grow in Peru, your
you. But Operation Blessing wanted
kindness has made all the difference!
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INDIA
EMPOWERING
CYCLONE VICTIMS CYCLONE FANI VICTIMS IN INDIA RECEIVE PRECIOUS RESOURCES THANKS TO YOU
T
he eastern coast of India was
The weight of rebuilding loomed
devastated by Cyclone Fani in
over these communities like a black
May. As the strongest tropical
cloud, as many struggled to find
cyclone to collide with India in the
basic resources to survive.
last 20 years, the winds and rage of the storm were equivalent to that of a category 4 hurricane. Hundreds of thousands of residents evacuated before the storm hit but returned to see their communities and homes destroyed. Even with these safety measures, seven people died due to falling trees and walls. Locals who survived the storm
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A mother feeds her child thanks to the rations you sent.
Throughout the coastal region, fishermen returned to see their boats
were left to pick up the pieces of their
destroyed, the main source of their
lives that had been shook, scattered,
livelihood. Electricity was wiped out
or swept away by Cyclone Fani.
in widespread areas. Clean water grew
Cyclone Fani victims are excited to receive large jugs of clean water for their families.
scarce. Roofs had caved in. Morale
porridge, oils and spices. Thirty-five
was low.
families received a month’s worth of
However, your generosity made all the difference!
rations to sustain them as they worked towards regaining normal livelihood.
Thanks to your support, Operation Blessing’s office in India was one of the first organizations on the ground in India helping these suffering disaster victims. They set up a relief bank in Puri, India, providing residents with critical life-sustaining resources in their dire time of need. With your help, the
It’s because you care that these
Operation Blessing team distributed
families have been able to survive and
10-gallon jugs of clean water, lanterns
rebuild after devastating Cyclone Fani.
for residents waiting for restored
Thank you for providing hope in this
power, and food items such as rice,
desperate time.
An Exceptional Woman
Sends Love Across the Globe K a ren f ro m Virginia reach ed out to help the bl i n d i n Is r ael th rough Oper atio n Bles s ing
S
eventy-five-year-old Karen
her to experience everything they
from Virginia has accomplished
did. They made sure she had lots of
many exceptional feats in her
opportunities to “see” the world in her
life in spite of—or maybe because
own way. She said, “I never thought of
of—being blind.
adjusting. I just thought of doing what
Karen was born without vision, but
everyone else did.” For example, when
her wonderful Christian family wanted
she learned Braille, she just thought of
ISRAEL
it as learning to read like her siblings,
(go Yankees!), serving as a musical
but in a way that fit her needs.
facilitator at her small church, and giving. Karen says, “It’s been a remarkable journey. … I look back, and I wonder how I’ve been privileged to do so many things.” For much of her life, Karen has been involved in advocacy for the blind. So it shouldn’t be surprising that
She attended a small women’s
through Operation Blessing she found
college where she studied English and
an opportunity to reach out to the
music, then continued on to graduate
blind on the other side of the globe.
school at Harvard University where
Initially, when she heard of
she received a doctorate in the history
Operation Blessing, she helped those
and structure of the English language.
in need in a few small ways. But when
As she worked teaching the blind and
she met with the OB staff, she was
took a trip to encourage education of
surprised to learn all the exciting ways
blind women in Latin America, she
she could get involved. When she
discovered an interest in the law. So
asked specifically if we did any work
she earned a law degree from Duke
with the blind, the next thing she knew
University as well.
she was signed up for a trip to visit
After practicing law for 20 years,
the Arab Blind Association, which OB
she retired from that line of work, and
friends like you support in Jerusalem.
was offered yet another exceptional opportunity. She now works for the Library of Congress, primarily teaching sighted people, including incarcerated individuals undergoing rehabilitation, to transcribe printed musical compositions into Braille. She also loves listening to baseball Continued on page 20
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Members of the Arab Blind Society received incredibly helpful talking watches thanks to Karen’s generosity.
Continued from page 19
Karen was thrilled to experience
But innovative Karen had more
every minute of that trip, an
ideas about how to help. “I did not
opportunity that would have been
mean to tell anyone what to do, but
hard for her to organize on her own
when I was asked, I was very thankful
due to her sight impairment. In
that I had the opportunity to contribute
her usual fashion, she experienced
some ideas that could be considered
the foreign land and biblical sites
on the basis of my experience.”
through sight, touch, smell and taste. She described a bustling city with many unique features, but she also enjoyed the quiet, reflective moments. “When we went to the garden tomb, everything was very quiet and the evening was falling, and I loved the silence.”
“It’s been a remarkable journey. … I look back, and I wonder how I’ve been privileged to do so many things.” –Karen
While there, she had a chance to tour the Arab Blind Association
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Today, the blind participants
and see the work Operation Blessing
have talking watches and computer
supporters like you have already done
training thanks to Karen’s specific
there. You’d provided supplies for the
donations. They also have new
blind to make brushes and brooms so
opportunities to weave mats and
they could earn a living. In addition,
make other items that have a
you’d improved the facilities and
good market with tourists
given them food.
visiting Jerusalem. And since her
trip, Karen has also decided to help
went, and the great work they
poor Holocaust survivors living in
accomplished. She also mentioned
Israel with food, dental care, and
that she discovered the overhead
warm blankets.
costs for running OB were incredibly low in her opinion. But most importantly, she found in Operation Blessing a family that she loves to be a part of. She encourages others to look deeper into the giving and outreach opportunities available through Operation Blessing. “It has been one
Karen is making a huge difference,
of the most wonderful experiences
and so are friends like you! When she
of my life, because I feel as if at last,
took the time to research Operation
I’m giving back in ways that I want
Blessing, she learned that she could
to,” she said. “Operation Blessing is
see exactly where her donations
the perfect match for me.”
SMART IDEAS FOR TAX-WISE BENEFITS Take advantage of some tax-wise charitable gifts.
Donate Stock – Give stock shares and receive a deduction for the full market value while avoiding tax on capital gains. Charitable IRA – Seniors pay no tax on a Qualified Charitable Distribution from a Traditional or Inherited IRA while satisfying their Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) obligation. Contact Planned Giving at 1-800-333-2373 or email PlannedGiving@OB.org
ALABAMA
safe at school
OB PARTNERS HELP GIVE CHILDREN IN HONDURAS A SAFE PLACE TO LEARN
F
or schoolchildren in rural communities in Honduras, all too often school is not the safe and secure place that it should be. Such was the case for children in the small village of La Peña. The local school for first through sixth grade consisted of a tiny, ramshackle
structure with no walls. The small building couldn’t meet the needs of the area’s
children. Out of the 57 local kids who wanted to attend school, only 22 fit.
HONDURAS
For the children that were able
built and outfitted with new desks,
to attend, the structure’s lack of walls
chairs, books and more! Now, there’s
exposed them and their learning
plenty of space for the children who
materials to the heat and rain. The
couldn’t fit in the old schoolroom.
desks, books and chairs were all
Not only that, La Peña’s new school
rapidly deteriorating and the building
now boasts three bathrooms, one for
provided almost no protection for
boys, one for girls, and one for the
the children.
teacher, as well as a handwashing
To make matters worse, the school had no bathroom for the
station. It even includes a playground for the children to enjoy.
students and teacher to use. The
Thanks to Operation Blessing
children struggled to learn in the
partners like you, the children of La
unsafe and unsanitary environment.
Peña now have a nurturing place to
But Operation Blessing partners
learn, grow and play. The generosity
like you didn’t abandon those
and love that friends like you have
precious children in their difficult
shown has completely transformed
circumstances. Seeing the problems
their childhood.
in La Peña, they decided to do something about it. Construction soon began on a
The school’s teacher, Mirna, exclaimed, “Thanks to you, they have a safe and welcoming school
brand-new school building of strong
environment. … Without you,
cement blocks. Two classrooms were
none of this would be possible!”
School children in La Peña show off their gifts and new school supplies from Operation Blessing supporters.
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OUR PERSECUTED BROTHERS AND SISTERS NEED OUR HELP! Keep persecuted Christians in your prayers and help today at operationblessing.org
operationblessing.org
977 Centerville Turnpike Virginia Beach, VA 23463 Copyright © 2019 by Operation Blessing
(800) 730-2537