2023 August Blessings Magazine

HOT

You are SENDING COMFORT to the Brokenhearted in Turkey and Beyond

Happenings

Catch up with the goings-on at Operation Blessing!

4 6

Hot Meals and Hugs for Tornado Survivors

How you made a difference in Arkansas

A Burden

Lifted in India

Faithful friends stepped in for Moso and her kids

Comforting

HAPPENINGS

KENYA: Partners like you helped women in remote Tubcha Village to grow sack gardens in the desert to feed their families.

NIGERIA: Women in Gidan Gimba, Nigeria, received soapmaking skills training, empowering them to make a living thanks to your love and support.

INDIA: Thanks to friends like you, Shivam and other children across Asia have been given a fresh start through life-changing surgeries

UNITED STATES: Struggling families all over the U.S. are able to put food on their tables—thanks to your generous donations!

MEXICO: Expectant mothers in Mexico get the chance to make sure their babies are healthy because friends like you provided ultrasound equipment.

GUATEMALA: Your compassion made it possible for hurting people in Guatemala to receive free medications for their chronic illnesses.

HOT MEALS AND HUGS FOR TORNADO SURVIVORS

It means everything to us; it means everything to the community.

– Nurse Pamela

The ghostly wail of disaster sirens echoed across the still evening air in Wynne, Arkansas. A tornado was coming. Mere minutes passed as disaster barreled through, then silence reigned. In the storm’s aftermath, all was not well in Wynne.

Trees were uprooted and road signs mangled. The shattered remains of homes littered the landscape, some looking as though bombs had gone off inside them. And what of the residents? Those passing by could only wonder and hope against their worst fears.

During its 70-mile-long rampage, the EF-3 tornado had shredded buildings and lives, and it was up to the townspeople to pick up the pieces. In Wynne, power wouldn’t return for several days yet, and all the food in residents’ refrigerators and freezers would quickly be ruined. So you sent the people of Wynne a message, which went something like,

Continued on page 8

Continued from page 7

“We’ll feed your families. It’s the least we can do.”

When the Operation Blessing team rolled into town on the very same day that the storm hit, we were welcomed with open arms. Our staff connected with a partner church, quickly set up a fully equipped mobile kitchen, and spread the word that help had arrived. Everyone in need was free to enjoy a hot meal—all because of generous supporters reaching out with compassion. Wynne resident Lisa said, “It’s a blessing to get a hot meal, because this is our first hot meal since the tornado.” After all they’d lost, a hot meal could mean the world to tornado survivors struggling to face the aftermath.

cherished by people who didn’t have the funds or the means of transportation to go buy dinner at restaurants after the storm. For them, this was one of the few ways they could get hot food at all.

Volunteers poured in from the surrounding areas and from afar, putting boots to the ground to display God’s love to the suffering in this community. Despite the painful experience of loss for so many, the days just after the storm were filled with sweet moments and warm embraces as friends helped friends and strangers blessed strangers. And in the center of it all, your love could be felt.

In times like these, first responders are often the most burdened as EMTs, hospital staff, and others put in extra hours to take care of the many needs that arise. Thankfully, your compassion was able to help them, too, as nurses like Pamela stopped in for a hot meal on the way to work.

Our Operation Blessing family fueled the healing of this community, serving as a catalyst to help them recover. As Nurse Pamela shared, “It means everything to us; it means everything to the community. We really appreciate y’all coming out here and helping us get through this tragedy.”

God bless you as you learn and grow.

A Burden Lifted

The sun had barely risen above the horizon, and Moso was already on her feet. She didn’t have a choice. There just wasn’t enough time in a day for everything she needed to accomplish.

She had kids to feed—five of them—and it was up to her to provide. Her husband’s battle with tuberculosis was keeping him down, so he couldn’t do anything to help. And his aging parents living with the family only increased the burdens Moso carried. Her load was getting heavy.

And then there was the water. Everything in their life required water at some point, and the only available source near their forest village of Bondabra was over a mile away by foot. To gather water to

Faithful friends stepped in for Moso and her kids

cook dinner, Moso had to walk for an hour. To help any of her five children bathe, she had to walk an hour. To get anyone, man or beast, a drink— including the two animals she used to farm her land and make their meager living—it was another hour of backbreaking work. And the water wasn’t even safe when she got it from the river. Perhaps the worst part was the inner conflict. Everyone needed her, and Moso had to leave them to go fetch the water—often at inconvenient times and under dangerous conditions—but if she didn’t, no one in her family would survive.

She desperately needed the help of friends like you. Without it, it was only a matter of time before one of her burdens crushed her.

Thankfully, there are kind and compassionate people out there who care about the Mosos of the world— people like you. And these generous friends sent Operation Blessing to Bondabra to solve the clean water crisis—not just for Moso’s family, but for the entire community.

Today, there is a safe water source in place in her community, offering fresh, clean water to Moso and her children. Now, she can lay aside the burden of the constant need for water and focus on caring for the people she loves. Her whole village is experiencing the same blessings, and they will for a long time to come— thanks to generous support from Operation Blessing partners like you.

Moso and her children now have fresh, lifegiving water.

Comforting WORLDWIDE

THE BROKENHEARTED IN TIMES OF CRISIS

YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT ARE THERE FOR FAMILIES IN TURKEY, UKRAINE, AND BEYOND

Most of us will never have to live through a violent Russian invasion or an earthquake that takes tens of thousands of lives. But for families facing such heartbreaking crises, your love truly provides a lifeline. You give them a sense of community and you provide hope that life can improve—that someday, they might reach a new sort of normal.

Just look at that joyful smile you helped to put on Nilay’s face.

TURKEY

TURKEY

Last spring, residents of Turkey faced some of the worst earthquakes on record. Entire regions were decimated. Even in places where houses remained standing, the damaged structures were far too dangerous for survivors to live in them. Over time, remaining families like young Nilay’s began to gather in tent villages.

Nilay’s story started like many. Her family tried

to make a desperate, barefoot escape from their crumbling home in the middle of the night, but they got trapped in a stairwell. Thankfully, they eventually broke through to the street. However, one of her extended family members died in the quake, and another was trapped for days.

But months after the tragedy, Nilay and her family have ample community and support thanks to you. Her parents, two sisters, and one little brother spend a lot of time with our team on the ground in Turkey. “Sometimes, I eat there in a big tent. Afterward, I play games,” she said. “I like it because the soup served at lunchtime is very good. And they also have basketball and volleyball there.”

Nilay’s mother Esen said, “This really means a lot to me. To be able to go there and see them sharing food with us my troubles. ... They smile all the time and this makes us forget about our pain. Every member, every lady, every gentleman that we meet is always so

Continued on page 14

In addition to food, Nilay's family received a washing machine and an iron!

Continued from page 13

Nilay even seemed to think sleeping in the tent was a fun adventure. But she shared her concern for her mother, whose hands had grown raw with eczema from hand-washing their laundry. That’s why, with your support, we also supplied her mother with a washing machine and iron that she’ll be able to use in their tent village! And you helped to rebuild businesses for quake victims in Turkey—such as a bakery, a coffee shop, and a barber shop— while also supplying medical care.

Nilay sent a special message of thanks for you: “I hope God will keep them and protect them.”

POLAND & UKRAINE

Meanwhile, in Ukraine and Poland, your compassion continued providing hope and help to victims of Russian invasion. In the early days of war, many mothers and children fled to Poland, along with the elderly and infirm. Although the attacks started a year-and-a-half ago, you have not forgotten about these hurting souls.

“On February 24, 2022, Russia attacked Ukraine, and for everyone it caused a heavy grief and fear,” a mother named Maryan told us. “It seemed as if the end of the world had come, some kind of Armageddon. We hardly slept. There were air alarms all the time. We dressed in tracksuits, and we threw jackets on top and went into hiding all night. I couldn’t take it anymore. I took my children and we left.”

After a harrowing journey through their war-torn nation, they arrived in Poland. “I heard about Operation Blessing

from my friends who also came from Ukraine, and we went to get help. Now it is very important for us to receive any help, especially food and hygiene supplies, because it is difficult to feed and wash children. So your organization has helped us a lot with everything necessary for life— food, hygiene kits—and I am very grateful.”

Maryan also shared about the Superbook events that friends like you help provide to encourage the kids. “There, the children received gifts. And I really like that, during such an event, children forget about everything negative, about everything that happened to them. Through such an event, with the blessing of God, it helps to give joy and happiness to children. And parents are also happy, because they see that their children are happy.” That’s the sort of difference you

are making for crisis victims during some of their most difficult moments.

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being a part of our community that’s blessing the world. You are doing great things for hurting people in Poland, Ukraine, Turkey, and beyond!

Thank you for providing food and love for Maryan and her children in Poland.

Although a refugee in Poland, Maryan keeps the Ukrainian spirit alive.

PROVISION

for A FAMILY and COMMUNITY IN NEED

YOU

For Lorena, a young single mother living in the rainforest of Peru, it was a constant struggle to provide for herself and her 10-year-old son, Edgar. The two of them live in the village of Manacamiri, where Lorena had a small business selling plantain chips. But because she lacked proper tools and adequate supplies, she often fell short of the earnings she needed to keep going—and her business was constantly at risk. Many days, she and her son had enough food for only two meals. Hunger was their constant, unwelcome companion.

Then, Operation Blessing staff in her area took notice and invited her to participate in our microenterprise program. She would be able to receive business training along with a donation of supplies to boost her production and income.

Thanks to the continuous support of generous donors like you, this hardworking young mother was

HELPED A MOTHER FEED HER CHILD AND BLESS HER COMMUNITY

blessed with both ingredients and materials. In addition to bunches of plantains and other foods, you gave her knives, pots, and pans to equip a small-scale kitchen. You even supplied her with a dolly to transport her products— everything necessary for Lorena to help her business grow. Now, for this family, there’s no more wondering about where their next meal is coming from or how to meet their nutritional needs. They’ll have the opportunity to truly thrive, not just survive.

“I thank God for this great opportunity and blessing ... to improve the quality of my work,” Lorena said gratefully.

Lorena’s involvement with

Operation Blessing has another important aspect as well, allowing her to give back. Thanks to friends like you, our Community Health Volunteers program was offered in her village—and Lorena decided to join the volunteer class. This important program provides training in first aid, disease prevention, nutrition, waterborne illnesses, handwashing and hygiene, prenatal care, and other vital areas.

Today, with those lessons in hand, Lorena is able to really help the people of Manacamiri. “When I was in training,” she explained, “I was able to learn valuable knowledge to help my community. I learned about first

Continued on page 18

COMMUNITY HEALTH VOLUNTEERS LIKE LORENA SERVE AS FRONT LINE HEALTH WORKERS.

aid, measuring blood pressure, and giving injections. I also learned how to detect different signs of disease—and how to treat them in time.”

Because you reached out to her village, not only has Lorena received help, she is also helping others. Thank you for being a part of empowering communities like Lorena’s to better care for their own!

Lorena is enthusiastic in her thanks to all the loving and generous people like you who make such transformations possible. “I know God makes all things beautiful in His name. I also thank Operation Blessing and everyone who makes this great help possible!”

You can leave a legacy that will touch lives long into the future by leaving a gift in your will or trust to help people in need.

• Make a simple designation to Operation Blessing in your will, trust, or retirement plan

• You can still benefit your heirs with specific gifts

• Costs you nothing

• Can be amended or revoked if circumstances change

It was supposed to be the move of a lifetime.

At the age of 67, Nosajini was looking forward to living with her daughter and grandchildren in their home on the Eastern Cape of South Africa. In that land she could look out over majestic rolling hills and spectacular sunsets, with small clusters of

You restored the independence of a grandmother in South Africa

rural huts and houses spreading farther than the eye can see.

Instead, soon after Nosajini moved in, her spirits were dampened when she lost the vision in both eyes due to cataracts. And her world, instead of being filled with joy and enrichment, became a frightening descent into darkness and isolation.

Because her eyesight was so poor, Nosajini was scared to even step outside the door to wave her grandkids off to school. She couldn’t see her neighbors

in their community to greet them each day or get a glimpse of the magnificent blue sky that Africa is so famous for.

“At first, my vision was just blurry, then suddenly it was very bad,” Nosajini explained. “I can’t walk outside alone anymore, because I am worried I will fall and break my leg. I am afraid to use the stove, because I can’t see anything and might start a fire or burn myself.”

So, as her family went about their day, Nosajini spent her time inside.

Continued on page 22

The Gift of Sight

When she couldn’t see, Nosajini often sat alone in the house and prayed for mercy.

Continued from page 21

“While my grandchildren are in school, I am alone,” said Nosajini. “I try not to worry, because I know they will come home soon. I sit here with the door closed and think, ‘If only I could see.’  The Bible says, ‘Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find.’ When I am left all by myself and the

have mercy on me.’”

When her family learned about Grace Vision, a ministry partner of Operation Blessing, they reached out for help. And because the love of friends like you came alongside this precious family, she received the life-changing surgery she needed. The cataracts were removed—free of charge—and a thankful Nosajini said she experienced no discomfort.

“I don’t know what I would have done without you,”

a hug of encouragement from our staff.

Today Nosajini has much reason to rejoice!

Nosajini receives

she exclaimed, “because there’s no way I would have been able to afford this surgery. I never thought I would see again.”

Able to once again view the beautiful vistas of the Eastern Cape and enjoy the sunset with her family, Nosajini said with gratitude, “My heart is full of happiness. When I saw for the first time, I felt my body come back to life. I can go outside and work in my garden. ... Now, when the kids leave for school, I walk out with them and wave goodbye. When they come home the food is ready, because I have cooked. I am just so happy. God bless you

and protect you. I pray help like this will get to many others like me.”

You are indeed changing lives and restoring health and hope to hurting people in many lands. Nosajini’s procedure was only one of 10 that you supported right in her area. Thank you for your loving heart to reach around the world with compassion and support. You enable us to repair cleft lips and palates, remove disfiguring and life-threatening tumors, and perform so many more operations that change lives. Together, we’re comforting the brokenhearted, one life at a time.

Thank