June 2022 Blessings Magazine by Operation Blessing

blessings OPERATION BLESSING

JUNE 2022

Stories of how YOU help the hurting around the world.

YOU ARE HELPING WIN THE BATTLE WITH HUNGER! PA G E 1 2

CLEAN WATER AND HOPE FOR KENYA PAG E 1 0

FIGHTING HUNGER ON MANY FRONTS PA G E 1 6

FEEDING FORT WORTH PA G E 2 0

Happenings

4 6

Catch up with the goings-on at Operation Blessing!

You Help a Grandmother See Once Again

Your ongoing support of Ukraine changes lives

Clean Water and Hope for Kenya

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Friends like you are making a difference through water projects

Inside this issue

Winning the Battle with Hunger!

You gave a hand up to a hardworking father through skills training

Happy Father’s Day

Thank you for nurturing upcoming generations

Fighting Hunger on Many Fronts

You are helping the hungry with both immediate and long-term relief

Feeding Fort Worth

You send vital food support to the hungry in Texas and beyond

operationblessing.org | 977 Centerville Turnpike, Virginia Beach, VA 23463 | (800) 730-2537 3

OPERATION BLESSING

HAPPENINGS UKRAINE: Thanks to you, our international disaster relief team welcomed Ukrainian refugees at the Polish border with heated tents, warm clothing, hot food, and even fun activities for the children, including face painting.

LOUISIANA: You have continued to reach out to Hurricane Ida victims long after the storm passed with long-term home repair assistance.

HAITI: When a fuel explosion caused ongoing hardship for the people of Cap-Haitien, you sent large quantities of food, hygiene supplies, and water purifiers to hurting families. 4

PERU: Inelda’s family in Peru is beginning to thrive, thanks to training and support you’ve provided to help boost her small handicraft business.

TENNESSEE: Operation Blessing team members loaded trucks full of supplies for distribution in New Orleans following devastating tornadoes.

PHILIPPINES: Even months after Typhoon Rai hit the Philippines, the needs continue—and you continue to reach out with food and other essential supplies. 5

UKRAINE

When I had the operation and I opened my eyes, I saw the doctor with my own eyes, clearly, with the contours and all the colors. I immediately started crying of happiness. - Svitlana 6

YOU HELP A GRANDMOTHER

See Once Again Your ongoing support of Ukraine changes lives

ecently all eyes have been on Ukraine, yet—thanks to friends like you— Operation Blessing has been at work in Ukraine for decades. Although this current war in the region created turmoil like never before, there has been conflict on the border with Russia for years, and life for many Ukrainian people has not been easy. That’s why Operation Blessing has been there, providing suffering Ukrainians with life-changing surgeries. Svitlana’s life in Ukraine slowly started to become dim as she gradually lost more and more of her vision. The then-66-year-old wife and grandmother had been diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes, and without help she was in danger of going completely blind. As her eyesight became worse, Svitlana still did her best to care for her disabled elderly father, as well as her husband. The care her father required left little time or money to seek treatment for her eyes. But her impaired vision soon affected Continued on page 8

You gave Svitlana back her eyesight. Now she can see the things she loves the most. Continued on page 8 7

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her ability to live her life. She went to a specialized clinic where doctors recommended she undergo immediate lens replacement surgery. While Svitlana was desperate to save her vision, she and her husband lived on very small pensions. Paying for the surgery on their own was simply not possible. Sadly, Svitlana’s vision continued to get worse. Eventually, she could no longer complete household chores, enjoy photos of her precious grandchildren, or even see what she was buying at the market. “Until 2018, I could clearly see my children growing up, then grandchildren, and then beautiful and cute greatgrandchildren were born,” Svitlana told Operation Blessing staff. “There is nothing sweeter

in this world than greatgrandchildren, but I could not see their faces!” The circumstances seemed hopeless. But that’s when Operation Blessing donors like you stepped in to make a difference. Coming together, you helped raise the funds that Svitlana needed to receive her surgery. After the procedure, Svitlana regained her sight— something she could not have imagined just months before! This wonderful change made it possible for her to care for herself and her family and to see the faces of her beloved great-grandchildren again. She is very grateful for the compassion you showed in helping her find healing. “When I had the operation and I opened my eyes, I saw

Svitlana can watch her greatgrandchildren grow again. 8

the doctor with my own eyes, clearly, with the contours and all the colors,” Svitlana exclaimed. “I immediately started crying tears of happiness. I couldn’t believe that the operation was really restoring my sight! I thank Operation Blessing for not passing by my need.” Svitlana’s story and others like hers are just some of the ongoing efforts of Operation Blessing in Ukraine. You are sending relief and hope to those displaced by conflict, including so many Ukrainian refugees fleeing to find safety beyond the Polish border. Your

generosity has made it possible to welcome refugees with hot meals, blankets, and hygiene supplies, along with sending aid like fresh produce, canned meats, and more into Ukraine. And you’ve continued to bless even more hurting people during the conflict with lifechanging surgeries whenever hospitals were available! Thank you for caring for victims of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. Together, we are making a real difference in their lives. Your continued support is an answer to heartfelt prayer for those fighting to survive.

CLEAN WATER AND HOPE

for Gongo Village in Kenya

AFRICA

Gongo

Friends like you are making a difference by giving clean water to children like Ashley and Anna

or years, residents in the village of Gongo, like young Ashley and Anna, lived without access to clean water. The lack of this precious resource made life especially difficult, as the country of Kenya continues to experience

a historic drought, as well as widespread famine. Villagers did what they could to survive. Many were forced either to drink water from dirty wells or walk over three miles to fetch river water. Sadly, both water sources were untreated

KENYA

and contaminated. Walking to the dirty river often left little time for other daily tasks and even caused children to miss school. The struggling Gongo community needed help—and fast. Thankfully, partners like you sent hope. When Operation Blessing learned of the suffering in Gongo Village, our team visited the area to understand residents’ needs and put a plan of action in place. Because of the compassion of friends like you, we were able to drill a new well that would provide clean water for the entire community. Village members excited about the project put in hard work by digging trenches for the necessary piping. The new system provides safe water, filtered and treated for bacteria and other contaminants, for villagers to drink. Additionally, our supporters provided two handwashing stations along with sanitation and hygiene training to help keep the community healthy and thriving. In honor of this new blessing, an inauguration ceremony was held in the community, where more than 200 people gathered to celebrate. They gave thanks for the water project as the only one of its kind in the area. Thank you for your heart to bring increased health and happiness to communities like Gongo. You are making a huge difference around the world for kids like Ashley and Anna. God bless you.

PERU

Giving a hand up to a hardworking father through skills training

YOU ARE WINNING THE BATTLE WITH HUNGER Carving wood is a passion of Wilson’s. Growing up along a river in Peru, he has memories of seeing his uncles craft a variety of items from balsa wood. Wilson continued the family trade and learned to make canoes and boats for a living. Now a husband and the father to five children, Wilson says his goal is to provide well for his family. He began making handicrafts out of balsa wood to sell to local shops. Sadly, his carving skills were limited. He didn’t know how to paint, so he delivered his products plain and unadorned. The low price he earned was barely enough to feed his family. “Providing for a family of seven is very hard,” Wilson told Operation Blessing staff. “I haven’t done any studies, and I’m not a professional, but carving these animals out of balsa wood allows me to help my family. There were days when it wasn’t enough to eat, but even so, I try to work in other things. When they call me to Continued on page 14

Continued from page 13

Nobody else has ever come here to teach us anything. Operation Blessing came to us and taught us something we never knew we could learn. - Wilson help build a boat, I go. I will do anything so my family can be okay.” Then Wilson learned that, because of your kindness, Operation Blessing was in the area—holding wood carving workshops. Topics included painting and finishing, various carving techniques, and even balsa wood reforestation. Wilson started going to the classes to improve his craftsmanship. “I didn’t know how to use paint before, but now I know! I give my products a better finishing detail. With this, I can increase my selling price and earn more for my family,” Wilson exclaimed. “Nobody else has ever come here to teach us anything. Operation Blessing came to us and taught us something we never knew we could learn.” In addition to skills training, you helped provide Wilson with the materials he needed to expand his balsa wood carving business. This gift included supplies of wood, paint, carving materials, and other items. With his new skills and tools, Wilson is able to improve the quality of his products, increase his profits, and better provide for his family. Gloria, Wilson’s wife, is very grateful for the help you sent through Operation Blessing. She shared, “With these materials, you are helping my husband and our family. With this, my husband can start again. This is a blessing from God—thank you so much!” Thank you for blessing families in need around the world. Your generosity makes it possible to equip struggling families with the training and skills needed to earn more income and consistently provide food for their loved ones. May God bless you for your kindness and compassion! 14

Father’s Day We want to send a huge thanks to all the men —fathers,

uncles, grandfathers, and others—who step up

to bless, nurture and guide the children in their lives.

Thanks to all of you for helping hardworking fathers who need a hand up in supporting their families!

FIGHTING HUNGER ON MANY FRONTS

onflict in Ukraine, droughts in Africa, COVID-19 lockdowns, supply chain disruptions, inflation, political crises—all of these have led to increasing numbers of hungry people! Even before these calamities, the United Nations reported that one in nine people in the world lacked sufficient food. And now, the hunger situation in our world has reached a new crisis point. Children like Grace from Latin America too often go to bed hungry. Thankfully, as a supporter of Operation Blessing, you can feel confident that you’re fighting hunger all around the

world—and all throughout the year. For Grace, you provided her mother with a poultry business that helped feed her family during a difficult time. In each region and situation, you make it possible for Operation Blessing to bring the solution that will provide the greatest impact. Because of this, not only are you helping hungry children, families, and communities with their urgent needs for food and nutrition, you are also assisting them in lasting ways—like you did for Grace’s family! She’s thankful that you helped sustain them during the COVID-19 crisis.

FIGHTING HUNGER ON MANY FRONTS

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WORLDWIDE

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HERE ARE A FEW OF THE WAYS YOU ARE FIGHTING HUNGER DISASTER AND CRISIS RELIEF

When crisis and natural disaster strike, basic needs like food, hygiene supplies, and clean water often go unmet. But you send support to disaster victims in dire need. In the U.S., our volunteer teams have been packing boxes of supplies to prepare for upcoming disasters. We’ve recently distributed hunger relief after earthquakes in Indonesia and typhoons in the Philippines. Meanwhile, we’ve been sending truckloads of food into war-torn Ukraine.

FAMINE RELIEF

NUTRITIONAL FEEDING

Many children around the world lack the nutritious meals they need to grow and thrive. Through our nutritional feeding programs, you give school children in places like Kenya, Peru and Haiti the extra support they need. Not only do you supply supplements and nourishing school meals, but in parts of Latin America you also offer cooking classes to teach mothers how to prepare healthier meals for years to come.

When famine and drought strike vulnerable areas like Kenya, many people are robbed not only of food for their tables but also of their income opportunities. But you are rushing immediate relief to the suffering and malnourished, ensuring that so many more children and families go to bed with full bellies.

AGRICULTURAL & FARMING PROGRAMS

U.S. HUNGER STRIKE FORCE

In the U.S., many working families are having a difficult time making ends meet, especially during these days of soaring prices. You bless them by making possible the distribution of millions of pounds of food to local food pantries and other partner organizations. Large corporations donate food, and with your help we send out our fleet of Hunger Strike Force semi-trucks to get that food into the hands of those who need it most.

In parts of Latin America and Africa, Operation Blessing supporters supply villages and schools with agricultural training, irrigation systems, greenhouses, chicken coops, and small farm animals. These solutions offer struggling families and individuals a chance to grow food for their families long into the future—and even sell the surplus to better provide for necessities like medical expenses and education.

BUSINESS AND LIVELIHOOD SUPPORT

One of the best ways to provide hunger relief long into the future is by offering a hand up rather than a hand out. Through skills training and small business support, you are changing lives for generations to come. Whether it’s a handicraft business in Latin America, a small store in Africa, cosmetology training in Honduras, sewing classes in India, or one of the many other opportunities available, you are helping families earn more income to consistently feed their children and send them to school.

TEXAS

FEEDING FORT WORTH vital

You send food support to the

Hungry IN TEXAS AND

ometimes it’s hard to remember that hungry people might live right down the street from us. But with everything going on in the world right now, it may come as less and less of a surprise. Hunger is actually on the rise in America. However, thanks to you and our Hunger Strike Force fleet of semi-

BEYOND

trucks, food is reaching hungry Americans during this difficult season of inflation and supply chain challenges. With your support, our dedicated fleet of tractor trailers delivers loads of vital food to our distribution partners throughout the U.S., including Life Unlimited Food Ministry in Fort Worth, Texas. This partner ministry has

been serving a low-income area of the city for decades. And according to the director, Linda Wright, Operation Blessing has been providing them with resources for almost as long. The weekly outreach distributes food and household supplies to struggling people in their community. Linda said, “We give them a very good quality of food. And through that food, Operation Blessing is blessing others. They are the feet and hands of Jesus working through our ministry.” Even during the height of the pandemic, Linda knew that Operation Blessing would be there. “We never missed a beat. We never shut down one time— because we continuously had help from Operation Blessing.” Thanks to your support, the elderly, the unemployed, the sick, the disabled, the homeless, single parents, and those known as the “underemployed” in this locale can always turn to Operation Blessing and Life Unlimited to get them through tough times. Thomas suffers from heart failure and COPD, Continued on page 22

Linda

Continued from page 21

Thomas

but he’s so thankful for the food that you help provide for him. He said, “It blesses me to have food so I can feed my family. Thank you. I’m praying to God that they keep doing what they’re doing.” Meanwhile, Michelle is a widow who jokes that she has too many grandchildren to count. She’s had a hard time making ends meet since her husband passed away five years ago. But she knows that, thanks to help from you, she can get what she needs for herself and her

Operation Blessing has helped me with food to put on my table. ... And it’s a lot of food! ~Michelle

visiting grandkids. She feels like God really provides for her through this ministry. “They’ve been a godsend for the last four years. Operation Blessing has helped me with food to put on my table,” she said. “And it’s a lot of food!” That’s the sort of blessing that your generosity and compassion is providing. Linda, the director, just couldn’t thank you enough for all you’ve done. She also had this message for you: “Continue giving to Operation Blessing, because it is a good cause—good ground to sow into.”

Benefits Making an Impact with

Gifting all, or a portion, of your IRA’s Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) can reduce your tax bill while supporting a cause you care about. Compare taking your RMD to gifting it to Operation Blessing.

TAKING YOUR RMD

• You pay income tax on your distribution • Might push you into a higher tax bracket • Your tax dollars go to Uncle Sam GIFTING YOUR RMD

• You pay no income tax on your gift • Qualified Charitable Distribution counts toward RMD • You can designate your gift any way you want

For more information on how you can take advantage of gifting your RMD and blessing those in desperate need, please contact us!

Call: 800-333-2373 Email: PlannedGiving@OB.org Visit: ob.org/plannedgiving 23

HUNGER IN AMERICA IS ON THE RISE! In tough times like these, hungry

neighbors need us now more than

ever. You have the power to help end hunger in America and bless the hurting around the world.

Please help the hungry and hurting today at:

ob.org/give operationblessing.org

(800) 730-2537