OPERATION BLESS ING INTERNATIONALNOVEMBER 2014

Blessingsoperationblessing.org

A Harvest of Blessings for Hungry Families Operation Blessing brings hope to hungry families

when they need it most{ P A G E 8 }

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A Message from THE PRESIDENT

Bill visits the site of an innovative agriculture project in Guatemala where impoverished families are cultivating nutrient-rich vegetables to eat and sell for income.

Over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house we'll go” brings back warm memories of childhood Thanksgivings; turkey with all the fixings, pumpkin pie and whipped cream and family, all gathered around a

table. For me, Thanksgiving Day meant giving thanks for all that God had given me, but since joining Operation Blessing, every single day is filled with feelings of thanksgiving... for all that OBI is able to give away.

I am profoundly thankful that OBI is able to function as a huge pipeline running between those who want to give and those in need. Here are a few of the things that I am giving special thanks for today:

The organic agricultural training center we opened in Guatemala and the happy farming families that are learning new techniques that enable them to grow far more veggies regardless of rainfall.

For our courageous team and partner ministries on the ground in northern Iraq helping Christian refugees that fled the terror of ISIS.

For our Hunger Strike Force drivers, delivering loads of food coast to coast, helping American families down on their luck.

For our chlorine generators running 24/7 in Monrovia, Liberia, producing thousands of gallons of Ebola-killing disinfectant.

For our fish farm in Haiti producing a half million baby tilapia a month. We are training young Haitians and "teaching a nation to fish."

That countless people in so many poor countries now have access to safe water and are finally free from waterborne diseases that used to haunt them.

For the millions of children we are able to liberate from the scourge of intestinal parasites, and in so doing, set them on a path to a healthy future.

All this and more, thanks to you dear readers, and your willingness to share your blessings and enable Operation Blessing to be a gift to so many.

Most of all, I am thankful to Jesus Christ, who guides us, guards us and blesses our efforts.

May God bless you,

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A Message from THE PRESIDENT 4 Food for Little Ntabeleng A young girl and her family in the nation of Lesotho overcome hunger

6 A Safe Place Karla and her sister find refuge from sex trafficking in Costa Rica

7 A Source of Hope Clean water gives hope and health to a struggling community in Cambodia

12 Learning to Walk A little girl receives a life-changing surgery thanks to Operation Blessing partners

14 Dangerous Journey North A young mother risks it all to reach the U.S. border with her son

Inside this issue Cover PAGE 8

A Harvest of Blessings for Hungry Families Operation Blessing brings hope to hungry families when they need it most

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LESOTHO

Imagine living in a tiny, one- room flat with 13 other people. For nine-year-old

Ntabeleng*, this is home. Orphaned at a young age,

Ntabeleng lives with her grand-mother, Ma Nkapane, and 12 young cousins in the small village of Qalakheng.

Ma Nkapane cares for her grandchildren as best she can, but without any income besides the pension she receives from the government based on her age, she can barely buy bread for all of them, much less vegetables and other nutritious food.

Refusing to watch little Ntabeleng and the rest of her grandchil-dren go hungry, Ma Nkapane turned to a support group in her village for help. Thanks in part to Operation Blessing’s

A young girl and her family in the nation of

Lesotho overcome hunger

Food for Little Ntabeleng

Photos by Vanessa Ayala

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partnership with local organization Faith Foundation, the support group is able to provide nutritious meals, education support and emotional care for Ntabeleng and her cousins.

Now Ntabeleng receives at least one nourishing meal every day and has all the supplies and help she needs to get a proper education. ◆

*Name changed and photo not shown to protect identity.

Food for Little Ntabeleng

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Children should feel safe in their own homes, but for 5-year-old Karla* and her

older sister Natalie*, home was anything but safe.

When their mother was struggling to afford food or rent, she would sell them to men in their neighborhood — sacrificing their innocence for additional income.

Little Karla and her sister found refuge in Operation Blessing-partner, Seeds of Hope, an organization that reaches out to young girls, working to prevent and rehabilitate sexually exploited and at-risk children.

“The girls would regularly weep in our arms,” said one staff member, “but never tell us what was going on at home.”

Then one of the girls was brought to a hospital after being raped and authorities learned about the abuse they had suffered. Costa Rican child protective services authorized Seeds of Hope to house and care for the girls until a safe home could be found for them.

Thanks in part to Operation Blessing partners, Karla and Natalie were able to be placed with a caring family and are receiving counseling to help them through the recovery process.

“They look so happy and content,” said another staff member after a visit with the girls in their new home. “We are thankful that these girls are in a safe family, and we are confident that they will be okay.” ◆

*Name changed to protect identity

COSTA RICA

Karla and her sister find refuge from sex trafficking in Costa Rica

A SAFE PLACE

Karla and Natalie, shown here with Seeds of Hope president Penny Williams, have found refuge from sex trafficking thanks in part to the compassion of Operation Blessing partners.

6 Photo by Madison Baltodano

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CAMBODIA

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A Source of Hope

Every day, children living in the village of Trapang Veng put themselves at risk of sickness and disease.

The only water in their poor farming community is collect-ed from nearby ponds and open wells and is often contaminated. Just one drink could lead to a life-threatening illness.

During the dry season, water becomes an even bigger problem because local water sources dry up and villagers must walk long distances to retrieve the water they need for farming, drinking, cooking and cleaning.

To bring hope to these children and their families, Operation Blessing installed a well and pump system in their community — providing clean water year-round.

“Now I’m able to get water easier than before, and I’m really excited to have clean water that my family can use and drink without fear of getting sick,” said one one father. “Thank you so much for your generosity and giving my family a new water source!" ◆

Clean water gives hope and health to a struggling community in Cambodia

Children in the village of Trapang Veng used to collect water in this field.

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A s families all over America prepare for Thanksgiving, pulling out old recipes and purchasing turkeys, cranberries and more for the big day, some are

searching empty cupboards for anything that can fill their empty stomachs.

Unemployment, medical bills or even a slump in the economy can put families in a position where they must choose between buying groceries and keeping the lights on. For these families struggling to make ends meet, a box of groceries can make all the difference.

For Chris and Dottie, the thought of not having enough food to feed their four kids had never occurred to them until the company Chris worked for started cutting his hours and money became tight. Then Dottie’s medical

bills for ongoing health issues put further strain on their budget, making it extremely difficult to put food on the table.

Chris and Dottie were down to their last $6 when a friend told them about an

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Operation Blessing brings hope to hungry families when they need it most

UNITED STATES

A Harvest of Blessings for Hungry

Families

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Operation Blessing-supported food pantry. There, they received fresh pro-duce, canned vegetables, juice and other staples to help feed their children.

“The food we receive from Operation Blessing comes in and goes directly to families in need,” said Paul Fike, founder of Christian Faith Ministry in Tennessee. “It changes their lives and, in some situations, is the substance of their lives.”

Operation Blessing’s part-nership with hundreds of local food pantries across America is changing lives every day, helping people when they need it most — like Lenord and Lynda, a retired couple living solely on social security benefits.

Struggling to pay their Continued on pg. 10

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Chris and Dottie and their four children

Lenord and Lynda

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bills, Lenord, 74, believed his only option was to go back to work, despite serious health issues including a weak heart. However, Lenord and Lynda started going to Joseph’s Storehouse, an Operation Blessing-supported food pantry in their area, and received nutritious food and household supplies that have helped them make ends meet and fill their pantry during lean times.

“If it was not for Joseph’s Storehouse and Operation Blessing, we would not make it, simple as that,” Lynda said. “We are so grateful that they are here and willing to help.”

OBI's Hunger Strike Force trucks distribute food to pantries like this throughout the United States, travel-ing more than 1.6 million miles every year and delivering roughly 62 million pounds of food and supplies.

In Tennessee, Latisha, a single mother of two, found herself sud-denly without an income and a family depending on her to provide. She tried her best to find work, but with a tough economy jobs were scarce.

At a friend’s suggestion, Latisha visited an Operation Blessing-supported food pantry where she was able to receive food her family desperately needed. Latisha eventu-ally found a position substitute teaching at a local high school and is getting back on her feet.

“The food that I got was amazing and such a blessing,” Latisha said. “It was so much more than I could have ever imagined.”

Thanks to the generosity of Operation Blessing’s donors and partners, hundreds of struggling families are receiving help when they need it most and are able to put food on the table this holiday season. ◆

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Latisha and her children

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Hunger ends with

YouAre you a military or federal government employee looking to make a difference? Choose Operation Blessing as your workplace giving charity this fall—CFC #10530!

Compassion in the Workplace

“I thank my God every time I remember you.” – Philippians 1:3

As we celebrate this season of Thanksgiving, we offer a prayer of gratitude for you. Thank you for everything you do to bless

the hungry and impoverished!

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving

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INDIA

A little girl receives a life-changing surgery thanks to Operation Blessing partners

Learning to Walk

{ AFTER }

Born with two clubfeet in a small Indian village, eight-month-old Poornima needed a miracle to be able to walk and keep up with the other children as she grew.

Her parents were determined to give her that miracle, despite their low income and claims from friends and family that clubfoot could not be cured. But Poornima’s parents were hopeful and sacrificed much just to get their little girl to the hospital in Mumbai — each trip costing a full day’s wages.

Then, with Operation Blessing’s help, Poornima received the corrective treatment she so desperately needed free of charge to her family. Now wearing braces in the final phase of her treatment, Poornima’s family can see visible results and are excited to see their precious little girl learning to walk. ◆

{ BEFORE }

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Visit ob.org/ClubBless to learn more.

Give a child a better future.

Join Club Bless.

This holiday season, commit to helping

give vulnerable children a better future every day of the year by joining Club Bless. Your gift will have an immediate im-pact in helping to relieve suffering and spread God’s blessings to those who need them most.

– CLUB BLESS – Monthly

President’s Circle $500

Bless-The-Greatest Need 250

Bless-A-Village 100

Bless-A-Family 50

Bless-A-Life 25

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HONDURAS

Kneeling down at a small puddle, 21-year-old Maria* started to fill her son’s bottle with the dirty water, desperate for anything she could give to quench his thirst.Maria and her son had been lost for two days without food

or water, abandoned by their coyotes (guides) somewhere in Mexico and unsure of where to go next.

Her story started out like so many others — a mother wanting her child to have a better life — unable to find work in Honduras but hopeful that if

A young mother risks it all to reach the U.S. border with her son

Dangerous Journey North

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she could just reach the United States things would be better.Maria made the decision to leave home and take her 6-month-

old son Eduardo* to the border. Even in a group led by coyotes, the dangerous journey north put Maria and Eduardo at constant risk of being trafficked or even killed — a fate for many trying to reach the border.

“It was awful,” Maria told Operation Blessing staff. “The coyotes forced our children to take medicine, sometimes with tequila, to put them to sleep so they wouldn’t cry or make noise that would get us caught.”

After being left to fend for themselves, Maria and the others in her group sought out the help of Mexican authorities, knowing they could not survive on their own, and were soon sent back to Honduras.

Operation Blessing was there helping families like Maria’s who had made the trip north as they returned home. Teams set up receiving areas for the kids — with toys, coloring books and games to play while their parents were processed back into the country — and began working to help many of these families get back on their feet.

To help Maria start a new life for her family, OB Honduras equipped her with all the tools and supplies she needed to start her own tortilla business. Now she is able to earn a living working from home, take care of little Eduardo and eventually send him to school.

“Now that I am home in Honduras, with the help you have given me, I feel so happy — I feel hope,” said Maria. ◆

*Name changed to protect identity

Dangerous Journey North

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Copyright © 2014 by Operation Blessing International, P.O. Box 2636, Virginia Beach, VA 23450. For more information, call (800) 730-2537 or visit our website at operationblessing.org

This holiday season, help feed a hungry child.

One of every eight children under age 12 in the U.S. goes to bed hungry each night.*

*U.S. Department of Agriculture, Household Food Security In The United States, 2011: www.ers.usda.gov/publications/err125