HAITI – Two years ago, a devastating earthquake ripped through the nation of Haiti—changing it forever. Since then, so many of you have made such a significant impact in these communities that we wanted to share just a few of the things your support has accomplished over the last two years. (more…)

GUATEMALA – Orphaned at a young age, Juan and Joseline have been living with their grandparents in an impoverished area of Guatemala.

But when a tropical storm hit their community this year, floodwaters tore their home apart, destroying everything they owned—and leaving them with only the clothes on their back. (more…)

ERCIS, Turkey – Operation Blessing disaster relief teams are on the ground in Turkey working in partnership with Humedica, a German medical team, to bring relief to earthquake survivors. (more…)

Operation Blessing’s Japan Disaster Relief Manager, Don Thomson, shares his firsthand account of the relief efforts in Japan.

JAPAN – Media is a big part of modern Japanese culture, with just about every home subscribed to one of the national daily papers, owning a TV set, and having Internet access through fiber optic cable or by mobile phone.

NHK, the national public broadcasting corporation, is the largest media enterprise in Asia. Along with four other commercial media conglomerates, it dominates the flow of information to the nation. So, what have the Japanese media been saying about Operation Blessing’s relief activities? (more…)

Operation Blessing’s Japan Disaster Relief Manager, Don Thomson, shares his firsthand account of the relief efforts in Japan.

MINAMI SANRIKU, Japan – Even though seven months have passed since the tsunami along the Tohoku Coast, Operation Blessing teams are still finding opportunities to help survivors in need of eye glasses. A recent request for eye exams came from the parents and coaches of the Utatsu Middle School Kendo Team. (more…)

Operation Blessing’s Japan Disaster Relief Manager, Don Thomson, shares his firsthand account of the relief efforts in Japan.

SABUSAWA ISLAND, Japan – The fishermen on Sabusawa Island who lost their nets to the March tsunami are doing well with the gill nets provided by Operation Blessing. Recently, they got together and sent our local OBI office in Japan a special surprise delivery.

Despite losing most of their nets to the tsunami, and having very little hope reviving their industry for some time, the Sabusawa gill net fishermen are doing a roaring business—catching lots of fish and selling them at the reopened Shiogama Fish Market. (more…)

By Jenn Wakefield

STUMPY POINT, N.C. – When most people think of the Outer Banks, they think of vacation. Some think of amazing seafood, and others think of their second home for the summer. When I think of out The Outer Banks, I think of two weeks that changed my life and a small fishing village called Stumpy Point.

After Hurricane Irene struck North Carolina, I was honored to work with Operation Blessing in their disaster relief efforts. Operation Blessing is an international nonprofit organization that is based out of Virginia Beach where I live. (more…)

HATTERAS ISLAND – Today was a bit eerie as I awoke on the island after a long night of high winds and thunderstorms. I walked to the sliding glass doors that overlook the sound and, to my surprise, the water was gone!

The water in the sound had been blown out by the high winds. The part that is eerie is that this is the exact thing described by every local resident who rode out the storm here. Their first sight was the water being sucked out of the sound. (more…)

NAIROBI, Kenya – After the tragic pipeline fire and explosion in Sinai slum earlier this week, officials are confirming that more than 100 people died and many more are suffering from serious burns.

OB Kenya has been distributing relief supplies such as hygiene items, food, clothing, and school supplies to families whose homes were destroyed in the fire. (more…)

NAIROBI, Kenya – In Nairobi, the Sinai slum sits on top of a pipeline that feeds a nearby fuel depot. Yesterday morning, spilled petroleum that had collected in the drainage system caught fire and a subsequent explosion killed nearly 100 people. Many caught in the melee tried to jump into the nearby storm drainage ditch to put out the flames, but the result was deadly. Hundreds of burn victims were admitted to a nearby hospital. (more…)

JAPAN – The severed bow of a fiberglass fishing boat jutted out from under a huge pile of mangled ropes and rotting fishing nets. Under mounds of smashed plastic crates and pieces of foam were fragments of countless other boats. These vessels, once afloat and filled with fishermen’s catch, were now in a boat graveyard filled with the wreckage of the local fishing industry. In a separate pile, mangled metal had been separated for recycling. (more…)

HATTERAS ISLAND, N.C. – Today was the second day for our new group of volunteers and there was a lot of excitement in the air because yesterday they fell in love with the residents. (more…)