KENYA – Little Lekini’s name means “small and weak.” And it was a fitting name.
Abandoned by his mother at a tender age, Lekini never received proper nutrition or care. At the age of three, he was severely emaciated, weighing only 17 pounds. (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…)
CHINCHA & HUAYCAN, Peru – This year OB Peru held a special Christmas program to benefit impoverished children. With the help of volunteers from a local church, Operation Blessing provided more than 1,500 children with a Christmas breakfast, a show, food baskets for their families, and even special Christmas gifts. Additionally, the children were given a free dental check-up. (more…)
NORTH CAROLINA – A couple of days ago I heard on the radio that more hugs are delivered during the Christmas season then any other time of the year and I thought to myself, what message does a hug say? Verbally it may say nothing, however, when there’s an embrace and when there’s an outreach to others, it gives the message of great value. (more…)
SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras – Christmas is all about giving gifts to others. Many children think Christmas is about them receiving gifts. I know 14-year-old boy, Enrique, in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, who is not like that at all. (more…)
HUAYCAN, Peru – A few months ago the beautiful smile of eight-year-old Esmeralda was overshadowed by the terrible headaches she endured every day. And as the headaches got worse, her academic performance dropped significantly. (more…)
Operation Blessing staff Lara Coleman shares the latest on OBI’s relief and development projects in Haiti.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – After months of waiting and watching the little fish grow it was finally time to harvest the tilapia from Operation Blessing’s aquaponics system at Zanmi Beni Children’s Home.
Excitement was in the air as everyone watched the tilapia harvest and anticipation grew as the kitchen staff cleaned, breaded and fried the protein-packed fish. (more…)
AFGHANISTAN – As I walked into a restaurant for lunch, I was greeted with a big smile by a young boy, Mohammad. He was a “shoe-shine boy” to all the customers. He seemed very bright, handsome, and industrious. Sadly, his father was killed by a road side bomb and his mother had no skill set that would allow her to earn an income. In fact, she had no other choice but to beg on the busy streets of Kabul. (more…)
KENYA – Today we visited a Masai village where Operation Blessing is building a new school. This building will prevent the need for children to walk over two miles through tall grasses where they have sometimes been trampled by elephants and attacked by lions. (more…)
YUNNAN, China – Operation Blessing teams travel into rural and impoverished areas of China’s Yunnan Province to distribute brand new TOMS Shoes to students, bringing smiles all around. (more…)
KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghanistan is not the safest place to be right now from most people’s perspective. The day I left for Afghanistan the president’s brother was killed by his own security guard. Just as I landed in Delhi, I received a text message, “terrorist attack in Mumbai, alert in major airports in India.” I had second thoughts; should I be making this trip right now? (more…)
SAO PAULO, Brazil – It was a sight to see—hundreds of children, teens and young adults gathered in the streets of Sao Paulo for an event akin to a candlelight vigil. They held flickering candles high for all to see, but slowly, steadily, the flames vanished—extinguished in 15-second intervals. (more…)
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