With five children to care for and limited job opportunities, Lourdes, a widow, struggled to provide for her family.

HONDURAS – Lourdes had no idea how she would provide for her five children after her husband tragically passed away last fall.

She grew up in a small mountain village where school wasn’t a priority. As an adult, Lourdes had dedicated herself to being a wife and mother. Now, unable to read or write, she struggled to find a job that would allow her to also care for her children, from 12-year-old Belkin all the way down to little Rirsi, who is only three.

Her neighbors did their best to help her, giving her corn and other food staples. But her children still cried from hunger, especially little Rirsi—and Lourdes cried in despair, unable to provide for them.

She knew she needed a way to make ends meet—an income that would allow her to purchase food for her family, especially the milk her little girl needed to grow strong and healthy.

With some help from Operation Blessing, Lourdes’ business is already thriving, and her new income is enough to provide for her children.

Then Lourdes received an unexpected blessing—the supplies to start her own small business!

“When I heard that Operation Blessing was going to help me I said, ‘God is with me.’ I felt a great peace in my heart,” she said.

Operation Blessing provided Lourdes with items like socks, sandals, clothes, and makeup to open a market stand “general store” right in her own community. A team from OB Honduras even delivered groceries to Lourdes, including much-needed milk for little Rirsi.

To ensure her store’s success, Lourdes is getting business and accounting training and help from Mirna, a neighbor who began working with Operation Blessing to start her own successful small business last year.

Within weeks of opening her store, Lourdes was earning a regular income and she is now able to buy enough food to provide for her children.

“Thanks, Operation Blessing,” Lourdes said. “You were like an angel sent by God, to help me when I needed it the most.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP

This microenterprise venture is one of many Operation Blessing projects touching lives around the world. You can be a part of improving the quality of life for impoverished communities by supporting these and other life-changing programs.

 

------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 1997- 2012 by Operation Blessing International of this page and all contents. No part of this site may be used without prior written consent from OBI. All Rights Reserved. Questions or comments? Email us at operation.blessing@ob.org.