Healing Begins After Earthquake in the Philippines

PHILIPPINES — When a powerful earthquake struck the Philippines, Rachel and her three children were thrown into chaos. “My eldest daughter was shouting, ‘Ma! Help me!’” Rachel recalled. “My other daughter, Jean, was running and also crying for help. I told them to sit down, but I was panicking too.”

Jean, the most vulnerable of the children, was injured as she tried to run to safety. “I bumped my head and fainted,” she shared. “Now I feel like it’s always shaking. I’m still afraid to go inside the house.”

The family now sleeps outdoors, like many others in their community, still traumatized by the quake and fearful of what might come next.

Hope Arrives Through Early Trauma Care

Thanks to friends like you, Operation Blessing’s disaster response team was on the ground quickly to bring relief after this earthquake in the Philippines caused immense damage. In Antipolo, Medellin, they set up a disaster medical clinic, where survivors like Rachel and Jean received both physical and emotional care.

Dr. Milyn, a volunteer and mental health advocate, explained the urgency of this work. “The first 24 to 48 hours after a disaster are critical. Psychological first aid can prevent long-term trauma if it’s addressed right away.”

Survivors were coached through breathing techniques and calming strategies. Jean relayed what she learned through our volunteers and encouraged others to stay calm, eat at regular times, and take deep breaths. Rachel demonstrated how stretching and counting slowly helps her rest better.

Relief and Recovery Continue After the Devastation of an Earthquake in the Philippines

Rachel and Jean also received vitamins and medication to support their health while they remain outdoors. And the help won’t stop there.

“We will continue conducting disaster medical clinics,” said Donabelle of Operation Blessing. “We’re also preparing for relief distributions and the installation of a water station to meet ongoing needs in Northern Cebu.”

Rachel shared a heartfelt prayer: “I pray to God that we can go back to our homes, and we will not be constantly running.”

HELP DISASTER VICTIMS NOW

A Lifeline for Earthquake Survivors in the Philippines

HELP DISASTER VICTIMS NOW

PHILIPPINES – Just days ago, a powerful 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck the Cebu province of the Philippines, leaving devastation in its wake. Urgent relief is reaching earthquake survivors in the Philippines through rapid-response teams on the ground, including our Operation Blessing disaster team. The hardest-hit area was Bogo City, where tremors from a 400-year-old dormant fault line suddenly reawakened—shattering homes and families in an instant.

At least 70 lives were lost, including children and a pregnant mother. Hundreds more are injured. And as aftershocks continue to rattle the region, fear and trauma still hang in the air.

Operation Blessing’s Chris Clapano reported from the scene:

“Driving through Bugo and nearby towns is heartbreaking. Entire families are camped outside, too afraid to return to their homes. They’re holding up handwritten signs that say, ‘We need help. We need food and water.’”

Thanks to friends like you, Operation Blessing teams were able to respond within 48 hours. You helped deploy emergency water filtration systems, distribute essential supplies, and coordinate with local leaders to reach communities in urgent need.

But the suffering is far from over.

“Aside from the relief—the water, medicines, and food—I really see the need for trauma care,” one team member shared. “I ask that God will give me His heart for these people.”

YOU CAN SHOW GOD’S LOVE TO EARTHQUAKE SURVIVORS

The need in the Philippines is immense. Families are reeling from loss, and children are waking up to the sound of aftershocks, wondering if another disaster will strike. You can be part of the healing—standing alongside earthquake survivors in the Philippines with practical aid and prayer as recovery begins

You can be part of the healing. Your support today helps provide:

Safe, clean water
Emergency food and hygiene kits
Medical assistance
Trauma care and spiritual support

Please take a moment to pray for these families—and if you feel led, join us in this compassionate response. Your gift helps Operation Blessing continue serving in disaster zones like this, showing God’s love through action.

Thank you for being a light in the darkest moments. Your love is a lifeline.

HELP DISASTER VICTIMS NOW

upplies for Philippines earthquake survivors

Responding to Tragedy in Philippines – Cebu Earthquake

Deadly earthquake in Cebu area of Philippines

Late Tuesday night, a devastating 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck the central Philippines near Palompon and the city of Bogo in the Cebu province. More than 60 lives have already been lost—and many more remain missing under the rubble following the Cebu earthquake.

Entire families are now without homes, clean water, or access to medical care. The aftershocks are ongoing. The need for urgent help is critical.

In the midst of this crisis, Operation Blessing’s Philippines team was among the first to act—boarding a flight with a volunteer doctor and nurse to deliver emergency supplies and assess the needs on the ground.

Operation Blessing sends disaster relief after Cebu earthquake in the Philippines

Now, our Global Disaster Response team is en route with additional support: solar lamps, water filters, and another doctor ready to bring healing. One of our emergency water systems is already running in Northern Cebu—praise God!

But the situation is still dire.  Search and rescue operations are still underway for the Cebu earthquake, and every moment counts.

Help and Hope During Disasters Like the Earthquake in the Philippines

Operation Blessing’s Global Response Team deploys to disasters both in the states and across the globe—like Hurricane Helene, fires in Los Angeles, and the recent deadly floods in Texas. We bring help and hope to those in need in the name of Jesus. Our disaster teams are often among the first on the ground with supplies and aid, and we stay long after the disaster fades from the headlines to ensure that the job is done right.

Thank you for being someone who shows up when it matters most. Please continue to pray—for those who are suffering, and for our teams working to bring hope and healing in Jesus’ name.

Will you help rush aid to families in crisis?

Faida’s Story from the Makombe Refugee Camp

Help Families in Burundi Today

When Faida arrived at the Makombe refugee camp in Rwanda, she had nothing—no shoes, no change of clothes, not even soap to wash her children’s hands. “We are suffering a lot,” she shared. A mother of many and now separated from her husband, Faida was desperate for help.

Like so many others fleeing violence in Burundi, Faida crossed the border with nothing but hope for survival. Since December, she and her children have been surviving on what little food they can find—usually just rice. They sleep directly on the ground, exposed and uncertain about the future.

Operation Blessing is changing lives in the Burundi Camps

Support for the Makombe Refugee Camp

But thanks to the love and support of friends like you, Operation Blessing is stepping into help victims in the Makombe Refugee Camp and bring relief. Together with our local partners, we’re working to provide food, medical care, hygiene supplies, and safe water—restoring dignity and hope one family at a time.

Faida said it best: “We only ask that God will bless you… because we are suffering here.”

Please continue to pray for families like Faida’s and help us bring comfort in their time of crisis.

Help Families in Burundi Today

Born With a Hole in His Heart, Lihao Found Healing Through Surgery, Faith—and Jesus

CHINA – Born with a hole in his heart, 10-year-old Lihao from rural China lived each day with pain, weakness, and shame. His heart condition left him breathless and exhausted, unable to keep up with the other children. At school, he was mocked for his frailty. At home, he felt the sting of deep loss—his mother had abandoned the family, leaving him in the care of his hardworking father.

Though his father labored tirelessly as a construction worker and foraged mountains for herbal cures, he simply couldn’t afford the surgery his son desperately needed. Doctors warned that without intervention, Lihao might not live past 20. But the surgery remained out of reach.

Despite being born with a heart condition and surrounded by hardship, Lihao found comfort in writing. He crafted stories of courage and hope, pouring his dreams onto the page. Then, one day, his story took a new turn.

Learning About Jesus from a Friend

A friend told Lihao about Jesus. Desperate and full of childlike faith, Lihao believed Jesus could heal him. He began praying, hoping that the God he had just come to know might hear him. Then came a miracle.

Operation Blessing heard about Lihao’s condition and stepped in to help. They paid for the life-saving surgery he so urgently needed. What once seemed impossible suddenly became real. Lihao emerged from surgery stronger, freer, and full of life.

Operation Blessing paid for the operation

Today, Lihao is healed. He runs, plays, and laughs like any healthy boy his age. And now, his stories are no longer just dreams—they’re true stories of rescue, faith, and healing. He says, “Jesus healed me.”

“Jesus Healed Me”
-Lihao

Born with a hole in his heart and a future full of fear, Lihao now dreams of joining Operation Blessing one day to help others like him. His life is a living testimony: Jesus heals, and help is never as far away as it may seem.

Operation Blessing paid for the surgery. Jesus healed Lihao. His story is just beginning.

You Shine Light in the Darkness After Devastating Floods

NORTH CAROLINA – That’s little Wyatt with his toy saw in the happy picture above. The people of North Carolina have come a long way. One year ago, Hurricane Helene roared into western North Carolina, bringing devastating floods that left the serene mountain communities of Asheville and Swannanoa cloaked in chaos and destruction. Floodwaters surged, landslides swallowed homes, and beloved small businesses teetered on the edge of collapse. After devastating floods, many felt like the light had gone out. But friends like you refused to let the darkness win.

In the wake of devastation, Operation Blessing launched an ongoing response to help the region recover. Thanks to your unwavering support, that journey became one of restoration, revival—and radiant hope. One of the most powerful stories to emerge is that of Robert, a quiet man seeking peace in Swannanoa. His path had already been marked by decades of chronic illness and pain. He moved to the mountains in search of rest, but even the beauty of the Blue Ridge couldn’t shield him from hardship. As his body weakened, his hope waned. Then Hurricane Helene hit, worsening the already deteriorating conditions of his home. The darkness in his life seemed complete—until your love broke through.

Devastating Floods from Hurricane Helene

With your support, volunteers came alongside Robert with prayer and support. Now, his house is being repaired, and he’s receiving the help he desperately needed to create a clean, livable space where he can finally breathe again. And more than anything, he’s rediscovering something he’d long lost—hope.“It gives me hope and makes me very happy,” he said. “It gives you life.” And Robert wasn’t the only one whose life was touched.

In the heart of Swannanoa, Short Sleeves Coffee was just days from opening its doors when the floods came. Founder Daniel Lancaster had poured his heart into restoring a century-old building, only to see it ruined. Then you stepped in. Operation Blessing volunteers joined Daniel to help with cleanup and repairs.Your generosity didn’t stop there. Daniel received a beautifully refurbished commercial coffee roaster to help launch his business. “The roaster is the biggest gift we could’ve received,” Daniel said. “The help we’ve received has been incredible. It’s allowed us to move forward again.”

And move forward they did— joined by others whose homes and businesses were revived through your compassion. A beloved BBQ restaurant was rebuilt with fresh drywall. A local tire shop was equipped with brand-new machines. Volunteers like you showed up with tools, time, and tenacity—each act a spark of light driving back the darkness.

And up in Flat Rock, you helped retired fire chief Gary Brown—battling terminal cancer—rebuild a safe deck and home for him and his family. From landslide-buried homes to storm-shattered businesses, your love has been a steady presence in Asheville and beyond. Your ongoing compassion and support are empowering neighbors to rebuild stronger than before.

It’s been a year since Helene, and thanks to you, the light is still shining. Recently, when another wave of devastating floods struck central Texas—wreaking havoc and death—you reached out there, as well. You’ve shown us all what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus—responding in times of crisis with open hearts and a willingness to serve after devastating floods. So thank you. For shining light in the darkness. For restoring dreams. For bringing hope to North Carolina, Texas, and hurting people around the world. And for reminding us all that no matter how deep the shadow, God’s love—through friends like you— will always break through.

A Year of Hope After Hurricane Helene

NORTH CAROLINA – One year ago, Hurricane Helene roared across the Southeast, unleashing devastation from Florida to Virginia. Lives were lost, homes were swept away, and entire communities like Asheville, North Carolina, were left in pieces. But in the middle of that heartbreaking destruction—you showed up, and so now we have something to celebrate on this one year anniversary of Hurricane Helene.

Because of your compassionate giving, Operation Blessing teams were able to deploy immediately. You provided hot meals to hungry families, clean drinking water for storm victims, and hygiene kits for those who had lost everything. In Asheville alone, you helped serve nearly 40,000 hot meals and launched long-term recovery efforts to rebuild 175 homes in partnership with local churches.

You didn’t just help rebuild walls—you helped restore lives.

Like Christine and Herman Hollifield, elderly grandparents with serious health challenges, who were living in a cramped RV after floodwaters destroyed their home of 30 years. Thanks to you, their home is now rebuilt and filled once again with laughter and love. Christine said tearfully, “Just give me four walls, and that’s enough.” But you gave them so much more.

One Year After Hurricane Helene

You also helped a coffee shop reopen, supported local businesses, and even brought joy to children through special events and outreach. You’ll want to watch the full video above to see all the amazing work that has been done thanks to our incredible donors like you.

Helene was a storm no one could forget—but neither can they forget the compassion you showed in its wake.

Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus during one of the darkest chapters in these communities’ lives.

Let’s continue building a future of hope—together.

A Recipe for Hope Through the Gift of Cooking

VIETNAM – Giang Thi Xung spent her childhood surrounded by limitations. But her life was transformed through the gift of cooking, opening doors she never thought possible.” Born in Nhiu Co San, located in the misty mountains of Vietnam, she was well versed in the challenges that come with poverty and isolation. It was a region where education is cut short and job opportunities are rare. Where the future often looks narrow for young girls like her.

But where so many stories might have ended, Xung’s was only beginning. She was selected to participate in a three-month culinary training program made possible through a partnership between Operation Blessing and Oneway Ministry. Xung left her village for the very first time and joined a small group of other young men and women, each hungry for knowledge, community, and change.

Embracing the Gift of Cooking and New Opportunities

Every day, Xung learned about nutrition, hygiene, and meal preparation—embracing the gift of cooking that would shape her future and restore her confidence. “The best part was learning so many things and making new friends,” Xung said. “Most importantly, God led me through challenges without any difficulty. I’m really thankful to the ministry for supporting us. Without them, we wouldn’t have what we have today.”

Xung soon discovered that the program was the beginning of a new journey, fueled by your support. You gave her more than just a simple cooking course; you helped provide Xung with a path to purpose. After earning her certificate, she returned to Nhiu Co San and was hired as a cook at the local preschool—the very same school she once attended as a child. Now, Xung wakes early each morning to prepare warm, healthy meals for the next generation, nourishing little bodies with skills that bring health and life to herself and the community.

Because of your kindness, a young woman who once faced an uncertain future now plays a vital role in her community, passing on the gift of cooking to nourish and inspire the next generation.

A Daughter Born With a Hole in Her Heart & A Widow’s Fight to Save Her

CHINA – When baby Yuwen was born with a hole in her heart, her mother’s world shattered. Mrs. Wang, a grieving widow with no education or job, was left to raise her daughter alone in the bustling streets of Chengdu, China. Life was brutally hard. With no income, Mrs. Wang resorted to collecting garbage just to feed her child.

But as Yuwen grew, her condition worsened. She cried in pain, gasped for air, and turned purple with exertion. Her mother watched helplessly, heartbroken, as Yuwen whispered, “Mom, my heart hurts.”

“Mom, my heart hurts.”
-Yuwen

heart condition from the hole in her heart

Doctors soon confirmed what Mrs. Wang feared: Yuwen had been born with an undiagnosed heart condition—a serious heart problem that required urgent surgery. Without it, her daughter might not survive. But how could a mother who barely scraped together enough for food ever hope to afford something as expensive as heart surgery? Though she tried everything, Mrs. Wang simply couldn’t afford surgery. And yet, she refused to give up. That’s when Operation Blessing stepped in.

Born with a Hole in Her Heart..But a Future Full of Hope

Thanks to the compassion of our donors, we were able to cover the cost of Yuwen’s life-saving operation. Today, because of friends like you, this little girl who was born with a hole in her heart is healthy, full of energy, and runs faster than anyone in her school. Her mother no longer digs through garbage. She now owns her own small recycling business and can finally dream about the future.

This is more than a medical story—it’s a story of transformation. Yuwen’s dramatic recovery, her mother’s unwavering sacrifice, and the miracle of healing made possible by your generosity. Yuwen was born with a hole in her heart, but today, she lives with a heart full of hope.

You gave this precious girl a new chance at life. Help us save more lives like Yuwen’s. 🙏 DONATE NOW

From Pain to Play: Kervis’s Life-Changing Torticollis Surgery

HONDURAS – Ten-year-old Kervis was born with torticollis, a painful and visible condition where neck muscles shorten and twist his head to one side. For years, this condition robbed him of mobility, comfort, and dignity. It was obvious he would need torticollis surgery. Without it, Kervis would face a life of shame and derision.

“When I look in the mirror, I wish my neck was normal.”
– Curtis

“When I look in the mirror, I wish my neck was normal,” Kervis once said. Other children called him “son of the devil.” He was constantly falling. Painful back cramps made sleep difficult. He longed to play soccer—but even standing could cause him to lose balance.

Kervis lives in Honduras with his aunt, Cindy. After his mother asked for help raising him, Cindy stepped in as caregiver. She works hard washing laundry but simply couldn’t afford surgery. When doctors quoted $8,000 for corrective torticollis surgery, the hope of healing seemed out of reach. “How are we going to get that kind of money?” Cindy recalled.

“How are we going to get that kind of money?”
-Cindy

Unable to Afford Torticollis Surgery, But Not Without Hope

Kervis’s condition worsened with age. Not only did it impact his physical ability, but it also wounded his spirit. His twisted neck made him feel ashamed. His childhood was slipping away. That’s when Operation Blessing stepped in. Our generous supporters made it possible for Kervis to receive corrective surgery—a surgery that would restore both his posture and his joy. “Operation Blessing came to us by the work of God,” Aunt Cindy said. “Everything was fast.”

Kervis’s Incredible Transformation

Today, thanks to friends like you, Kervis’s head is upright, his spine aligned, and his spirit renewed. He can now run without falling. He plays with friends. He returned to school, sleeps through the night, and holds his head high—not just physically, but with dignity. “Now my neck is straight. I can play with my friends. I can sleep well,” Kervis said, beaming. Kervis’s incredible transformation is a testament to what happens when your compassion meets action.

Life Without Shame: A New Beginning

Kervis’s story is more than a medical victory—it’s a celebration of life after hardship.
He is thriving—playing, learning, and living without shame. And through his journey, we are reminded why your support matters. “I love you very much and bless you. I pray for you every day,” Kervis says to those who gave him a chance.

Help More Children Like Kervis

Every child deserves a chance to stand tall. Through your support, Operation Blessing continues to provide life-changing surgeries, clean water, food, and hope to those in need.