In the midst of Thailand's beauty, many of its people are suffering needlessly. Chairat is one of over 170,000 children infected with AIDS. His grandmother can't afford to provide for even his basic needs. Khun lives in another village. This young mother and wife lost an eye because she was not able to pay for medical attention. In the Chiangri Province, students must walk a mile to a contaminated stream to bathe.

These are a few examples of the thousands of suffering Thai who have received renewed hope through Operation Blessing programs that include:

1. Tending The Sick -- Mobile medical clinic teams visit remote villages where needs are great and access to other medical care is limited if available at all. We have recently expanded our medical services to include the poorest northeastern regions of Thailand.
   
   
2. Equipping for Life-- We not only help people with emergency needs in times of crisis but we also help them overcome the forces that keep them in the vicious cycle of poverty.
   
   a. Living Waters: Children and their families living in rural mountainous and farming regions often do not have access to clean drinking water. Through the Living Water program, farmers can irrigate their crops, water-born illnesses dissipate, and instead of spending hours hauling dirty water, there is more time to make a living.
   
   b. Caring For AIDS Orphans: We are currently working with a group of children who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. They receive free educational, nutritional, medical and spiritual care. Their caregivers, often grandparents, also learn how to make a living through a livelihood training project.
   
   c. Bless-A-Child: Through educational sponsorships, school supply and clothing distributions, as well as feeding programs we help children from poor families prepare for and get the education needed to have a better life.
   
   d. Disaster Relief: During natural disasters, volunteer teams go care for victims at the front lines with clothes, food, and other supplies.

Join us in breaking the cycle of suffering around the world. Please give a gift today!

Woman Strains to See in Thailand

Khun Tuh-Lue was weary of seeing only blurry strands of light and shapes. The 64-year-old Thai woman had suffered with cataracts in both eyes for more than three years. Pounding headaches were a constant part of her life when she strained to see. Life had been a daily struggle when Tuh-Lue’s sight had been normal. Now she was helpless and dependent on others for most everything.