
Perseverance in spite of poverty
PERU – Sergio knows how to cook, clean the house, wash dishes and work in a sawmill – and he is only twelve years old. Although his family lives in poverty, Sergio maintains an optimistic attitude that touches everyone he meets. The teachers are delighted with the boy, the mother, who works extremely hard to raise him and his younger brother alone and has a strong outlook on life, loves him very much. Every week, Sergio’s mother goes to work on the farm to make ends meet for her family. He often leaves Sergi to take care of his four-year-old brother Mauricio. However, Sergio can still attend school. His mother cannot afford a uniform, but Sergio wears the clothes she has and goes to school anyway. When he needs money for school supplies, he asks the sawmill workers to hire him so he can buy them himself.
“I only had sandals, but they tore,” he said, remembering the last pair of shoes, “my mom didn’t have money to buy me shoes.” The family lived in a dilapidated home with a leaking roof and no locks on the doors. Sergio’s mother moved to that house together with the children to escape from her abusive husband. It was all she could afford. Operation Blessing saw this brave boy and his hard-working mother and knew they needed help. To begin with, Operation Blessing Peru provided Sergio with a new school uniform, shoes, school supplies and a chess board. His little brother also got new clothes and shoes. The family received groceries, but that was just the beginning of what Operation Blessing had in store for them.
Today, Sergio and his family live in a brand new and safe house built by Operation Blessing. Sergio still loves school, and his brother will enroll next year. Moreover, their mother Luz no longer has to leave her children to earn the necessary income. Instead, OB Peru provided her with a mobile food stand and the necessary materials to start a new business. He can work in the neighborhood and Sergio can focus on school. “I never imagined that this could happen to us,” said Luz. “I am grateful for the love you have shown my children and the way you help us. Thank you Operation Blessing for giving us a new chance at life.”
CONTINUATION OF THE STORY
MAY 2017 – A few months ago, Sergio’s young life changed completely thanks to Operation Blessing. Now he feels safe in his new home, and he and his younger brother are happy that their mother can spend more time with them. Luz says, “I am no longer far from my children … I am eternally grateful to Operation Blessings International.”
Thanks to her new job, a food stand, Luz was able to cover all her household expenses, including electricity and clean water. Besides, he can now easily pay for Sergi’s school fees. And when it comes to Sergi, he received a special award for the best student of his generation in 2016. year. This year, he and his brother Mauricio started school with new uniforms and the necessary school supplies. “Thanks to Operation Blessing, I have a nice house,” said Luz, “a job I never had, my sons go to school, and all my neighbors say my house is a miracle of God.” And we at Operation Blessing thank you that there are people like you ready to help make it happen!