China has more people than any nation on earth. Its' vast land mass, rugged terrain and immense population cause overwhelming challenges to many families struggling to make due. In fact, every year about one million students must drop out of primary school because of their family's lack of finances. Older Chinese men and women are not immune from the effects of poverty either. Mr. Yang, a 70-year-old retiree, lives on a meager pension. Recently, he decided to move to the countryside thinking the cost of living would be cheaper, allowing him to be able to pay for both mounting medical expenses and food. He was wrong! He still couldn't pay for his mounting medical bills.

Situations like these are a few that Operation Blessing is addressing through the following programs:

1. Tending The Sick -- Critical, life-changing and general medical needs are all addressed by Operation Blessing, Beijing's initiatives.
   
   a. Medical Clinics: Volunteer medical teams provide free medical care and give medicines during 1-week clinics in impoverished areas. We also offer medical training seminars to Chinese physicians.
   
   b. Surgeries: Partnering with skilled local surgeons we sponsor life-saving surgeries for patients who would not otherwise be able to afford it. In the most serious cases, preparations are made for patients to be treated in the United States or Canada.
   
   c. Set a Child Free: Our team organizes surgery to correct cleft lips and palates for infants, children and teens who would otherwise have to endure a lifetime of ridicule and health problems. Local surgeons and hospitals donate their time, talents and operating rooms.
   
   
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: Cisterns are built for families in drought-prone regions of China. Each cistern can hold enough water for a family of seven all year long. In areas where villagers formerly spent up to four hours every day fetching water, families now have clean water available in their back yards for generations to come.
   
   b. Orphan Care: Every week orphans living in numerous orphanages around Beijing receive special attention and learn life skills from our staff. We also supply the orphanages with cribs, clothes, food, toys and additional caregivers.
   
   c. Elderly Care: Every week teams of volunteers provide nursing home residents with medical check-ups, medicine, meals and friendship. They also hold training seminars for the nursing home staff.
   
   d. Disaster Relief: During all types of natural disaster, volunteer teams go care for victims at the front lines with clothes, food, finances, shelter and other supplies.
   
   e. Education: We focus on helping children who have financial, mental or physical barriers getting an education. Teams run weekly teaching programs for disabled children in Beijing. Poor boys and girls throughout the country receive tuition fee scholarships and we build schools in impoverished areas.
   

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A Big Brother’s Compassionate Wish in China Little Zhu was walking to school one morning when a bundle caught his eye. The Chinese boy opened it and was surprised to find a dirty baby girl with a cleft lip. Zhu immediately ran back home and told his mother about the abandoned baby. Breathless and sobbing, he begged his mother to bring the baby home. “If we leave her alone, she will die!” Zhu pleaded. “I’ll make enough money to give her a surgery after I graduate from college if we cannot afford it now.” Touched by the baby’s heartbreaking condition and her son’s emotional pleas, Mrs. Zhu quickly went out and carried the baby home.