Having a place to call her own, where she could raise her children in safety and comfort, was a dream that seemed out of reach for Lurline after a disaster struck down their home in Leyte.
Lurline Repunte is a 53-year-old mother of six children who has always been a fighter. She had faced many challenges in life, but the biggest one came when Typhoon Yolanda hit their home in November 2013.
For a long time, Lurline and her children were displaced. They had lost all hope of rebuilding their home and starting their lives anew. But then, in July 2016, Operation Blessing opened the door once again for new beneficiaries of Community of Hope, a resettlement project established to help Yolanda-hit families in Tacloban.
“God answered our prayers through Operation Blessing. You see, we were not only given a newly constructed house to live in but also a 1,000-square-meter plot of land to plant crops. Mine was planted with corn and cabbage,” she shared.
Through OB’s livelihood assistance, Lurline was also able to start a small business selling dry goods. Her husband, who had been jobless for a long time, also started helping her with their business.
“All this is a source of pride for my family,” Lurline said, referring to the sturdy structure of their house and the welcoming community that made them feel they belonged.
Over the months and years that followed, Lurline settled into her new community, building friendships with her neighbors and getting involved in local activities. She even volunteers at the community center, helping to organize events and activities for the children.
“Looking back, I feel grateful for all the blessings that have come our way. My journey had not been easy, but I am proud of all that we had accomplished with the help of Operation Blessing.”
In March 2023, Operation Blessing finally turns over the deed of donation to the families of Community of Hope. This has also been an answered prayer for the beneficiaries because, after years of facilitating the transfer of land ownership, OB was able to secure it in 2022, which is just in time for the electrification and the construction of paved roads for the community.
If you want to support our mission to bring hope to disaster-hit kababayans like Lurline, give at www.operationblessing.ph/give or contact 09399215543. #CommunityOfHope #HungerRelief #DisasterRehabilitation #TyphoonYolanda #LivelihoodAssistance #OperationBlessing
DSWD-SB-SP-00017-2023-Nationwide. Valid until Mar 31, 2024.