Israel: Yasmin’s Dangerous Electricity

During my week in Israel I saw men, women, and children each facing different types of poverty and hardship. I’ve never been one to think that life is easy, but it pains me to see just how hard it can be for some people. When I first arrived I visited a Bedouin tribe that live in tents under the sun of the Judaean desert, then spent time with families that lost their homes in the Carmel fires, and finally made my way to Isfiya, Israel where I met a young mother of two named Yasmin. This 22-year-old was married when she was just sixteen and now has a 3 year old daughter, Lily, and 2 year old son, Haiman. The Operation Blessing Israel staff learned from a dear friend that the electrical wiring in Yasmin’s home was very dangerous for her and the two children that spend most of their day at the house. Our team visited the house and were greeted by a mess of wires just inside the door. We also learned that the electrical system could not power a heater to keep them warm in the winter, water heater, or portable stove top burners which makes their lives even more difficult. The house is only comprised of three small rooms – a main living area, bedroom for the children, and a bathroom that doubles as a wash room and kitchen. There are no kitchen appliances and all of their food has to be cooked by their nearby family or friends. The house looks larger from the outside, but it is really two homes – the other section is occupied by her aunt. It was evident that Yasmin and the children needed OBI’s help. The electrician that we hired to work on the house confirmed our suspicions when he told us he had never seen wiring so unsafe and he significantly reduced his rates to help because he felt that no one should live in this unsafe environment and wanted to be a part of the solution.

But enough about the house, the real story is Yasmin and her children. There are times when you meet people who you can’t help but like, and she was one of those people. Yasmin has a very gentle spirit and a beautiful smile that has not yet been hardened by the difficulties she faces on a daily basis. It is the type of vibrance we want to preserve because we know that it will be passed on to others when we leave. Yasmin asked us, “Why are you doing this for me? Not even my mother or my father would do something like this for me.” It is a question that I hear often, but it always catches my attention. I asked myself, “Why do I choose to help others?” Over and over the resounding answer is, “Because I am imitating the life of my Savior who demonstrated the love of God to others.” I was reminded today how blessed I am to be able to work for an organization that is able to pour out this love because of people all around the world, who just like me, love enough to give up something to bless others. It is people like Yasmin that inspire me to continue to shower love on people facing difficult times because it really does change lives now and forever. Her new electrical system will be finished by the weekend, a water heater will also be installed once that is finished, and I was so moved by the family that I chipped in to purchase a portable stove and pots to make life a little less difficult for Yasmin, Lily, and Haiman. You can’t help but be touched when you see the impact Operation Blessing is making in lives that matter to God.

Location:Isfiya, Israel