NARRATOR: Today is one of those days where

there is no breakfast, no lunch, and probably

will be no dinner for nine-year-old Luis.

On these days, he and his little sister,

Ingrid, drink water to suppress their hunger.

Luis has already drunk 12 glasses today.

THROUGH INTERPRETER: We drank lots of waters

to fill our stomachs.

Then we went to sleep.

The next day, we drank water again.

But it didn't take the hunger away.

NARRATOR: Luis' father abandoned the family years ago.

And his mother, Grigoria, has been

forced to work to support them.

But she can only find temporary jobs.

Then come the months of unemployment.

Luis often has to go to school without breakfast

and has to watch his classmates eat their snacks and lunches.

One day, Luis fainted because he had gone so long without food.

THROUGH INTERPRETER: My head started to spin,

and I got dizzy.

Then I fell down and hit my head on the ground.

NARRATOR: And the kids have been bullying him at school, too.

LUIS THROUGH INTERPRETER (VOICEOVER):

My classmate told me that if I had a real dad,

he would buy me shoes and food.

I was crushed, and started crying,

and told my teacher what he said.

NARRATOR: Then someone from the community

contacted Operation Blessing.

We came and set up a convenience store at Grigoria's home.

Yo, yeah.

THROUGH INTERPRETER: I like this store

because now my mom never leaves us alone.

She stays with us.

NARRATOR: From 6:00 in the morning until sunset,

Grigoria opens her store with a smile for everyone

who comes by.

And Luis is her biggest helper.

GRIGORIA THROUGH INTERPRETER (VOICEOVER):

Now I am I asking God for more clients

so I will sell everything in the store.

My children are so happy now because they have food at home

and food to take to school.

THROUGH INTERPRETER: Thanks Operation Blessing

for giving so much to my family.