- [Narrator] 40-year-oldJoel Arturo is a fisherman

who works on a river near his home.

During the height of the COVID pandemic,

the father of three told ushow desperate they'd become.

- [Translator] I was crying.

And I told my wife that there was

no more corn in the bin.

But we couldn't let ourchildren die of hunger.

I had to do something.

- [Narrator] Joel told us herisked everything to go out

during the government lockdownsto try to catch a few fish.

He said he saw militaryboats patrolling the river,

arresting those found outside their homes.

This is Joel's daughter, Jacquelyn.

- [Translator] I was afraidthat my father would be taken

by the police to a place wherehe would get sick and die.

- [Narrator] Joel said hewent without regular work

for nearly three months.

And even when he took the risk of arrest

and caught a few fish, hesaid people were afraid

to buy from him.

- [Translator] Every dayI get down on my knees

and ask God what I'm goingto feed my kids tomorrow.

Asking for food doesn't feel very good,

but the little I got I gave to my children

so they could eat.

- [Narrator] Jacquelyn toldus she remembers the day

they ran out of food.

- [Translator] We had nosugar, no coffee, no oil.

We had nothing to eat.

And we would go to sleepon an empty stomach.

- [Narrator] When"Operation Blessing" learned

about the family's need, we provided them

with emergency food onthree different occasions,

until the quarantines were lifted

and Joel could return to work.

- [Translator] I thank God for the food

and for bringing "Operation Blessing."

God's used them to bless us.

Thank you for what you have done.

- [Translator] Thank you,"Operation Blessing,"

for the food you gave us.