When you spend time with Gunika, see her beautiful smile and experience her caring heart, you can’t help but be blessed by this young girl. Gunika has many reasons to feel cheated in life, but instead of dwelling on a difficult past, she now rejoices in the hope of a brighter future.

Twelve year old Gunika remembers the night when police came to her Hmong tribal village, searching for her mother and father. Her parents were caught and sentenced to 45 years in prison for trafficking drugs. Consequently, Gunika and her younger sister Eve, were sentenced to a life as orphans for the remaining years of their childhood.

The two girls were left behind with their poor elderly grandparents who were physically and financially unable to care for the children.

When House of Blessing, a children’s home supported by Operation Blessing, became aware of Gunika’s plight, they agreed to take her and her sister in. The Home has a vision to love, educate, nurture and develop orphans and poor underprivileged children in Thailand.

Operation Blessing gives $1,000 a month to provide Gunika, and more than 100 other children at the House of Blessing, with fresh food, school uniforms, tuition fees, transportation costs and medical expenses.

Gunika’s face beamed with joy as she reflected over her years at the Home, “At House of Blessing, I have so many friends and receive lots of love. I am so thankful to be here and receive such good care.”

Gunika is a daughter any parent would be proud of. She often takes time to write to her parents in prison, encouraging them to remain strong, telling of her new-found friends, and reminding them of the love she will always have for them.