Trusting God Through the Hard Seasons

December 1, 2025

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. In our family, it’s a day centered simply around gratitude and the joy of being together. There is no pressure of giving or receiving gifts—just good food, rich conversation, and reconnecting with the people I love most. As I sit around the table this year enjoying a wonderful meal, I will certainly be thankful for all that God has done for my family and me.

But this year also feels bittersweet. While we have been able to successfully provide meals for many thousands of African children, there are still thousands more who weigh heavily on my heart—children who wake up hungry, go to bed hungry, and whose growth and brain development are being affected by chronic food insecurity. There is no doubt in my mind that the world has more than enough food for every child; the challenge is simply getting it to them. Over the past year, that challenge has been greater than ever.

At Blessman International, we have always depended on God, and He has always provided. The Bible tells us that God cares for the sparrows and the flowers of the field—and if He cares for them, how much more will He care for us? I know He loves these African children even more deeply than I do, and I continue praying that He will soon open the floodgates and send the resources needed to feed them.

This past year, however, has been one of our most difficult. South African port authorities repeatedly blocked the importation of our food containers from Meals from the Heartland and Convoy of Hope. Out of the 28 containers scheduled to arrive, only 5 made it through. In the midst of this challenge, many faithful donors stepped forward, giving approximately $400,000 to help us purchase food locally in Africa. Our own farm also had a strong year, producing thousands of eggs and large amounts of fresh vegetables. These blessings were clear answers to prayer, even though the need remains great.

My home state of Iowa is known as the world’s breadbasket, and right in our capital city stands The World Food Prize, an incredible organization dedicated to ending global hunger. Our relationship with them continues to be a tremendous blessing, providing valuable connections and support as we work to fight food insecurity here in Africa.

While our feeding program has faced serious challenges, the rest of our ministry has continued to thrive. In January, we will drill our 101st well and complete our 350th dry composting toilet stall—replacing dangerous pit toilets that tragically claim the lives of young children in preschools across South Africa. We also hosted 10 short-term mission teams this year, each one seeming larger and more enthusiastic than the last. At the current pace, it appears that by 2027, we may need a waiting list for mission trip participants. In fact, our January 2026 team will include 32 people, well above our past cap of 20.

This upcoming January is shaping up to be especially exciting. Father Ray McHenry, a retired priest from St. Francis of Assisi, will be leading his 11th mission team from Iowa’s largest Catholic church. They will be joined by 15 representatives from Hy-Vee, whose One Step Water program has generously funded more than 40 wells. Eric Hanson and a videographer from KCCI, Iowa’s largest TV market, will also be joining us to share the story of how Iowans are impacting the lives of children halfway around the world. In addition, representatives from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Drake, Simpson, and Grand View Universities will be participating.

I feel deeply blessed to have spent the past 24 years living half the time in America and half the time in Africa. And I feel just as blessed that our son Dustin is prepared to carry this ministry forward into the next generation.

It has now been 30 years since I became a born-again Christian. I had always been a faithful churchgoer, but I did not fully surrender my life to Christ until I was 50 years old. Over these past three decades, I have learned to rely completely on God—not my own strength, intellect, or resources. I’ve learned that difficult seasons are simply part of life on this side of Heaven. And even though this has been the most challenging year our feeding program has ever faced, I fully expect 2026 to be our best year yet.

Thank you to everyone who has journeyed with me and supported the work God has called us to do. I often say, “Life is better when you share it.” I truly believe that.

Happy Thanksgiving. I’ll be back in touch right after Christmas.

I love you guys,
Doc