The Lord did amazing things as nine military couples came to Samaritan Lodge Alaska for six days starting Memorial Day weekend
The first week of the 2022 Operation Heal Our Patriots summer season (May 29-June 3) got off to a quick start and ended powerfully. On the very first night that military couples arrived at Samaritan Lodge, Marine Staff Sergeant Martin Lucero and his wife, Courtney, received Christ after 90 minutes of counsel with one of our chaplains.
Marine Staff Sergeant Martin and Courtney Lucero reconnected with God and each other in Alaska.
“We gave ourselves to God and accepted Him into our hearts,” Courtney said. “We feel closer to each other and to God.”
Then, at lunch on Friday, just a couple hours before couples departed, Army Specialist William Hurl and his wife, Paula, were saved.
“I’m going to give it a shot,” William said, which is significant for a man who battled the unseen injuries of war through “drinking, drugging, and fighting” for more than a decade. The smiles on their faces that day spoke volumes.
Earlier on Friday morning, six couples publicly rededicated their marriages to God and each other, including the Luceros and Hurls. Just after that, Martin and Courtney; Army Sergeant Sean Karpf; and Army Specialist Joe Miller and his wife, Sarah, were all baptized in the chilly waters of Lake Clark.
Army Specialist William Hurl and his wife, Paula, rededicated their marriage in Alaska.
Joe and Sarah were saved at the camp on Wednesday. Joe served as a military police officer in Afghanistan in 2018-19 and deals with anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and a traumatic brain injury as a result of his service there. In recent years, they would describe their marriage as “more sad times than good times,” but they believe they got a fresh start in Alaska as individuals and as a couple.
“I dedicated my life to the Lord Jesus Christ,” Joe said of his salvation. “It was a big weight lifted off my shoulders. Just leaving the chapel I felt like I was a new person….I want to grow our [marriage] bond and make it stronger than ever before.”
It was an amazing start to the season! Praise God!
Stories of Renewed Hope; Just the Start of an Amazing Summer
Nine military couples, each with a spouse wounded or injured in combat after 9/11, participated in Week One of this year’s 17-week season. They arrived by plane to a flag-waving crowd of lodge staff members and town residents on Sunday afternoon. Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham greeted each couple personally as they deplaned.
Staff and couples honor fallen military veterans during a Memorial Day service.
Couples joined our staff again on Monday morning to remember fallen military veterans during a special chaplain-led Memorial Day service. Ninety-three names were read aloud, each name linked to bracelets tacked in previous years to the lodge flagpole. Operation Heal Our Patriots couples often leave these memorials at our camp in Alaska to honor deceased comrades dear to them.
After that, from Monday through Thursday, couples enjoyed a full schedule of Biblically based marriage classes, optional counseling with chaplains, morning devotions, and wilderness excursions, including hiking to Tanalian Falls, fishing in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, wildlife viewing, and more. Marriage classes focused on topics such as improving communication, resolving conflict, and forgiving one another. The Gospel was clearly presented to all.
To start Friday, four couples nailed memorial bracelets to the flagpole in a ceremony that bookended the week. One of our chaplains also added a three-name bracelet from a 2017 couple. That put the total number of names honored at Samaritan Lodge to more than 100.
The day continued with marriage rededications, baptisms, a fireside farewell, and an emotional departure.
Army Sergeant Josh Hooker and his wife, Tiana, were among six couples who participated in a marriage rededication ceremony.
Army Sergeant Josh Hooker and his wife, Tiana, were among those rededicating their marriage. Both of Josh’s legs were badly injured in an IED blast in Baghdad in 2006; his left leg was eventually amputated below the knee. Early in their marriage they had to work through lots of issues stemming from Josh’s post-traumatic stress. And in the couple years the couple has faced additional stressors: the birth of a child, the death of Josh’s mom, and a surgery on Josh’s right leg that left him in a wheelchair for months. Of course, all that went on during a worldwide pandemic. Both Josh and Tiana are Christ followers, and welcomed the opportunity to work on their relationship in Alaska.
“We are strong believers in wanting to continue to work on our marriage,” Tiana said. They said they sharpened their communication skills through the week’s classes and can pass on what they learned to their three children.
Sean Karpf, who deployed twice to Afghanistan, was the fifth person baptized. In 2012 he lost a leg below the knee as the result of an IED. After a medical retirement from the military, he served for several years as an assistant strength and conditioning coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Though some things seemed to be going well, their marriage was floundering.
Brandy, his wife, put it plainly: “We were struggling. We’ve had some challenges.”
She had been praying for their marriage and believed Operation Heal Our Patriots was going to be an answer to those prayers. Thank God, it was.
Army Sergeant Sean Karpf smiles after being baptized in Lake Clark.
“I felt the tug to grow closer to God,” Sean said of his turn to faith in Christ. “This is the change we both need.”
Brandy spoke at the fireside farewell and said: “This week has meant everything to Sean and me. It was an answer from God. This trip saved us. That means our kids get to keep Mom and Dad, right? Thank you.”
Finally, as the week came to an emotional close, Operation Heal Our Patriots Program Director John Pryor reminded couples that their Alaska experience is only the start of their relationship with Samaritan’s Purse. Through our ongoing Family Care ministry, we’re making a lifetime commitment to continue to help strengthen each marriage.
“When you get back home and you’re back in the trenches of life—your life feels like a struggle and it’s hard—remember your Operation Heal Our Patriots family. We’re here with you guys,” John said.
“This is a mountaintop experience, this is beautiful Alaska, but when you’re in the trenches, we’re there with you as well. Pick up the phone and call us. That’s why we’re here.”
Army Specialist Joe Miller and his wife, Sarah, were saved and baptized during their stay at Samaritan Lodge Alaska. Praise God!
