As the 2024 summer season concludes at Samaritan Lodge Alaska, we praise God for His redeeming work there in the marriages and lives of Operation Heal Our Patriots couples.
Navy Seaman David Boggs struggled with symptoms of post traumatic stress from his job on minesweeper missions in the Persian Gulf. Even years later he can still recount in detail nerve-wracking nights when their ship was targeted.
Navy Seaman David Boggs and his wife, Nicole, were baptized in Alaska.
As he fought against ongoing anxiety from his months at sea, his marriage with his wife, Nicole, became rote and cold at times. This is why they decided to apply for Operation Heal Our Patriots.
“If we hadn’t come here, I don’t think we’d have made it another six months,” David said. “Just a few days before we left, she said she wasn’t coming—that there was no point.” But the couple said that they learned a lot about love, respect, and communication during the chaplain-led marriage classes.
Marine Staff Sergeant Andrew Rundle and his wife, Edna, experienced healing from the past and a new vision for their future in Alaska.
And David learned a lot about his need for a relationship with God. He asked Jesus into his life while in Alaska, and Nicole rededicated her life to Christ. Both were baptized that week.
Marine Staff Sergeant Andrew Rundle and his wife, Edna, also felt God’s call on their lives in Alaska. They came to Samaritan Lodge to get on the same page as a couple, to work through the past, and to deal with grief over the death of friends. Some were fellow soldiers who fell during the war. Others died later—by suicide or drug overdose. One day Edna wore a shirt with the names of fallen Marines.
Chaplains and couples spent mornings and afternoons together exploring the wilderness area surrounding Samaritan Lodge Alaska.
In Alaska, God helped them redeem the past and also look toward the future. They honored fallen Marines in a special ceremony during which they nailed name bracelets to the main flagpole at camp. They learned during marriage classes how to honor their marriage. The longtime Christians said God also opened their eyes to new opportunities to serve.
“He’s given us a new perspective on life. A new perspective on my marriage. A new perspective and a new vision for how we want to go forward and how we want to spend the rest of our lives,” Andrew said. He recounted that they both signed up to volunteer on Samaritan’s Purse U.S. Disaster Relief responses with our Team Patriot program. “We want to spend our lives in service. We want to do what we’ve been called to do.”
Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham reminded couples of our lifelong commitment through Operation Heal Our Patriots.
These are just two of the 179 couples who came to Samaritan Lodge Alaska during the 2024 summer season of Operation Heal Our Patriots (May 26-September 20). Each week for 17 weeks, God worked powerfully to transform hearts and begin healing marriages during Biblically based marriage classes.
We give glory to God that 85 individuals received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, 33 people rededicated their lives to Him, and 104 individuals were baptized in Lake Clark. Also, 103 couples recommitted their marriages to God in a public ceremony at the camp.
Please continue to pray for all the couples who have become a part of the Operation Heal Our Patriots family this year. Pray also for the many other couples who will apply for our next season in Alaska. Applications open Feb. 1, 2025.
The program now has more than 1,900 military couples as part of our network. The program provides lifelong care, discipleship, and service opportunities through our Family Care ministry.
Couples are invited to participate in Fortify Your Marriage retreats where they can connect with each other and grow in their marriage relationship and in their walk with God. Samaritan’s Purse also hosts reunions and regional retreats. Our regional chaplains provide ongoing discipleship and care. And through our Key Leader program, military couples serve fellow veterans and spouses through year-round mentoring and Christian community.
