Joe and Julie Valencia reconnected in Alaska and rediscovered their faith in God.
Samaritan’s Purse launched Operation Heal Our Patriots to minister to military service members wounded after 9/11. Our commitment to these couples starts with a week of Biblically based marriage classes and wilderness excursions in the pristine wilderness surrounding Lake Clark National Park. After they come home from what for many is a life-changing experience, Samaritan’s Purse continues to walk with these couples for life as part of our Family Care program. As Franklin Graham likes to tell these couples, “You’re family now.”
One new family member named Joe Valencia fought in Fallujah with the Marines. When he was in the eighth grade, he decided he would enlist when he graduated from high school after seeing the Twin Towers attacked on 9/11. When Joe returned from horrific fighting in Iraq, he was battle-tough outside but empty inside. He shut down his feelings.
“The military made me hard, emotionless,” he said. “I’ve been very cold. It’s something I never talked about before coming to Alaska. Coming here was perfect timing.”
Operation Heal Our Patriots gave the Valencias time apart to reconnect with God and each other.
Leading up to their arrival at Samaritan Lodge Alaska, Joe and his wife, Julie, had been constantly fighting. “Night and day,” Joe said. When they weren’t arguing, they were mostly on their phones, ignoring one another.
“We’d sit next to each other but not talk,” Joe said. “We wouldn’t say a word except ‘good night.’ The next morning we’d get up and go, go, go. That’s a pretty dark place to be in.”
Disconnecting to Connect
When Joe and Julie arrived at Samaritan’s Lodge Alaska, they were able to disconnect from their phones and the hectic pace of life back home in Texas and spend quality time alone together for the first time in years.
“This is where you find hope.”
“It’s been great to just communicate with each other,” Julie said, “and see Joe interact with the other veterans. He’s allowing himself to be vulnerable and talk about whatever is on his mind.”
The couple jumped into the icy waters of Lake Clark during the polar plunge.
In Alaska, Joe and Julie also rediscovered their faith in God. They both were previously Christ followers, “but after the service I lost my way,” Joe said, and Julie abandoned Christianity because of all the problems that she and Joe had faced. But in Alaska all of that changed.
“Being here has made me want to continue my relationship with the Lord,” Julie said. “I want more of Him now. I love it!”
Joe and Julie both said that Operation Heal Our Patriots saved their marriage and that they can’t wait to tell others about it.
During the classes taught in Alaska, the Valencias learned how to put God at the center of their marriage.
“For the rest of my life, I will push anyone and everyone to be a part of this organization and get them up here,” Joe said. “This is where you find hope. But you have to accept Christ and be willing to put away your pride and be willing to work on yourself and, if you do, things get better. Disconnect. Understand your partner. Accept Christ. It’s the trifecta to a better life.”
The Valencias are among the 1,726 military couples welcomed to Samaritan Lodge Alaska since 2012. Praise God that 765 of these participants have received Christ as Lord and Savior and 904 have been baptized in the chilly waters of Lake Clark. In addition, 858 couples have recommitted their marriages to God.
VETERANS DON’T LEAVE THE HORRORS OF WAR BEHIND when they return from combat. They often suffer from invisible injuries along with physical wounds, and their marriages and families suffer, too. The crumbling marriages of U.S. veterans have become an epidemic across generations of combat-wounded veterans. We praise God that He continues to work through our Operation Heal Our Patriots program to transform the lives of these military couples. It all starts with a life-changing week at Samaritan Lodge Alaska that includes Biblically based marriage classes and excursions into the pristine wilderness. Then, our chaplains continue walking alongside veterans and their spouses through Family Care, which is the year-round, lifetime component of the program. A gift of $6,000 covers the cost for a couple, including airfare, lodging, and activities, as well as ongoing support.
