“My mom told the midwife to kill the baby,” Thin said. Thin’s mom feared her grandson would not grow up as a normal child because of his cleft lip. She didn’t know how he would eat since he couldn’t breastfeed and worried he would be teased when he got older. Neither Thin nor her mom…
Old Burdens Go Up in Flames Giving Marine Couple Fresh Start
Marine Corporal Tim Read had just knocked out a couple miles of hiking and a steep descent to the falls of the Tanalian River—on one leg. “That was the fastest I’ve hiked in a long time,” he said. Then, he knelt on the banks, his left prosthetic leg digging into the sand, as he scraped…
Embracing God’s Strength in Weakness
For many years, the Carbullidos’ combat experiences remained a mystery roiling under the surface of their marriage. Air Force Master Sergeant David Carbullido considered it his duty to lock away those moments into a dark corner of his mind. He thought it was an absolute necessity in order to stay engaged in the work at…
A Fresh Start
Army Specialist Jason Tyson was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, when he met Jodina, a school teacher. The first time Jodina came to visit him on base she brought homemade cookies and “it was love at first bite,” Jason said. “I knew we were meant for each other.” Jodina also knew after that first…
Veteran Couples Find Spiritual Renewal in Alaska
The last thing Natalie heard was a mortar round exploding and her husband shouting, “We’re taking incoming.” Then, the phone line went dead. Natalie wondered if that was the last time she’d hear his voice. Natalie endured many restless days and nights while her husband, Army Sergeant Eddie Shanks, was deployed to Afghanistan in 2010.…
Rescuing Military Marriages in Alaska
Army Sergeant Ian Hunt and his wife Maria were desperate for healing and for change when they arrived in Alaska this year for Week 5 of the Operation Heal Our Patriots summer season. There were moments during their time in Alaska that were filled with tears and turmoil, but God was at work in all…
We want to Finish Well
God Used a Fishing Trip in Alaska to Reel in a Veteran Who No Longer Believed
Standing waist-deep in chilly water just downstream from Tanalian Falls, Army Specialist Eric Stacy had hooked a large Arctic grayling, one of the most beautiful freshwater fish in Alaska—”the sailfish of the north” with its sweeping, colorful dorsal fin. He was reeling in this prize catch one moment, and the next was watching that signature…
Walking Together in New Life
Army Staff Sergeant Chad Hindal doesn’t talk to many folks about his two deployments to Iraq where he helped protect convoys along roads lined with IEDs and sniper fire. His job was to clear these threats from the desert thoroughfares and provide safe passage for supplies and soldiers. And Chad was eager for the opportunity.…