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…
Our Ministry
Disaster Assistance Response Team
Learn More About Serving on a Samaritan's Purse DISASTER ASSISTANCE RESPONSE TEAM A Disaster Assistance Response Team provides relief to victims of disaster while ↓ water food shelter medical care war poverty famine disease natural disaster sharing the hope of Jesus Christ A DART provides water, food, shelter, and medical care to victims of war, poverty, famine, disease, and natural disaster while sharing…
Discipleship, Education & Training
New Friendships, Stronger Marriages Built Among Military Couples
Army Sergeant Larry Kaibetoney and his wife Chani touched down on the runway at Samaritan Lodge Alaska to a hero’s welcome—with a crowd, young and old, cheering and waving American flags. They might have expected such a welcome after Larry’s injury in Iraq more than a decade ago, but those hopes had never before materialized.…
Discipleship, Education & Training
“My Life Has Been Changed”
Army Sergeant Marco Solt expected to find improvised explosive devices (IED) during their route clearance mission in Iraq. That was his job as a combat engineer. They’d find the bombs and neutralize them. But this bomb found their vehicle first. In the confusing seconds after the explosion, he thought he’d lost his teeth. However, it…
Fresh Start in Alaska Based on a Rock-Solid Foundation
Marine Master Sergeant Al Aranda entered a Marine recruiting office as a young man trying to make a better life for himself and to become a good example to the family he might have one day. Now more than 21 years later, after two combat deployments and three years as a Marine Corps drill instructor,…
Discipleship, Education & Training
Military Couple Finds a New Beginning in Christ
The first time Wayne Wilson learned how to drive, it was behind the wheel of a Humvee in Iraq. The 17-year-old had joined the Army to escape from an abusive home, going straight from high school into basic training. He graduated from Airborne School and was immediately deployed on his first combat tour in 2002.…
Health & Medical Ministries
We want to Finish Well
'We Want to Finish Well' World Medical Mission – A Ministry of Samaritan's Purse Spring 2024 A retired surgeon and his wife are looking forward to their 39th mission trip with Samaritan's Purse. World Medical Mission Serve with Us Apply Now Don't ask Dr. Sam and Liz Williams about their golf handicaps or clever shuffleboard strategies.…
Samaritan’s Purse Volunteers Bring Relief in Jesus’ Name to Georgia and the Florida Panhandle
SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER FOR OUR HURRICANE MICHAEL RESPONSE LATEST Oct. 18, 8:30 a.m. Our volunteers are hard at work in Albany, Georgia, and in the Florida Panhandle where our teams have received more than 1,500 work orders between the two locations. More than 300 volunteers so far have helped respond to the need. Many…
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…
Discipleship, Education & Training
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.…
