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The pristine waters of Lake Clark are a far cry from the dusty desert where many U.S. soldiers have been serving their country for the past several years. The lake is one of the deepest in Alaska and spans 42 miles through rugged wilderness.

Samaritan Lodge Alaska is nestled into five acres on the quiet shoreline. Samaritan's Purse constructed the retreat center as part of a project called Operation Heal Our Patriots, a program designed to share God's healing love with wounded military heroes and their spouses. The lodge is a place where America’s own victims of war can receive physical and spiritual restoration .

Capt. James Fisher, who has served as a chaplain in the military for more than 30 years, will provide devotions, marriage resources, marriage seminars, and pastoral counseling to all visitors of the lodge.

“It’s essentially a five-day program for the couples,” he said. “Each day there’s going to be a series of marriage classes, and it would involve communication techniques and family considerations. We’ll also be talking about the five love languages, temperament analysis, and finances. We’ll be looking at healthy Christian sexuality and, of course, developing a spiritual devotional life with each other.”

Fisher said that he understands the dynamics of warfare and how it affects families and marriages. Assimilating back into civilian life can be difficult for people who have experienced the horrors of combat.

“What we hope to accomplish is restoration of relationships and affirmation of relationships,” he said. “Marriage is a long-term and sometimes difficult commitment. People have to be thinking for the long haul.”

As someone who has been married for 35 years, Fisher knows that marriage isn’t always easy. He said he and his wife are an example of the power of longevity in a relationship. Without God, they couldn’t have overcome the obstacles and challenges, and that’s why all of his lesson are Christ-focused.

“The biggest encouragement is affirming one’s relationship with Christ—at least addressing one’s need for the relationship with Christ,” he said. “If you put Jesus at the top of the triangle and the woman on one side, the man on the other side, as the individuals grow closer to Christ, they also grow closer to each other. Christ has to be at the center of the relationship. I also encourage people to become vessels of grace, kindness, and compassion.”

Fisher hopes to encourage all of the lodge attendees to become involved in a body of Christ once they return to their hometowns. He said that through a church, a veteran could receive the support he needs to assimilate into civilian life. Fisher is confident that with the affirmation of Christ’s promise, a wounded soldier will return home relaxed and ready to serve his family with the passion he had when he served his country.