Over July 4 week we saw God at work in the lives and marriages of many military couples at Samaritan Lodge Alaska as they experienced the hope found only in the Gospel. We praise God that seven couples renewed their vows, seven individuals received Christ as Lord and Savior, and 12 men and women were…
Discipleship, Education & Training
Remembering 9/11, Strengthening Military Marriages
As the world marks the 21st anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Samaritan’s Purse continues to strengthen the marriages of wounded military veterans and spouses who’ve sacrificed so much to defend the freedoms our nation enjoys. The September 11 attacks are what led many to armed service, which included combat deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, and…
Crisis & Disaster Response
Volunteers Cleaning Up After South Carolina Tornado
Samaritan’s Purse has deployed to Spartanburg County, South Carolina, where an EF1 tornado left behind a 10-mile path of destruction on Thursday morning, Feb. 6. Our volunteer teams began work on Feb. 8 and they have helped almost 100 homeowners remove trees and debris and tarp damaged roofs. U.S. Disaster Relief staff are on the…
Discipleship, Education & Training
Remember Me
Retired Army Sergeant First Class Ronnie Busbin and his wife Beth of Cunningham, Tennessee, participated in the first week of the Operation Heal Patriots summer season in Alaska this year. Ronnie deployed to Iraq in 2004 and Afghanistan in 2006 and 2011-12. He suffers from multiple traumatic brain injuries received while performing his duties as…
Franklin Graham
Newsletter July 2023
Franklin Graham Update | July Franklin Graham Update | July ‘Why Am I Here?’ Patriots Discover God's Answer Mike and Michelle Black Dear Friend, When Marine Lance Corporal P.J. Kehs came home from his tour of duty in Iraq, not only was he battle-toughened, but he also had what he described as "a heart of rock." Mike and Michelle Black A veteran of Operation Phantom…
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…
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.…
More Than They Bargained For
Retired Army Staff Sergeant Ray Davis and his wife Rebecca applied to attend Operation Heal Our Patriots because they wanted to see Alaska: the Last Frontier. It wasn’t until the end of their week at Samaritan Lodge though that they realized just how desperately they had needed the time together. Yes, they expected to reconnect,…
Forgiveness and Forgiving
Army Sergeant James Sizemore and his wife, Krystle, were already best friends when they were married 10 years ago. James had already left the Army, but he struggled with post-traumatic stress after deploying during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Krystle encouraged him to seek help, and this allowed James to work on his mental health so the…
Crisis & Disaster Response
The Bible and Bullet Holes: Reminders of God’s Love
Books filled Vasyl’s* home in the Kherson region of Ukraine. His collection included nearly 3,000 titles that he treasured and held dear. Each one told a story and expanded his knowledge of the world. When the Kakhovka Dam broke in early June, however, his library was lost. Floodwaters rose more than four feet up the…
