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About-Face

Military couples turn and begin journey of healing.

By Compelling Story

December 22^nd, 2020

The Breaking Point

“One day I was driving down the road and I thought, ‘I don’t want to deal with this anymore.’ I tried to kill myself and I drove my car into a wall.”

The car was totaled, but Army Sergeant Shawn Augustson walked away without injury.

Military couples arriving at Samaritan Lodge Alaska receive a warm welcome from staff and the local community.

Army Sergeant Shawn Augustson and his wife Melody.

“One day I was driving down the road and I thought, ‘I don’t want to deal with this anymore.’ ”

His wife Melody assumed the 2012 car wreck was an accident caused by Shawn’s drinking, which started when Shawn returned home injured after a deployment to Iraq.

It would be more than a year later before Shawn told Melody, or anyone, what really happened that day on the highway.

The Port Alsworth community always comes out to welcome the veterans to Samaritan Lodge Alaska.

Shawn had been in emotional turmoil as the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) overwhelmed him. He was depressed, anxious, and couldn’t sleep due to incessant nightmares. Physically, Shawn’s back pain worsened and a herniated disc eventually put him in a wheelchair for six months before he had surgery.

Left to right: Army Sergeant Dan McAfee and his wife Colleen, Army Sergeant Shawn Augustson and his wife Melody, and Marine Staff Sergeant Tre Tremillo and his wife Tina enjoy a hike to Tanalian Falls.

Franklin Graham visits with Army Staff Sergeant John Ricketts and his wife Christina.

Although worn out and weary, the Augustsons have kept their hearts fixed on Jesus Christ and trusted Him for Shawn’s healing and for restoration in their marriage.

“I know the promises we have in the Bible,” Melody said. “We’ve survived 100 percent of our worst days.”

Shawn and Melody Augustson prepare to board a float plane and head to Katmai National Park for a day of bear viewing.

When Melody and Shawn came to Alaska this summer for Operation Heal Our Patriots, they were ready to focus on their marriage without distractions and to grow closer to God.

Operation Heal Our Patriots—the Samaritan’s Purse project for military personnel wounded after 9/11 and their spouses—brings 10 couples each week for 16 weeks in the summer to Samaritan Lodge for Biblically-based marriage enrichment classes led by retired military chaplains. Couples also bond through activities such as wildlife viewing, fishing, kayaking, and hiking.

Our chaplains encourage each spouse to use the week in Alaska as an opportunity to make a life-changing about-face—to turn toward marriage renewal and spiritual revival.

For Shawn and Melody, Operation Heal Our Patriots did become that catalyst for change.

“We wanted to leave the past here and start over,” Melody said. “We can be made new. We can go home and be a new husband and wife and a new mom and dad to our kids.”

“We wanted to leave the past here and start over,” Melody said. “We can be made new.”

The Augustons were one of dozens of couples so far this year who publicly rededicated their marriage to God and each other while in Alaska.

Participants learn the basics of kayaking before taking to the chilly Lake Clark waters.

Shawn Augustson proudly displays his catch.

New Life in Christ

When Army Staff Sergeant Rich Workman was deployed, he would call his wife Cherie at the same time every day. One day, when the call didn’t come, she worried.

Rich had been injured in Iraq when a fast-moving ATV rolled over his foot. After a near amputation, Rich would have 10 surgeries in the next six months.

Army Staff Sergeant Rich Workman and his wife Cherie at Kijik River.

“He was in a lot of pain and watching him not be active was hard, because he is such a go-getter,” Cherie said.

Rich was in a wheelchair for three months and Cherie had to do everything for him. But handling things on her own had become normal after years of military deployments and long absences from home.

Cherie Workman learned to fly fish in Kijik.

In Alaska, Cherie discovered that she’d been doing life on her own for too long instead of relying on God.

“I gave my life to Jesus,” she said. “I knew about God, but I didn’t have a relationship with Him.”

Left to right: Army Staff Sergeant Rich Workman and his wife Cherie, and Army Master Sergeant James Keith and his wife Courtney, and Marine Sergeant Mike Allison and his wife Courtney.

“I gave my life to Jesus,” she said. “I knew about God, but I didn’t have a relationship with Him.”

Both Tre and Tina Tremillo prayed to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior while in Alaska. They also rededicated their marriage to God.

Rich rededicated his life to God, and they were both baptized in the chilly waters of Lake Clark.

Through the marriage classes, counseling with our chaplains, and time to talk without distractions, the Workmans enjoyed a rare and unique space to be honest with each other.

Army Staff Sergeant Marcus Evans and his wife Heather bonded during activities such as kayaking on Lake Clark.

Army Master Sergeant James Keith and his wife Courtney.

In Alaska, Army Sergeant Dan McAfee and his wife Colleen grew in their relationship with God and with each other.

“For the first time in 13 years I opened up to my wife about what happened on deployment; stuff I’ve been denying and hiding,” Rich said. “Our marriage has grown tremendously since we landed in Alaska.”

“We are able to talk with other soldiers and spouses. We feel more comfortable talking because we’re all going through the same thing,” said Anela Dekoning about her OHOP experience. Her husband, Captain, served in the Army for about 18 years.

“For the first time in 13 years I opened up to my wife about what happened on deployment; stuff I’ve been denying and hiding,” Rich said.

Army Staff Sergeant Stuart and his wife Army Specialist Gennie Butler (foreground) explore Katmai National Park.

‘I’m Ready to Give My Life Back to God’

Army Staff Sergeant Stuart and his wife Army Specialist Gennie Butler were also baptized in Alaska, as they both rededicated their life to the Lord after a week of spiritual transformation.

“All I did lately was isolate myself from my family,” Stuart said. “I thought I could do everything my way.”

Our retired military chaplains lead couples through Biblically-based marriage enrichment classes.

Army Specialist Gennie Butler rededicated her life to God and was baptized in Lake Clark.

“All I did lately was isolate myself from my family,” Stuart said. “I thought I could do everything my way.”

“I know that we are ready to go on with the rest of our lives together with tools and strength like we’ve never had before,” Ruth said.

During a deployment to Afghanistan, Stuart’s vehicle was hit by an IED, resulting in Stuart needing neck surgery. He still has severe migraines, loss of peripheral vision, and PTSD.

Stuart learned in Alaska that in order to heal he must open up to his wife about the lingering hurt in his heart.

Gennie and her husband, Army Staff Sergeant Stuart, rededicated their marriage to God and to each other in Alaska.

Left to right: Army Sergeant Daniel Upshaw and his wife Kim, Army Captain Roger Benimoff and his wife Bekah, and Army Master Sergeant James Keith and his wife Courtney at Dick Proenneke’s remote log cabin. Dick was a legendary naturalist.

Gennie also learned the importance of opening up not only to her spouse, but to God. “I had decided I would be a better god of my life and I would be in charge. After coming here, I was reminded that I’m not the better god—Jesus is. I’m ready to give my life back to God.”

Whitney and her husband, Army Specialist Jacob Ellison (red jacket), experienced spiritual transformation in Alaska. Whitney prayed to receive Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and Jacob rededicated his life to God.

Vows Renewed

Marine Sergeant Landon Beck and his wife Jessica met and married after Landon had finished in the military. When his PTSD came out of nowhere, on top of their financial strains, they found themselves on the verge of divorce. They lost their jobs, apartment, and car.

In that dark time, Jessica and Landon turned back to God. “God got a hold of us and we started seeking Him,” Jessica said.

Left to right: Marine Sergeant Landon Beck and his wife Jessica, Army Sergeant First Class Phil Bell and his wife Amy, Army Staff Sergeant Marcus Evans and his wife Heather.

Marine Sergeant Landon Beck and his wife Jessica turned back to God during a dark season in their marriage. Now, they are committed to keeping Christ at the center of their marriage.

Their time in Alaska through Operation Heal Our Patriots allowed them to focus on growing in their relationship with God and they rededicated their marriage to Him and to each other. “God was saving this opportunity for this season in our marriage,” Jessica said.

Army Sergeant Dan McAfee and his wife Colleen also rededicated their marriage to God because they desperately needed to “reaffirm what God has put between us,” Colleen explained. “Our marriage has been very broken, and there’s been a lot of hurt.”

“Our marriage has been very broken, and there’s been a lot of hurt,” Colleen explained.

James Keith enjoys fly fishing at the bottom of Tanalian Falls with his guide.

That hurt led to a yearlong separation during which Colleen wondered if their marriage would survive. Dan’s struggle with PTSD wasn’t getting easier, his drinking was out of control, and he wasn’t walking with Christ.

“For years I’ve been spiritually stagnant,” he said. “I was too afraid to be the spiritual leader of our household because I worried I was going to fail.”

“This couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. It’s our anniversary week,” said Courtney Allison, who came to Alaska with husband Marine Sergeant Mike. “We want to make sure we stay on the narrow path.”

“I was too afraid to be the spiritual leader of our household because I worried I was going to fail.”

The Becks recommitted their marriage to God and to each other during a special ceremony at Samaritan Lodge Alaska.

Not long before this summer, there had been some reconciliation in their relationship. While in Alaska with us, Dan and Colleen were excited to learn practical steps to grow in their faith and in their marriage. They also carried home a lot of love from our chaplains and staff that pointed them back to their Savior’s steadfast love. Now they feel like they’re headed down the right path.

The Workmans were both baptized in Lake Clark. Cherie prayed to receive Jesus in Alaska and Rich rededicated his life to God.

“You loved us before we even arrived,” he said. “We felt like we had not been forgotten.”

The Tremillos rejoice after Tina's baptism. Tre was also baptized.

Army Sergeant First Class Thomas Moseley rededicated his life to God and was baptized in Lake Clark.

Operation Heal Our Patriots has welcomed more than 900 couples since the project began in 2012. We praise God that hundreds of veterans and spouses have experienced spiritual transformation in Alaska. To date, nearly 400 individuals have made commitments to Jesus Christ, more than 470 have been baptized, and nearly 450 couples have rededicated their marriages to God and to each other.