Franklin Graham Update | July

Dear Friend,

I was in Alaska for the first week of Operation Heal Our Patriots, and I can't believe this summer marks our 15th season in America's Last Frontier ministering to military couples. I am grateful for how God has blessed this work, as we now have welcomed more than 2,000 families into our program since 2012. Hundreds of men and women have turned from their sins and placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, with many marriages restored. All glory to God!

Each week for 17 weeks a new group of up to 10 couples is warmly greeted by our staff and volunteers as well as town residents. Everyone lines up along the gravel runway waving flags and cheering on the planes as they arrive. Our heroic military couples find it among the most meaningful moments of their trip.

"It made us feel overwhelmed with thankfulness," said Marine Corporal Jason Bush who attended the retreat with his wife, Julia (both pictured above at the table). I was glad to be the first one to welcome them and shake their hands as they stepped down from the plane.

The Georgia couple has been married 11 years, but this was the first marriage training event they'd ever attended. "Being able to reconnect with one another—we needed this so badly," Jason said.

They both rededicated their lives to Christ during the week and were grateful for the care and support they received. "The way the staff pours into us is really a blessing. It's so obvious that it's completely ordained by God," he said.

On the very first evening, Chad and Tamara Kleist asked to meet with one of our retired military chaplains and his wife. Chad, an Army staff sergeant, was nearly at his breaking point after an 18-year military career—which included deployments to Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan—had left him with post-traumatic stress and other injuries. Tamara was suffering with grief after a miscarriage and also dealing with general anxiety and disappointment in life. Both faced challenges with blending their families from previous marriages. They also have an autistic, nonverbal son.

They were searching for God and knew they needed help. "We kept looking for something, but we just weren't sure what it was," Tamara said.

The chaplain explained the Gospel of Jesus Christ, including repentance and faith. He shared the eternal hope that comes with trusting Him as Lord and Savior. He used Scripture to assure them that their son was created in God's image and has a purpose in His Kingdom.

"We gave our hearts to Jesus that night," Chad said. "It's a whole new beginning for us. This time, we're going to do it with Jesus."

On their last day in Alaska, the Kleists were baptized in the icy cold waters of Lake Clark. After a week of Biblically based workshops and relationship-building activities in the pristine wilderness, they felt ready to return home to Minnesota to a new life.

"Sometimes it feels too late to start something new—but it's never too late. I know that now," Tamara said. "When we go home, God will be our focus."

Our Family Care team will follow up with the Kleists and all of our Operation Heal Our Patriots couples over the long term, providing spiritual encouragement, discipleship, and resources. The Bible tells us: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). We rejoice with all those who are coming to the Lord this summer in Alaska!

The Fight Against Ebola

Ebola infections continue to rise in the northeastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Following our first 767 airlift to Uganda, we made dozens of additional flights from that neighboring nation to Congo to transport staff; personal protective equipment (PPE) like gloves, boots, masks, and suits; and materials for an Ebola Treatment Center. The 40-bed center opened in mid-June in Bunia, the epicenter of the outbreak.

"Our facility is set up both to isolate patients to prevent transmission in the community, but also to provide high-quality care and dignity to those who are suffering from this disease," said emergency medicine physician assistant Shannon Hamilton, our team lead on the ground. "Every patient has a window in their room where the family can safely come and see the patient without being exposed to Ebola."

Samaritan's Purse is also working with a Christian mission hospital in nearby Nyankunde. This longtime partner has been hit especially hard by the virus. We've opened a 31-bed center there too and are providing infection prevention training as well as PPE.

We have installed more than 100 hand-washing stations around the area, trained hundreds of healthcare workers, and provided life-saving information to thousands of people on how to prevent the spread of this deadly disease. As I write this, a second 767 flight is scheduled to deliver many additional tons of desperately needed PPE.

We pray these treatment centers will bring hope to families and communities that are scared and hurting. We want them to know God loves them. We ask for your prayers for our medical teams as they provide care to very sick people. Please continue to pray for all those affected and for an end to this outbreak. Thank you, and may God bless you.

Sincerely,
Franklin Graham