Posted on 08/04/2005 6:13:19 PM PDT by SandRat
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Aug. 4, 2005 – In an effort to support the troops, the Liberty Baptist Church here opened its doors to Marines, sailors of the 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment and their families during the Family First Seminar.
The purpose of the day-long seminar was to provide advice and counseling to couples to help them better cope with the stress brought on by deployments. Those in attendance listened to speakers offer advice on subjects such as love, improving communication skills and the role of spirituality in a relationship. Other speakers quoted passages from the bible and offered personal anecdotes of challenges and lessons learned.
Navy Lt. Richard Wiese, battalion chaplain, 1/4, and organizer of the seminar, said he noticed an increased need for family counseling from Marines and sailors immediately following their return from deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in February.
“I’ve counseled many of our husbands and wives, all with similar problems,” said Wiese. “I thought to myself, instead of having counseling sessions on an individual basis, why not just have a large group of them?”
To accomplish his mission, Wiese enlisted the support of the Liberty Baptist Church. The church was sympathetic to the challenges families face during deployments. The church provided lunch and volunteer speakers offered their advice and counseling.
“Having them here is an excellent opportunity to help them and stop whatever problems they may be going through,” said Carl Remy, an 11-year church member and 20-year Marine veteran. “I’ve seen and made the same mistakes,” he said.
According to Wiese, the infantry unit has not had time to have an event like this because of operational commitments and deployments. But now, thanks to Wiese and the church, many families will receive the much-needed support.
“Now that we’re back home, we can take some time away from work and spend it with our families,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Frankie Arteaga, the battalion’s religious planner.
During the seminar, some couples nestled together in the church pews and listened attentively to the lessons and advice from the presenters.
“The seminar is helping my wife and I,” said Lance Cpl. Noe Vega, who came to the seminar with his wife Dalia. Vega and Dalia, both Houston natives, admit that there is much more to maintaining a healthy relationship than just love for one another. “There is so much more that goes into it,” said Vega, alluding to the topics of communication, respect for one another and spirituality covered in the seminar. “The seminar is opening my eyes to see things differently in our relationship,” said Vega.
“It has given us a better understanding of the foundations of the family,” added Dalia, while holding her husband’s hand.
Wiese spoke about the difficulties couples and their families face during deployments.
“When one is deployed, it is difficult to maintain a good relationship. I’m speaking from experience and I’ve been married for 11 years,” said Wiese, speaking to an audience with an average age of 24 and many with marriages only a few months old.
According to Wiese, although young couples who do not have a strong foundation are more susceptible to the stresses brought on by deployment, those who have been together longer are also at risk.
Amanda Brown, who is engaged to Cpl. David Avalos, rifleman, Company C, 1/4, admitted to being one of those couples at risk. Even though she and Avalos have been together almost every day since high school, his deployment was very hard on their relationship.
“It was difficult for both of us,” said Avalos. “When I got back, [from deployment] we argued a lot, and sometimes we wouldn’t even talk. The seminar has shown us things that we didn’t know about communication,” said Avalos.
Now they both say they are better prepared to weather the tough times.
“It [the seminar] has shown us how to be more understanding of each other. So when the next deployment comes, we’ll be ready for it and know what to expect,” added Avalos with a renewed sense of optimism.
The optimism shared by Avalos and Vega may soon be put to the test. Many of the Marines and sailors of 1/4 expect to deploy again in early 2006.
Although Wiese admits that this first seminar is not a silver bullet for the challenges faced by his Marines, sailors and their families, he does share their optimism. “I think the seminar has proven successful,” said Wiese. “We’re making better, stronger families.”
Putting on GOD's Armor to protect the Families of those deployed
Too cool!!
I love this! Spiritual support helps so much.
God bless all of them...and you.
BTTT!!!!!
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