Marine’s New Assignment: Foster Dad

For 19 years, Aarond has served as a United States Marine, maintaining crucial radio and computer systems.

Aarond says, “I’m proud to serve my country because I feel that this is the greatest country on Earth. And I feel that God blesses our country because of the people that serve.”

Aarond and his wife, Christina, have five children and like most military families, find deployments very challenging. 

Christina shares, “My faith is absolutely necessary to get through deployments.”

Aarond says, “When you’re in that situation everybody starts thinking a little bit more about what if something really bad were to happen.  Our faith absolutely helps us take comfort that everything’s going to be okay.”   

Another challenge the family is facing is financial.   They incurred several sudden, large expenses, including funeral costs when Christina’s mother died.  It all made their dream to foster and adopt children much more difficult. 

Aarond says, “Are we going to be able to make sure that everything’s in place for the child to be comfortable and happy?”

Christina adds, “…and the repairs that we have on the vehicle.  And we actually had our second vehicle die.   And it seems like a crazy, crazy time to get a foster license.”

Still, they believe God will make a way for them to proceed.  

“And we’re going to do it,” explains Christina. “And it’s going to be wonderful.  It’s going to be glorious chaos.”

Their church, New Song Community in Oceanside, California, contacted Helping the Home Front and asked if we could help with the family’s expenses.  We gladly agreed.  Pastor Hal Seed was happy to deliver the good news.  

“You know I’ve pastored marines like you guys for 24 years and I have never had the privilege of giving the news that I’m going to give you,” says Pastor Seed. “So I am delighted to tell you that your mother’s funeral expenses are going to be paid by CBN, and the third seat you need in your SUV so you can adopt - we’ve arranged for a mechanic to install that for you.  And your vehicle that you need fixed, they are going to take care of your repairs on that too.  And then there’s the shopping spree to take care of clothes and furniture and all those kinds of things as well.”   

Christina beams, “I think for me, it’s mind-blowing.  Because we aren’t used to being blessed in this way.”

That day, CBN took Aarond and Christina to have their van repaired.   Then it was time for a shopping spree for baby furniture and other items.  This hardworking Marine family can now focus on welcoming children into their home  with full hearts and every need met.  

Aarond says, “This is absolutely an answer to prayer.  And this isn’t the picture that I had in my mind. So it’s very interesting to see how God works. (It's) way better than my plan or way better than I would’ve thought of.”