Everyone has heard the news of the terrorist attacks in Burkina Faso.  It started in one of our favorite spots, Cappuccino, a great place for a coffee and a good book; then moved across the street to the Splendid Hotel.  I was half a mile down the road with a large group of missionaries in another favorite restaurant when the calls and texts started coming through about 7:30 that Friday night.  We were instructed to take the back roads and go straight to the mission guesthouse.

We soon learned missionary Mike Riddering (husband to Amy), who ran the orphanage a couple blocks away from my home in Yako had been at Cappuccino and unaccounted for.  About twenty-four hours later, he was identified at the morgue.

We also learned at the same time, missionaries Ken and Jocelyn Elliott, had been forcibly taken from their homes.  We assume this was part of the same attack, but do not yet have news.  Their co-worker, Chuck, has made it safely to Ouaga; along with other missionaries who were living near the northern borders of Burkina.

The bible tells us not to be intimidated by these enemies (Phil 1:28) for this will be a sign that they will be destroyed and yet we will be saved by God himself.  It continues in verse 29, saying we not only have the privilege of trusting in Christ, but also the privilege of suffering for him.  We would all rather do without the suffering part!  However, I am peaceful because I know I am saved by God himself.  Let’s just make sure prayer is our absolute priority.  The God who lives in us is so much more powerful than all the evil that exists in this world.