Missionaries Return To Florida After Burkina Faso Terror Attacks
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- A group of missionaries from South Florida are returning from Burkina Faso following a number of deadly terror attacks linked to Al-Qaeda.
Fifteen missionaries from the West Pines Community Church in Pembroke Pines are set to return Wednesday.
The team's scheduled 10-day trip to the West African nation was cut short by the attacks that killed 30 people including one of the team's missionary partners and South Florida native Michael Riddering.
The group says he was waiting for the group in a cafe Friday in the capital of Ouagadougou when terrorists struck, taking his life. They later crossed the street and attacked the Splendid Hotel where they took hostages who were later freed.
The missionaries say they found out about the attacks while on board a flight Friday. Their pilot was notified of a disturbance in the capital prompting their flight to be diverted to Niger then to Togo.
The team returned to Burkina Faso on Saturday where they had since been waiting to travel back to the United States.
The returning missionaries include everyday people like teachers, firefighters and homemakers.
As for Riddering, the group says his brother Jeff plans to travel to Burkina Faso to officiate a memorial service.
"He wanted to be buried in Africa," Jeff said of his brother.
They will also have a public memorial service at Riddering's home church - Hollywood Community Church. In the name of Riddering's legacy, a memorial fund has been set up. Click here for more information.
