Widow Of Man Killed In Burkina Faso Attack Says She'll Continue His Work
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COOPER CITY (CBSMiami) – From the outset of her first news conference Friday at the Hollywood Community Church, Amy Riddering told reporters that her unyielding faith and profound belief in God and Jesus would be the focus of her comments.
But never far from her words was the depth of love and devotion to her husband, Mike, who was killed by terrorists in Burkina Faso last month where the couple worked as missionaries.
Amy Riddering said despite the loss, her husband's goal would be for her to continue their work running an orphanage, schools and a medical clinic.
"He would be really excited," Riddering told reporters. "I could see him saying, 'This is great!'"
Their story is one of remarkable and unshakable faith in their religion and a singular dedication to improving the lives of others.
Mike Riddering and his wife sold their Cooper City home and business and moved more than 5,000 miles away to Burkina Faso in 2011 to open the Sheltering Wings facilities. It hasn't been without its challenges, Riddering said, but the rewards have been overwhelming.
"What it all comes down in the end is it doesn't matter what did you do," Amy Riddering said, "it matters how well did you love others and what kind of impact did you make."
She said on January 15th, Mike went to a cafe with a pastor to await the arrival of a group of missionaries from Pembroke Pines. That's when suspected al-Qaeda linked militants carried out an attack killing 30 people, including Mike.
She remembers the first call received.
"It was my husband's phone but he wasn't on the line," she said. "It was our pastor. He sounded very upset."
For 20 hours Amy Riddering didn't know if Mike was alive or dead. After she learned he was gone, she focused on their shared mission and moving forward.
"Mike, his message, his life and what he's done, his testimony, his love is able to make a difference to many, many people through the story that's being told," she said. "That's what gives me comfort."
The couple has two natural daughters in the U.S. and two adopted children in Burkina Faso. She said all the children at the orphanage have suffered with Mike's death.
"He was a father figure to a lot of kids that never had a father," she explained. "So they lost their dad."
But Amy promises to continue their work and believes Burkina Faso is safe. She said the nation has no connection to terrorism. She was asked about Mike's persistent and infectious smile that shines through in many photos of him.
"He was so filled with that love of Jesus and that's what was coming out," she said. "When he was loving people, it was Jesus loving people."
Amy Riddering will return to Burkina Faso later this month to continue the couple's work. She hopes Mike's story of faith and sacrifice inspires others to do the same.
