Cecile M. Genove

Editor's Note: The following letter was sent by Gracia Burnham to her mission partners in the Philippines who forwarded the copy via email to StarLife this week. The mission partners in the Philippines expressed their thanks to "all of you who prayed so faithfully those 377 days that Martin and Gracia were held by the Abu Sayyaf. God is so good and continues to take care of Gracia..."

The letter came following the reported Jan. 16 death of her captor at Dos Palmas Resort in Palawan in 2001.

Hi Everyone, I wrote a quick note to my family 'cause I knew they would want to know about yesterday - and then lost it and had to start again.... so I'm just going to forward this same thing to you guys if that is okay.

I thank you for your love and prayers and for everything you did for Martin and me during our ordeal. I love you very much!!!

Thanks for asking about Sulaiman. I was awakened from sleep yesterday morning by the phone ringing. It was the Associated Press wanting a statement about the death of Sulaiman. From then on, the phone rang all day long! Media outlets from all across the country. At one point, Channel 10 called to say they were coming out, so I called mom and she came and cleaned my kitchen while I got on some makeup and got things ready for them. Mom is so sweet.

The guys with the Justice Department called… (One of my friends) called. He had just met with the President and they talked about the news about Sulaiman and agreed that it was a great victory in the war against terror. A guy from the State Department (the assistant secretary of state for the Asia region or something like that) called. And I gave LOTS of interviews.

I also taught a Bible Study at FCA at the High School before school (doing an eight-week study with them) and then a Site Council meeting with the Principal after school (looking at year round school, of all things!) and our Prayer Meeting.

So - I had a busy birthday. Didn't have time to sit around and feel sorry for myself that I'm almost 50. Mindy asked me if I feel old. I said, "Of course I feel old! I can't see to read anymore.

Can't hear like I used to. Get sore at night." I think she was shocked!

She says her friends at school think I am 42. I told her to keep telling them that.

I thought it was interesting that Sulaiman died on my birthday.

Not that you would want the death of a terrorist to be your birthday present - but that's kind of how I felt. Like God was saying,

"Gracia, I haven't forgotten!" Always before when I heard about yet another death, I would think, "Oh no! Another guy's day of grace is over!" But not with Sulaiman. When I heard the news, I felt a great rush of relief.

He was, in my estimation, the most dangerous of the Abu Sayyaf that I met. He was the mastermind of the raid on Dos Palmas. Filled with hate for the west. Sulaiman's dream in life was to get to the U.S. and "wreak some havoc" in his words. I told the FBI that as soon as I got out - so they have had guys working on "getting him" in the Philippines for these four years. Their hard work has paid off.

So - I agree. This is huge in the war on terror in Southeast Asia - not just there either, I guess - since most attacks on the west have been planned in SE Asia.

So - thanks for asking. They say that I'm on the front page of the Wichita Eagle today - so I guess I should go get one at the grocery store.

The phone is quiet today - and I'm trying to catch up.

Gracia

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