In an incident known to the world today as the May 2001 Dos Palmas attack, two American missionaries: Gracia Burnham & her husband Martin, were kidnapped along another U.S. citizen & 17 Filipinos from the resort of Dos Palmas. The Burnham's who were devout Christians, were celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary at the resort. For years the Burnham's had worked as missionaries in the Philippines as part of New Tribes Missions. Martin worked as a pilot delivering supplies to the tribes while Gracia guided him over the radio. They were also proud parents of three children. Their kidnappers were the infamous terrorist group, Abu Sayyaf.
For years the Abu Sayaff, along with other Jihadist rebels such as the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have battled the Philippine government for control of the predominantly Islamic islands of the South Philippines. The initial goal of these terrorists is to take over the Southern Islands and place the region under the same type of Sharia Law that the Taliban placed on Afghanistan (a number of Abu Sayyaf fought in Afghanistan alongside the Osama bin Laden & the Taliban). However, it will not stop there. During the time he was held hostage, Martin Burnham had the opportunity to speak with one of the Abu Sayyef leaders Ustedz Khayr. In their conversation, Khayr explained that once they had the southern islands of the Philippines, they would push on to the central islands, then the northern ones. Once all the the Philippines was under Islamic Sharia, they would push on to Thailand and keep going until the world was under Sharia. Thus, there would be no end to this conflict regardless of any treaty that the Philippine government offered. Over the past 30 years, over a hundred thousand people have died as a result of this ongoing conflict.
The Abu Sayyaf held the Burnham's hostage for over a year and took dozens more in the South Philippines. During their captivity the Burnham's witnessed things that nobody should ever have to see. They saw some of their fellow hostages beheaded, watched helplessly as some of the female hostages were forcibly married off to their abductors, endured 17 firefights, dealt with sickness, disease, and the constant terror of not knowing if they would ever live to see their children again. Despite their suffering, the Burnham's did their best to try and help their fellow hostages. They occasionally received care packages from the New Tribes Missions during times of truce between the Abu Sayyaf and the AFP (Philippine Army). They shared food and medicine that they received with their other hostages and even with their kidnappers. On June 7th, 2002, the AFP finally managed to locate and defeat the Abu Sayyaf militants holding the Burnham's, but at a heavy price. A number of hostages, including Martin, lost their lives in the battle. Gracia was wounded in the leg, but survived and within a few weeks, was reunited with her children.
Gracia Burnham lost her beloved husband and endured things that nobody in the world should endure. Despite her losses, Gracia has gives thanks to God that she not only survived, but had the opportunity to tell her story to the world. Today Gracia speaks all over the world and amazingly tells everyone she meets that she bears no hatred toward the Abu Sayyaf. She instead chooses to follow the teachings of Jesus to "Love your Enemies" -
Matthew 5:44. Dozens of the fighters who helped kidnap Gracia are now in prison, but Gracia still writes to her former captors to this day, offering them her love and forgiveness. She answers their letters to her and even helps send them some care packages to help them during their incarceration. Amazingly, four of her former captors have now embraced Christianity. Gracia Burnham's book:
In the Presence of my Enemies, is a books that should be read by everyone all over the world. It shows us just how strong the power of love and forgiveness truly is, and proves once and for all that the Love of God will always conquer the Darkness.
Link to Gracia's Book
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