[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 19 (Tuesday, February 2, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E96]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE LIFE OF MICHAEL JAMES RIDDERING

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. PATRICK MURPHY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 2, 2016

  Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of 
Michael James Riddering. Mike, who dedicated his life to serving others 
as an American missionary in Burkina Faso, was tragically taken from 
this world far too soon at the age of 45, a victim of the terrorist 
attack that struck this West African nation on January 15th. My 
thoughts and prayers are with his wife Amy and their children Haley, 
Delaney, Biba, and Moise during this most difficult time.
  Five years ago, Mr. Riddering and his wife Amy left their home in 
Hollywood, Florida to move to Burkina Faso to run the Sheltering Wings' 
mission in the town of Yako. Together, they helped women and children 
in need, running an orphanage, school, and medical clinic. While in 
Burkina Faso, the couple adopted two children, 15-year-old Biba and 4-
year-old Moise.
  It was this commitment and service that led him to Ouagadougou on the 
day of the terrorist attack in the nation's capital. Mike had gone to 
greet a team of missionaries who were just arriving in Burkina Faso to 
work at the orphanage when the area was seized by Al Qaeda-affiliated 
terrorists.
  We memorialize Mike's life by honoring him in the Congressional 
Record here today. But we honor his memory by recommitting ourselves to 
the truth shared by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and a testament to how 
Mike lived his life of service: ``Darkness cannot drive out darkness; 
only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do 
that.''
  Mr. Speaker, while Mike Riddering's life was cut short by those 
hoping to instill fear, hatred, and darkness in our world, his life of 
service, light, and love will never fade. He will be greatly missed by 
his family and friends and all the lives he touched both in South 
Florida and Burkina Faso. It is through them that his light will 
continue to shine on.

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