An American who died in a hotel siege in Burkina Faso moved halfway across the world to work with orphans and widows.
Michael James Riddering was one of 28 people killed when terrorists opened fire at a cafe and a hotel in the capital, Ouagadougou.
The al Qaeda militants then raided a luxury hotel across the street, shooting some and taking others hostage in an overnight siege that lasted hours.
Sheltering Wings, a missionary group that runs the orphanage Riddering worked for, provided a detailed account of his ordeal. It said the Florida resident and his wife, Amy Riddering, worked at the orphanage in Yako — 70 miles from the capital.
Coffee with a friend
Riddering went to the capital to pick up a team of missionaries visiting from the U.S. and stopped by Cappuccino cafe to get coffee with a friend, the group said.
Attackers stormed in and started shooting, and his friend hastily called Riddering ‘s wife.
The friend, identified only as Pastor Valentin, told her they “urgently” needed prayers. Then the phone suddenly went dead.
“It appears that Pastor Valentin was somehow separated from Mike during the attack and hid somewhere in the Cappuccino cafe,” the missionary group said.
Riddering’s body was found in a morgue later. His friend was rescued by security forces.
The call
In a Facebook post, Amy Riddering said the pastor made the call using her husband’s phone.
“Heaven has gained a warrior! I know God has a purpose in all things but sometimes it is a complete mystery to me,” she posted.
“My best friend, partner in crime and love of my life. The best husband ever. …. My heart is so heavy and I am having trouble believing he is gone.”
Riddering, 45, moved to the West African nation five years ago from Hollywood, Florida, to do missionary work with his wife. Before they moved to Burkina Faso, he owned a boat company.
The parents of four later adopted two more children in Burkina Faso, according to the missionary group.
“The Ridderings and their team care for about 400 orphaned children … provide direct assistance to disenfranchised widows,” Sheltering Wings said.
Others killed in the terror attack included French, Canadian and Ukrainian nationals.