Thursday, November 19, 2009

SAU Student Missionary Murdered in Micronesia

Kirsten Wolcott, Photo source: Southern Adventist University
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Kirsten Elisabeth Wolcott was murdered yesterday (Nov. 18, 2009) in Yap, Micronesia. Kirsten was a student missionary from Southern Adventist Univeristy, teaching at the Yap SDA School. The American went missing after reportedly going on an early morning jog before classes. She was found dead, away from the school’s campus.

Local police have now begun an investigation. Leaders from the church's regional administrative headquarters, the Guam-Micronesia Mission, took the one-hour commercial flight from Guam to Yap Wednesday evening to assess the tragedy affecting the school and provide grief support for other teachers.

Kirsten, 20, was a junior education major from Southern Adventist University. She had taken a year off to participate in the university’s student missions program. Ten other student missionaries are also serving in Yap, Micronesia.

Southern Adventist University’s student missions program gives students the opportunity take a year off from school to be student missionary in either a foreign country or in the U.S. Job assignments are diverse such as teaching, doing construction work, working as a youth pastor, etc…

SAU has set up a memorial page about Kirsten. You can post messages of hope and memories of Kirsten on that page.

UPDATE (11/23/09): According to the university, the FBI has made an arrest in connection to the murder. Reports say that there is a lot of anger among the islanders at what happened and that they are supporting the Adventist school and the student missionaries. University administrators are on their way to Micronesia to comfort the other student missionaries.


Sources: Adventist News Network, Southern Adventist University

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5 comments:

Kenny said...

We mourn the tragedy of the manner of her passing, our prayers and thoughts are with Kirsten's family and friends.

Anonymous said...

Sometimes we will ask God why his hands are not long enough to protect someone who need to be protected. Why it happened to young lady like Kirsten? But, I know God cannot decide the journey of one's fate. Our prayers will help Kirsten's family to accept God's mysterious "Why"...

Anonymous said...

I hope and pray that the government of Yap will come to term with the fbi and bring that criminal to the state, so he can taste the piece of justice here in the state. I am so sad and really shocked at what happen. I am from the Island of Yap. My heart goes out to Kirsten and her family.

Jacquelyn said...

I will be praying for Kirsten's family, loved ones, and friends.

Anonymous said...

Awww man I am shocked.I attended Yap SDA just the year before she arrived and I am shocked.I never thought anyone from Yap would do such a thing.The Yapese people are often kind and generous.I will pray for Kirsten's family,friends and loved ones as well.

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Note: Comments expressed are those of the comment author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position or opinions of A Sabbath Blog.

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