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“Everybody has a great sense of connection to them,” says Chuck Wilson, pastor of Wichita Bible Church. “We’ve taken meals, given bicycles, sponsored a prayer event.”

While Paul and Oreta remain thankful for the support, they admit that looking after their grandchildren has been a challenge. “It’s been awhile since we had kids this young,” Oreta says.

Even as they long for their parents, the children stay busy—freshman football for Jeff last August, and now Saturday basketball games for Mindy.

The children are very weary, Jones says. Jeff is particularly burdened. Varner says Jeff has remarked that his mother is not a lover of the outdoors and that she suffers migraine headaches.

“He’s got the weight of the world on his shoulders,” Varner says. Oreta Burnham concurs.

“He’s a very deep thinker,” Oreta adds. “He feels a responsibility for his brother and sister. He’s asked before, ‘What are we going to do if they don’t come back?’ ”

Paul and Oreta Burnham have traveled to Washington on several occasions, pressuring Congress to push harder for the release of the hostages. While their efforts have drawn more attention to the cause, they say prayer is what matters most.

“We feel like God will release them in his time,” Paul says. “God is working his will out in this. His ways are not our ways. We trust in him.”

Adds Jones, “The Lord is sustaining us—he’s using the prayers of God’s people to do that. I’ve been keeping a journal for Gracia and Martin about what things are going on here—who calls, who all is praying. It’s been a joy to do that. It makes me feel a little closer to them.”

In January, Paul and Oreta spoke with Heather Mercer, an American aid worker imprisoned last fall by the Taliban in Afghanistan. “She shared how she felt when she was being held captive,” Oreta says. “She felt strongly that it was because people were praying that she got out. She knows Martin and Gracia need a miracle.”

Hoping for that miracle, Paul and Oreta anticipate the day when they can return to their work in the Philippines. If Martin and Gracia are released, Oreta says, they would do the same. Martin is a pilot, while Gracia performs a variety of support roles.

“They have a heart for the Filipino people,” she says. “They would want to go back.”

Copyright © 2002 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Also appearing on our site today:

Agency Disputes Rumors about BurnhamsAll indications say the hostages are still being held captive in the jungles of Basilan Island.

New Tribes Mission Online has regular updates on the Burnhams.

For further developments on the Burnhams, see Christianity Today'sWeblog, The Wichita Eagle, Yahoo's full coverage and ABS-CBN News.

Christianity Today’s coverage of the Burnham kidnapping includes:

Missionary Couple Remains in LimboThe apparently poor condition of the Burnhams has given the case a new urgency. (Jan. 17, 2002)

Kidnapped Missionaries Reported SafeBut danger increasing for Burnhams—and for workers around the world. (June 26, 2001)

New Tribes Missionaries KidnappedMuslim rebels in Philippines threaten to kill Martin and Gracia Burnham and 18 others if military intervenes. (May 29, 2001)

According to The BBC, Abu Sayyaf ("Sword of God") has made an industry of kidnapping.

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March 11 2002, Vol. 46, No. 3