Oh my God. I’m in utter and complete shock. My hands are trembling as I’m writing this. My very good friend Jill Carroll has been kidnapped while on assignment in Iraq for The Christian Science Monitor!!
She is one of the kindest, most sincere, honest people I have ever met. She is a very motivated journalist who always went out of her way to seek the truth. I’m speechless. My words escape me at this moment. The knot in my stomach is more than I can bear. I pray to God to protect her and bring home safely. She really doesn’t deserve this. She has been working hard for years to report the true side of the story.
I met Jill while working at The Jordan Times three years ago. She has become a dear friend since then. She attended my wedding and was even a supervising usher working hard to make our big day a success. Please, God, return her home safely!
Update 1: According to the Associated Press, the Iraqi police are currently looking for Jill. AP also ran a profile of Jill here.
Update 2: This Iraq-based reporter and blogger is a friend of Jill’s there and has written an emotional post about her. Another blogger who knows her personally is also traumatized by her capture. The Washington Post has also run a story on Jill’s abduction and put Jill on the front page.
Update 3: Jeff and I gathered together links to some of the articles that Jill wrote while working in Iraq, four from CSM and one from American Journalism Review that’s quite revealing. We were so proud to see her byline, we tried to never miss highlighting her stories there:
Although I only knew Jill for a short time, she left a large impression in my mind. I swam with her at UMASS Amherst. When I began my freshman season I was having a rough time, Jill immediately reached out to me. Every day her kind words and smiling face were what kept me going…she is in my prayers, it’s the only way I can repay her for how much she unknowingly helped me.
I trained for a triathlon with Jill. She was an amazing inspiration to me in so many facets of her life. I’ll be keeping my eyes open if anyone knows how we can be proactive in Jill’s safety.
My thoughts and prayers are with you Jill. I look forward to meeting you again.
I skipped my ballet class tonight to search for any news on Jill. I have been praying about her for a week now since I learned of the news. I do not know Jill personally, but something keeps tugging at my consciousness to keep her close to my heart. I hope she can feel our support and that it gives her strength and encouragement to survive the ordeal.
As a child in Sunday School I learned a simple saying “there is no spot where God is not”. I pray that the very spot Jill is right now is indeed holy ground that keeps her from harm. I trust that God knows where Jill is and it is my sincerest prayer that her captors become conscious and release her back to her loved ones unharmed.
They don’t need her this way.
I just want to take a moment here and say that I have been praying for Jill Carroll. From what I have heard she was an amazing person. And as for Allen… I as one of your family member will miss you. I , along with other family members, will do everything in our power to take care of your family….
Love you Allen Enwiya.
aka my angel
It is just irresponsible to spread a rumor, so let us just end it here. It gets people’s hopes up falsely and is just simply unfair.
Lord, let it be so…we are still praying for her and for her circle of loved ones.
Richard
I have not heard this ..where did you get this information from?
I understand Jill was freed by 4 ID and Iraqi military. Can you confirm ?
I was also a friend of Jill’s at UMASS Amherst and worked with her at the newspaper and as you have read, her ethics and dedication, were unparalled. She announced to us that she would accomplish something in journalism by age 30 and she did more than that. She made the world better. I also want to ‘Thank You’ for posting this blog. It helps to know other people care and can share memories of her. I saw Jill on one of her last days at The Wall Street Journal and we spoke about her desire to go abroad. I am so proud of her for doing it and doing it the best anyone could.
Laura
Thanks everyone for your concern and prayers. We just have to stay hopeful. God willing, Jill will come home safely.