Two of the four Americans who were killed by Somali pirates overnight were parishioners at the Santa Monica church I attended before moving to northern California. I was in LA visiting friends and went to church at St. Monica over the weekend, where we prayed for Jean and Scott's safety as well as for the mercy of the pirates. The couple was well-loved in the church community, and among other things, while they were sailing the world, they had a bunch of bibles that they distributed in the locations they visited.
I feel heartbroken that they were killed, and I was hoping that some of you might say an extra prayer for them, their families, and for stability in Somalia so that hopefully piracy will not be looked at as a viable and appealing career choice.