A California missionary who was kidnapped and endured torture in Africa for six long years has shared new insights into his ordeal in a recently published book.
The memoir, titled “All the Way Home,” which came out last week, delves into Jeff Woodke’s abduction, his grueling captivity, and the challenges he faced while trying to rebuild his life after returning home.
At 65, Woodke, who hails from McKinleyville in Northern California, had previously worked with vulnerable communities in Niger. He was held captive by a terror group affiliated with Al Qaida in West Africa and now cautions others about the dangers of the region.
Describing his experience, Woodke recalled the assault vividly, where armed men burst into his home in Niger back in October 2016. “They just beat the stuffing out of me and drugged me, threw me in their vehicle,” he recounted in an interview with The Christian Post. The injuries from the beatings left marks on his skull.
Woodke had dedicated decades to his mission work and was approaching retirement when the militants attacked. He attempted to escape, but they caught him, hitting him with rifle butts. One strike even severed his Achilles tendon.
After the kidnapping, he was taken to the desert, where he believed he was sold multiple times between different militant factions. “I was trafficked,” he stated emphatically, insisting that he was treated as property by his captors.
He was finally released on March 20, 2023, after enduring more than six years as a hostage. The Biden administration confirmed his release, stating there was no exchange or negotiation with terrorists involved.
Woodke was handed over to special forces from a third-party nation before being transferred to U.S. diplomatic personnel in Niger. His time in captivity was marked by severe conditions, including being shackled at times and forced to sleep on the hard ground in extreme weather.
He remembered times of flooding when he was left outside, with meals consisting mostly of simple staples like rice and occasionally dried goat meat. The book also touches on the emotional toll his experience had on him, notably when he was confined in a small box for about two months, unable to stand.
“There was a psychological dissociation,” Woodke mentioned, reflecting on how his captivity affected him greatly. He struggled with physical weakness due to the prolonged abuse and, at one point, even went on a hunger strike, feeling desperate enough to pray for his death.
“I kind of lost my religion, but I gained my faith,” he remarked, emphasizing the central theme of faith and hope that runs throughout “All the Way Home.” The memoir outlines his ongoing battle with trauma, including PTSD, as he tried to reestablish his life after returning home.
His insights have led him to issue warnings to other Western missionaries who may consider working in the perilous areas of the Sahel. “If they go in there right now, they’re just going to get taken hostage again,” he stated bluntly.
Ultimately, Woodke believes that merely vocalizing opposition to extremism isn’t enough to combat it. “The only way we’re going to conquer it is not through politics and rhetoric and dogma and exclusion, but through love,” he asserted.
The response to his book has been deeply impactful for many readers. One commented, “I could not help but have tears in my eyes,” pointing out the weight of Woodke’s reflections on life and death. Another reader was particularly moved by Woodke’s choice to forgive his captors, highlighting a remarkable strength in such an unimaginable situation.
