Riley Kehoe on Surviving the 2004 Tsunami and Living a Life of Faith

Surviving the 2004 Tsunami

• 🌊 At 10 years old, Riley Kehoe experienced the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami while on an island off the coast of Thailand.
• ⚠️ The tsunami was incredibly close, described as only a few feet away, and she witnessed immense destruction and loss of life.
• 🙏 Amidst the chaos, Riley found an undeniable peace by praying to God, feeling a blanket of comfort wrap around her.
• 🏝️ Stranded for a week with limited resources, and despite three tsunami waves and the deaths of 230,000 people, Riley felt a profound sense of assurance that she would be okay.

Overcoming Fear and Embracing Courage

• ⛰️ The traumatic experience initially left Riley terrified of the ocean and struggling with PTSD and nightmares.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 In a bold move to combat fear, her parents enrolled her and her sisters in beach lifeguard training six months after the tsunami.
• 💡 This experience taught them that facing fears diminishes their power, emphasizing that fear stops life, not death.
• 🗣️ Her father's words, "You are fighting a battle between courage and fear and all you need is a little more courage," became a life-defining marker.

A Year of Radical Faith and Mission

• ✈️ Riley and her husband embarked on a radical year-long missionary journey, selling everything and traveling the world with no set itinerary.
• 🗺️ They relied entirely on faith, with God opening doors for accommodation and guidance daily.
• 🇧🇷 In Brazil, they stayed in a slum built on the world's third-largest trash dump, ministering to residents in an area controlled by gangs.
• ✨ During their travels, they witnessed miraculous healings and shared the gospel, often interacting with dangerous individuals with faith.

Living a Life of Purpose and Obedience

• 👶 Riley recently welcomed her baby daughter, Esther, and plans to bring her on future missionary trips, trusting God's protection.
• 🌍 She draws inspiration from figures like Elisabeth Elliot, who raised her daughter while serving in challenging mission fields.
• 🤝 Riley's life is marked by a calling to serve those in the lowest of places, embracing the gospel and ensuring no one feels forgotten.
• 📖 Her book, "3 Seconds to Courage," explores her journey of faith, survival, and radical obedience.