Father, teen daughter trapped in Israel after strikes on Iran begin
By Serra Sowers
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DAVIDSON COUNTY, North Carolina (WXII) — A Lexington father and his teenage daughter are stranded in Jerusalem during a religious pilgrimage as airspace closures follow escalating tensions between Israel and Iran.
Chris Elliott and his 17-year-old daughter, Riley, were part of a group from the Triad on a religious renewal trip when the conflict began.
“Hearing the explosions is something I wouldn’t wish on anybody. I’m scared to death,” Chris Elliott said.
He shared a video online Saturday as they heard missiles and military aircraft overhead.
“We never expected to be caught in the middle of a war zone. It’s like something you’ve never seen before in your life. Literally soldiers all around us,” he said.
Elliott also shared photos of the bunker where they have been going when the sirens blare. They’ve tried to stay in good spirits, singing and praying together, even taking Holy Communion in the bunker.
“We are in Jerusalem, surrounded by great people, on the land that Jesus walked on, so he’s definitely got his hand on each and every one of us,” Riley said.
Meanwhile, Chris’ wife and Riley’s mother, Shannon Elliott, is in Davidson County, organizing a prayer vigil at their church for those affected.
“Prayers are always helpful. It doesn’t matter if you have one or a thousand and one. Prayers are always helpful. So of course, pray, like anyone that’s watching this,” she said.
Shannon is uncertain when her family will return home.
“I don’t know if this is a short-term thing. I don’t know if this is going to last days. I don’t know if they’re going to stay and finish out their pilgrimage. They were supposed to be there until March 7,” she said.
Shannon said she has been in contact with her family whenever they have Wi-Fi access. She shared a harrowing experience her daughter told her about.
“She recalls when one of the sirens went off, and they sent them to a bunker. She turned around to look back, and looked up and seen the missile coming, and she remembers at the last second the Iron Dome kind of taking it out. So it’s definitely things that aren’t going to escape her mind any time soon,” Shannon said.
She said it’s history in the making for her daughter and puts her life into a greater global perspective.
“Now, she realizes, as an American, what it means to live a life without bunkers and without having to worry about missiles coming in at your head,” Shannon said. “So, pray for anyone who deals with this on a daily basis.”
The family plans to continue sheltering in place in Jerusalem until they can safely travel home or continue on their trip.
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