Nearly seven years ago, much of south-central Kansas – and people in other parts of the state and nation – were closely following the kidnapping of Martin and Gracia Burnham.

The Burnhams, who were from Rose Hill, were celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary in the Philippines, a country they had served for years as missionaries.

Members of the militant Muslim group Abu Sayyaf kidnapped them and held them captive for slightly more than a year. During a gunfire exchange between the Philippine military and Abu Sayyaf, Martin Burnham was killed. Gracia was wounded but was freed.

Back at home in Rose Hill – in a home built by members of her community – Burnham has become an author of two books (“In the Presence of My Enemies” and “To Fly Again”), director of a foundation and is a frequent speaker.

She’ll come to Lawrence for one of those speaking engagements this week. She’ll speak at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Lawrence Holidome, 200 McDonald Drive. The presentation, which is free and open to the public, is the annual “Making the Difference” convocation/fundraiser for Veritas Christian School, 256 N. Mich.

On her Web site, www.graciaburnham.org, Burnham says she and her family still “love the Philippines with all our hearts.” She’s been back to testify in the trial of her captors and again with her children to visit the land they still consider home.