Friends grateful for Lindhout release

Friends and colleagues of Amanda Lindhout are expressing relief at the freelance journalist's release following 15 months in captivity in Somalia.

Lindhout arrived Thursday in Nairobi, Kenya, to be reunited with her family.

In Red Deer, Alta., where Lindhout grew up, pastor Gary Bomhof of First Christian Reform Church said parishioners, including Lindhout's grandparents, were jubilant.

Lindhout's release would inspire this week's sermon, Bomhof said. He said some parishioners may have questioned God "in terms of this taking maybe a bit too long."

"But God's timing is perfect. So we're just very grateful that the release has taken place today," Bomhof said Wednesday.

Across town, the principal of the elementary school Lindhout attended said he couldn't wait to tell the students she was finally free.

Vern Rand said that throughout the 15 months that Lindhout was held captive, he thought of her parents' struggle with giving her the freedom to explore her passion for journalism.

"It's always difficult for parents to let go of their children under normal circumstances. When a child is taken such as this, it's all harder," Rand said.

The area's former member of Parliament, Bob Mills, is a family friend who said residents were sometimes frustrated with the time required to secure Lindhout's release.

"As foreign affairs critic for seven years, I was involved in many, many cases, and most of them ended like this, but some took a long, long time," Mills said. "I kept trying to reassure [people]: 'Hey, this might not end quickly.' And, obviously, it didn't," he said.