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Tucson woman kidnapped and robbed in Tanzania

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Posted 4:28 PM 11/24/2011 : Tucson woman kidnapped and robbed in Tanzania

TUCSON- It's a story of hope, courage, and determination. A Tucson woman attending Stanford University with a lot to be thankful for.

Kala Stepter was kidnapped and robbed while on a humanitarian mission in Tanzania this past summer. She credits her Spanish skills and track for saving her life.

The 20 year old Stepter says, "I'm thankful I'm with my family."

While teaching in a tiny village that has no electricity or running water she learned life lessons that will forever remain with her. "I came to help them and they gave me stuff when they found out what happened to me they were so sorry so concerned they took me in like their own daughter."

Stepter and her friends were part of an 11 week program called support for international change. They were teaching HIV and AIDS awareness. They had a week off and decided to take a trip to Zanzibar, a beach town. It was supposed to be a memorable holiday that turned out to be a living nightmare. She and her friend Catalina were abducted and robbed by three men while they were in a taxi cab. "Initially I was really scared and I didn't know what I was going to do and trying to figure out what was the game plan."

Catalina who speaks fluent Spanish began speaking to Kala who also knows Spanish and they devised a plan. "When we get to a busy road I'm going to say it's hot in here count to 3 and run. I ran and ran and ran and started yelling help in Swahili."

Stepter runs track for Stanford ran one way her friend ran the other. Kala ended up at a bank and called the U-S Embassy. Her mother recalls that 3 a.m. phone call she and her husband received.
La Tanya Sheffield says, "I was frozen and I was just praying that everything would be O-K."

Then she heard her daughter's voice, "The way she said "Mommy" it was good it was sweet to hear her voice."

But she could also tell her daughter was frightened and she asked if she'd been hurt. She was relieved to hear she was fine.

The family also learned from this ordeal, "That the kid that I sent off to Stanford is now a young woman taking responsibility and accountability and not only for herself but for others." Stepter, eventually met up with the others and they were all fine. But instead of cutting the trip short she opted to stay to complete the job she set out to do.