Two Little Girls, Trapped by Violence in Georgia while Visiting Grandparents, are Reunited with Father
Thanks to extraordinary efforts by NJ Rep. Chris Smith and French Ambassador Eric Fournier, the girls are safe.
(Tbilisi, Georgia)—A summer vacation with grandparents turned into a harrowing ordeal for 7-year-old Ashley and her sister Sophia (3), when Russian forces invaded the Republic of Georgia, two weeks ago.
The girls' parents, Joseph and Tea-h Evans had desperately tried to bring their children home as soon as they learned of the violence. After appearing on news interviews pleading for help, they found assistance from US Rep. Chris Smith, from their own state of NJ, who also enlisted the aid of French Ambassador Eric Fournier. (Photo: AP)
Once they were finally able to secure a safe vehicle to transport the girls through the embattled streets of Gori, they were detained by numerous checkpoints. But pressing through, with Ambassador Fournier's help, the children were safely brought to the US Embassy in Tbilisi to meet their anxiously waiting father.
"It was the Hallmark moment of anybody's life; it was fantastic. Ashley came running out and Sophia was bouncing along behind her," described the elated Joseph Evans in a FOX News phone interview. His wife, Georgian-born Tea-h, sat listening in FOX's studio back in the states.
Ashley and Sophia, along with their father, will soon be flown back to their NJ home for another happy reunion with their mother.
"Thanks for all the prayer," said Rep. Smith in the interview. "A lot of people prayed; my family has been praying, along with Tea-h and Joseph. We thank God for this."
To watch the FOX News interview with Tea-h and Joseph Evans, and Rep. Chris Smith, CLICK HERE.
