I'm Scared to Death

My 15 year old daughter is going on a missionary trip to Africa this summer. She's spending a month in Zambia and a month in Botswana.

I'm terrified.

She's going to be working at an orphanage that cares for children whose parents have died of AIDS. Many, if not all, of the children are HIV-positive. What if my daughter contracts HIV? I love her desire to help others. I love her desire to declare the gospel to the lost. But the father in me just can't tolerate the idea of a death sentence in return for following her heart.

What if some rebel group attacks her bus on its way from Zambia to Botswana and kills everyone on board?

She's going with Global Expeditions and I know they would not knowingly allow the young people to go into a dangerous situation. I know their track record. But still, it scares me to death. But how can I say, "No, you can't follow the Spirit's nudge, I'm too scared."? I realize she isn't mature enough or doesn't have enough life experience to fully understand what she's getting into and therefore be as frightened as I am.

Or maybe she is, and she's going anyway.

So I pray for her. I pray, and I pray, and I pray, and I sure would appreciate it if you'd pray, too. Pray for her safety. Pray for her health. Pray that she would introduce those children to the love of Jesus, because they're not getting any love from anybody else.

Kinda weird when your kid is the person you'd like to grow up to be...

(If you'd like to support her trip, you can make a secure, tax-deductible online donation here. Click on "Missionary ID" and put in 2331798. And then pray that God would forgive me for hoping that you won't, and she won't have enough money to go.)