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.)

Are We Being Conditioned?

Okay, time for a little conspiracy theory indulgence...

Six Muslim imams do their prayer thing in an airport, then board the plane in the standard hijacker seating arrangement. They ask for seat belt extensions even though none of them need them, and then place them under the seat in front of them instead of using them (maybe to be used later as a weapon?).

So some concerned passengers say something and the imams are removed. What's their response? We were picked on because we're Muslim. It's discrimination. CAIR gets involved, big outcry, and there's even talk of legislation that would levy heavy fines on airlines for discriminating against Muslims.

Then we have three Muslims who drive a truckload of car wiring harnesses from Detroit to the port of Miami. Couple of things: Many car bombers get hold of junk cars that insurance companies total and that are supposed to be demolished. But they aren't demolished, they disappear into a black market, where they are bought by terrorists, fixed up enough to run, and then used as car bombs. Using junked cars from the black market means they can't be traced. And here's three Muslim men driving a truckload of automobile electrical wiring harnesses.

Another thing is that two of the three men hid in the truck when it went through security at the port. Why?

But now that they've been arrested and (for some bizarre reason) released, what are they doing? Threatening to sue for (you guessed it) discrimination against Muslims.

Now, think about 9/11. The hijackers planned and trained for years before carrying out their plans. Years. Islamic fascist sleeper cells are known for lying in wait for years. The terrorists think long term. They hold grudges long term. They're in it for the long haul. They're not into the instant gratification thing.

So is it possible, just possible, that there is an active effort in the works to desensitize Americans to suspicious terrorist behaviors and activities? Is it just possible that they are trying to make us afraid to say something, for fear of being sued or being called prejudiced? And then, after spending years setting up this mindset, they walk onto an airplane and an hour into the flight... They walk into the Mall of America carrying a suitcase, and 30 minutes later...

Understand something: We have an enemy who is focused on killing us, and this enemy operates in ways we've never experienced before.