"Mom, are you excited about teaching in Africa?"

On a hot, summer Texas evening, Kelly and I find ourselves having a "frozen pizza dinner date".  Kyle and the other girls are off at various activities.  After discussing the upcoming arrival of her best friend from Tampa, she asked me a question in a serious and thoughtful way, "Mom, are you excited about teaching in Africa."  For some reason this question hits me very hard right now and I hear it a lot.  Even a few hours before, my niece asked the same question as we unexpectedly met her at the DFW airport for a short visit.  Excitement is not a good word for how I feel in anticipation of our time in Zambia.  As I look at my curly headed, sweet daughter, I want to respond, "Honey, I'm not excited.  I'm nervous about traveling so far away, anxious about teaching in a different culture, worried that I won't be able to help the Zambian teachers or students, and just plain sad to leave you, Daddy and your sisters."  I figure she is not ready for this answer, so I say, "I'm getting sad about leaving."  With just 6 days until our departure, the bags are packed and the girls' schedule is all set for nearly 3 weeks without Mom.  For a Mom who left a 10 page packet of instructions while leaving the girls with the grandparents for a weekend in 2004, I am oddly relaxed about their schedule in my absence.  Having never been away from them for more than 5 days (in nearly 15 years), I'm not stressed about the details, just anxious about leaving them.  Will the dogs be fed?  Will anyone remember the laundry?  Will the kitchen counters become a home for all neighborhood ants?  Who will remember to water the pots?  And most importantly, who is going to answer the "girl questions" that make Kyle cringe?  After dinner Kelly and I enjoyed some ice cream on the new patio (in 100++++ temperatures).  We listened to Josh Groban's "You Raise Me Up" and kept the conversation going.  She added ANOTHER comment about the upcoming trip.  "You know why you have to go to Africa?  You may never have this opportunity again."  At this point, the Mommy-daughter date is getting tearful!  Honestly, opportunity is a big part of the reason for going.  I've been given the training and opportunity to teach in the US and it is one of the greatest privileges in my life.   Kyle and the girls send me off with full support and confidence.  Friends and family have showered me with support.  The song "You Raise Me Up" hits pretty close to home as the Lord surrounds me with blessings, support and the opportunity to do something completely new and challenging.  If you are reading this blog, I am grateful for your interest in this work and especially thankful for your prayers!