If your child wanted to travel to Africa or a war torn country....

**homesteadmamma** · 01-14-2006, 10:45 AM

How would you handle it?

I was talking to someone 2 days ago when we were varnishing shelves and her dd wants to travel to Africa this summer to help in a volunteer position. Her mom is besides herself because she has such a fear about the aids epidemic and that her dd might be put into prison for some reason or be raped.

She wanted to know how I would handle it. I didn't have an answer. She does know that she can't stop her dd from going, it's how to get over her own fear.

**Katybird** · 01-14-2006, 11:48 AM

I would strongly discourage it but if my child were determined and was of age I would make sure that he/she had all the information available regarding the area and the dangers and then I would pray, pray, pray and pray some more.

**baxjul** · 01-14-2006, 03:11 PM

I'm not sure, I guess I would have to trust her judgement, and just pray everything would turn out alright.

**forestdale** · 01-14-2006, 03:15 PM

My son Shane is going to Africa. He wants to climb Mt Kilimanjaro. I'm not happy about it but he's 25 year old and is entitled to make his own decisions.

He was going to go there in Septmeber, but I've convinced him he should go to Canada first. Hopefully, after he's spent a year in Canada he'll go to Europe. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

**canadian gardener** · 01-14-2006, 07:23 PM

Pray hard. worry lots, knit something and pray some more.

Make sure she was getting accurate info in order to make her decisions as to which shots, what health equipment to carry etc.

And pray more. Probably would get lots of knitting done while she was gone. I knit while I pray when something is really big and really bugging me bad.

**homesteadmamma** · 01-14-2006, 07:26 PM

Her daughter lives in Toronto. She is flying down to see her and try to convince her not to go. However she also says that her daughter was just meant to do some sort of volunteer work - she just wishes it wasn't in Africa.

**Michelle** · 01-14-2006, 07:45 PM

During the Gulf War, I wanted to visit Dave (my boyfriend at the time) in England where he was studying for a semester. I was 20 at the time, and my parents "forbit" me to go. I went anyway. I understand how they felt now that I have kids of my own. I was young and in love. It was one of the 2 times in my life when I've gone against their wishes (the other time was when I transferred from a university of approx. 5,000 students to one with 26K.
students.

If that happens with me and my girls, I know I will be upset, and I hope that I will not make too much of a fuss and will make sure they have all the information they need. Then I'll pray like crazy until they come home.

**guest32** · 01-14-2006, 08:14 PM

Not exactly the same thing...but dd was 19 when she deployed to Bosnia and 22 when she deployed to Iraq. Can't even begin to describe what this does to a mommy.... but it was what she was called to do, and she's glad she went. Both times. However, she does have some health issues after coming home from Iraq.

**momof42003** · 01-17-2006, 05:53 PM

If it were something my daughter believed down deep in her heart she needed to be there, and she was of age, I would express to her my fears and anxieties, but I would have to support her.. I would respect her, in the hopes she has made an informed, and educated decision, and that the accomodations she has made are safe..... All I could do would be to be there for her and pray for her safety.... This would go for my boys too.. I think it would be similar to if they were going into the military and going overseas... I would be a total stress case, but it is something they believed in....

**Jerseygirl** · 01-18-2006, 02:05 PM

Don't panic, Do your homework first-not all of Africa is war torn, third world etc. and many places are actively looking for outside help. Make sure she is with a major, well respected organization, and that she does her homework as to how a foreigner, especially a female, is expected to look and behave while there. As long as she follows their rules and respects their culture and norms she will be accepting much less risk. Also, always always always know where your nearest embassy is and if at all possible have a contact set up there before a problem exists. As a mom I would be just as upset, but you can't live her life for her, just educate yourself and her as well as possible.