On what will be one of our last walks to the bus stop from home before I leave:
“Are you going to be SUPER BRAVE, Mama, when you go to Africa?”
“I hope so, Sarah-Faith. But I’m not sure really. Because I’m a little bit nervous, to be honest.”
“What are you nervous about?”
“Oh. When I go there, I won’t know anyone. I’ll have to work with new people.”
“Ah, Mama. Then how about you say ‘Hello, I’m Wai Jia. What’s your name? Because if you don’t say that, Mama, people will not know you want to be friends with them.
Right?”“That’s true, Sarah-Faith. Why, thank you.”
“What else are you scared about?”
“Well, I will stay in a new place. I don’t know how it’ll be like. I wonder if I might able to sleep. And if I can’t sleep, I won’t be able to work.”
“Oh Mama, you can bring a stuffed toy and a book. That way you’ll be able to sleep. You’ll sleep very well that way.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Anything else, Mama?”
“Well the last thing is- I will need to do my work well when I’m there to help people. And I’m not sure if I will or can.”
“Oh.” Silence. “I don’t know what you should do then.”
“What can we do when we don’t know what to do?”
“Ah, you should pray Mama!”
“Exactly! Yes, so tell me- how should I pray?”
“You should pray like this- ‘Dear God, can you make me very happy and very good to do my work very well?” She grins.
“All right, Sarah-Faith. I guess we’re all set.”
