I was five and a half and had no idea how my life was about to change forever. My twin sister and I were to be sent thousands of miles on an up-country road trip to Guinea, West Africa. Our destination? Mamou Alliance Academy.
This is a difficult and painful part of my story. I remember, and this experience still hurts. My parents told my siblings and me that we would go to this marvelous place. Though far away, it was the place we were to spend the school year for the next nine months. Fear took hold of my insides while our parents told us this “great news.”
I must have asked some probing questions because Mom and Dad became irritated and defensive. It is odd. I still hear the tone of things said, their attitude, but I have no memory of their words. What came across to me of their reply was impatience and frustration. “Why can’t you see that we are doing the very best for you? Why can’t you just accept that?”
Our parents promised us that, at boarding school, we would have many good friends. We would have “aunties and uncles” who would take good care of us. We would learn so many wonderful things. I was terrified, but I wanted to believe my mommy and daddy. Still, I could not understand. My child self speaks: Why can't I stay? I won't be any trouble.
Their facial expressions told me that the subject was closed. With stern determination our future was settled for us, and my stomach contracted in fear of the unknown. Already we had been subjected to so many strange and fearsome situations and places. Child self says: Now we can't have Mommy and Daddy. They have to stay at home to tell African families and their children about Jesus. Mommy says, “This is very important. You just have to be very brave.” Confusion and fear settled into my soul. I thought my question: Aren't we as important as Africans?