As you know, we are all facing a unique challenge with the novel coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 disease. We are continually monitoring news reports and assessing our response. So far, we have had to evacuate from or delay returns to three of our locations: two in East Asia and one in Mongolia. On March 11, the U.S. State Department issued a Level 3 (out of 4) Global Travel Advisory, encouraging Americans to reconsider international travel.
Many of our partners have been asking for our input to determine if they should move forward with sending short-term teams or making other visits to Global Partners fields.
ADVISORY TO SHORT-TERM TEAMS AND OTHER FIELD VISITORS
Should our previously scheduled short-term team still come to our field? We would strongly advise postponing travel to all Global Partners fields. At a minimum, all visitors to a Global Partners field must have the following items on file with Global Partners office:
- Short-term travel insurance
- Criminal background check
- Signed child protection policy if missionary kids are on the field
- Documented approval for the visitor from the mission director or field leader
Please direct all field visitors to email these items to Olivia Padilla at olivia.padilla@gponline.org. Please note, these are required at all times. However, in this season of pandemic, it is crucial that we have this information on file in case contact tracing becomes necessary.
As noted, all visitors to Global Partners fields must possess travel insurance. If travel insurance becomes unobtainable due to coronavirus, then travel to Global Partners fields will not be permitted.
We are monitoring this continually evolving situation and will provide further updates as they are available.
Most importantly, let’s keep our eyes on Jesus through this crisis. We trust him to give us his wisdom, and we will not be driven by fear. Let us give extraordinary prayer focus for health, wisdom and courage — and that God’s kingdom would come and his will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Dennis Jackson is executive director of Global Partners.
