Resources for Missionary Recruits Online by Marty Andry, Doug Lucas, and Chris Bushnell

How to Prepare for Emergencies Overseas

Objectives

The purpose of this chapter is not to scare anyone. On the contrary, it is designed to prepare everyone in the event that there is any kind of emergency. It is rare that this kind of information will be needed by every missionary. Yet, the world is in a continuous state of flux. In the early 1980's, who would have guessed that Sarajevo, Yugoslavia would ten years later be torn apart by civil war.

The objective in this set of guidelines is to envision what might occur in a worst case scenario and to propose necessary steps that might be necessary to respond effectively, then take whatever steps necessary to adequately prepare for a readiness level insuring the comfort and security of our families abroad.

Values that Affect Our Planning

Missionaries are a most precious resource. An Emergency Response Procedure should maximize the likelihood that missionaries would be kept safe from harm. No plan is acceptable unless it allows for complete and holistic survival. Because missionaries are more valuable than finances, long or short range goals, preset agenda, and equipment, nothing should be spared to protect them from danger.

In all cases, these worksheets should be viewed as indications and suggestions. They are meant to arouse our level of awareness, not set our actions in stone. Also, they are designed to prepare us, not to scare us. Although it is true that international traveler's should be as informed as possible about the risks that of travelling abroad, the few horror stories that are circulated sometimes tend to stick in our minds more than the hundreds of missionaries who have served faithfully for years without a single incident. We hope to avoid foolish errors, organize our thoughts in advance, and to be prepared.

Safety Begins in the Heart

The inspired psalmist penned the phrase, "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, Thou art with me." Matthew continued recording the Lord's thoughts along these lines when he wrote in Matthew 28:20, "For lo I am with you always even unto the end of the world." It is interesting that this "with–" was coupled so closely with those who would choose to go and make disciples of all nations.

As a result of all of the above, we recommend the following courses of action:

• Spouses and co-workers should pray constantly for each other's safety during travel, and request that their supporters do likewise.
• Team leaders may want to plan a special Bible study examining the nature of God's providence and the evidences of Divine and angelic protection.
• During periods of exceptionally high tension, missionaries could and should inform their stateside supporters regarding any suspected potential for problematic circumstances.

Safety Continues in the Home

Thieves, vandals, and others could often have been stopped cold at the entrance to the house if some simple precautions were to have been taken. Locks are useless unless they are engaged. Especially in areas where crime is a possibility—which is just about everywhere—good locks should be purchased and used. On doorways, this normally means a dead bolt which extends at least an inch into the door frame. Where glass is found within four feet of the lock set, double cylinder dead bolts should be used (these require a key on both sides). The key should be stored at a height within reach of the smallest child in the home but out of reach of any criminal who would break glass to enter. Children should know how to use the dead bolt in case of fire. Above all, don't open the door without knowing who is on the other side.

As a result of all of the above, we recommend the following course of action:

• Each team should appoint a special committee on security that is invited into each missionary's home, one by one. Let's continue to inspect the level of security in light of these guidelines. Where possible, the mission team should investigate the possibility of forming a "neighborhood watch" program similar to those in the U. S. For information about this type of program, please contact a local police officer or ask Int'l Services for a packet from a U. S. police department.

Step One—Find the embassy

The day after you arrive, one of your first priorities should be to visit the US Embassy in your host country. This is true whether you are staying for short term or long, but especially true in the latter. Even if you are staying in temporary housing, such as with a family or in a hotel, the embassy will still take down your temporary address and phone number. In case of a problem, believe it or not, they will actually contact you there. If a serious problem is "in the works" they will probably even dispatch a courier in person. As soon as you move into more permanent housing, make sure you stop again to update them and to strike your previous address to save them time later.

As a result of the above, we recommend the following course of action:

• Team leaders should obtain lists of all family members, addresses, telephone numbers, alternate telephone numbers, addresses of next of kin in the U. S. , and passport numbers (along with other important documents, such as local residence card numbers). Then file these with the nearest U. S. embassy.
• While there, the team leaders should obtain reading lists, doctors lists, and other documents designed to help United States residents living in your host country.

Step Two—Get a shortwave radio receiver

Regardless of the number of precautionary steps a team might take, preparing for the worse case scenario means that group members are ready, even if the electricity goes off and the phones are out. This means that each family should have a small, battery operated, shortwave radio receiver as a minimum link to the outside world in such cases.

As a result of the above, we recommend the following course of action: Each missionary on the team should make arrangements to obtain a quality short wave receiver. As this document goes to press, one new story carried reports that V. O. A. was beaming special instructions to over a thousand hostages held captive in a Middle Eastern conflict. Residents isolated without a short wave are unfortunately without these special instructions at this time.

• The team leader should appoint a committee or at least a conduct person who orients each family regarding the usage of the receiver. As needed, this person or committee should supply frequencies and times of any special transmissions, especially those of the V. O. A. and other U. S. broadcasts.

Step Three—Find local informants.

Of course, some of the best news about the country doesn't travel over the airwaves, but rather directly to your ears through the news network on the street. Finding a set of local informants who will keep you apprised of relevant local events will go a long way toward making you streetwise. These local helpers are much more likely to be able to answer your questions about what part of town to stay away from at night, what's the best way to make friends, etc.

As a result of the above, we recommend the following course of action:

• Each team member should be encouraged to find local informants and ascertain to the best of his or her ability this kind of information.
• The team leader should set up special times of sharing during the first six months on the field (to be repeated with new arrivals) so that team members can each offer new insights gained through his or her contacts.
• The team leader should appoint a secretary, if one is not already appointed, to keep track of these insights and compile them into a fact sheet format that can then be distributed to all team members especially those who are new to the field.

Step Four—Stay in touch with the homeland.

In spite of the fact that our goal as missionaries is to build such strong relationships that even our social needs are met by nationals, one still should not cut off all relationships with the homeland. In the case of an evacuation, having some friends in high places might make all the difference in the world as to how quickly you and your family are given extra options. Needless to say, don't wait until an emergency arises to start building such relationships.

Stay in touch with North American groups like ministers' meetings, missionaries' meetings, women's groups, ambassadors' groups, etc. Don't hesitate to visit their Fourth of July parties and the like since you might make significant contacts who could later help you. As a result of the above, we recommend the following course of action:

• Team leaders should appoint a secretary (such as the one mentioned above) who can compile lists of key contact persons, in case an emergency should arise. This list should be distributed to all team members. Included on the roster should be important phone numbers and addresses, along with directions to the person's residence. (This is especially important for individuals such as the ambassador. )

Step Five—Make personal security and safety a habit

Making a public display of material possessions in a third world country is poor judgement. Obviously, nothing we do will convince the locals that we aren't really rich. How else could we fly to their country, pay for all the expenses of our ministry, and fly back! However, there's no sense in constantly showing them what we brought over from the States! To do so would just serve to perhaps create temptation for those who feel a passion to acquire part of the USA or part of us. This would, in turn, tend to put you on the spot.

As a result of the above, we recommend the following course of action:

• Each team member should approach his/her home as if he/she were a national and try to see through a national's eyes. Look at the home, materials visible from windows, open garage doors, unlocked sheds, materials left in the yard, etc. Walk through the front door and scan the entry way and living room and all areas that would be visible to national visitors. Look for such obvious mistakes as money left lying in plain view, computers in the front room, jewelry left on the dining room table, etc. Each team member should make a commitment to do his/her best to keep track of these potential trouble spots.
• Each team member should make a commitment to keep track of his/her personal belongings while traveling through crowded areas. In some areas purses will need to made of heavy material complete with shoulder strap and held firmly against one's side. They should always be fastened closed. Passports, credit cards, cash and travelers' checks should be carried in money pouches or waist packs whenever possible. Avoid carrying your wallet in your rear pocket, especially on public transportation.

Formation of a CMT

In the event of a significant threat to any of its missionaries, the children of its missionaries, or its facilities, a Crisis Management Team (CMT) will be formed to handle all procedures throughout resolution and follow up.

• The team leader (who will also be the CMT leader unless a family member or extremely close friend is involved). Note: The team leader should also be the CMT leader because he is responsible for personnel in his "team entity," and he knows the cultural language better than a person coming in from the outside. In case of personal close emotional involvement, he can delegate another administrator to do the job.
• Team member—to be appointed by the team leader and/or local leader.
• Regional Services Consultant or nearest available leader
• Contingency Plan Officer
• Recorder (secretary) —to be appointed by the team leader. Note: A recorder is needed to keep all pertinent facts and sequence of events. This can be a very important position in negotiations and later in evaluations of performance.

As a result of the above, we recommend the following course of action

• Each team should hold a mock up drill of a potentially viable emergency. This drill should include the request from the team on the field of the establishment of a mock-up CMT.
• During a follow up evaluation of the drill, all team members should participate in the effectiveness of the establishment of the CMT, along with suggested improvements.

Function of the CMT

The CMT is responsible for handling all aspects of resolution of the crisis in cooperation with local authorities . This may include protection for members and their families, protection of facilities, information gathering, negotiations, coordination and assignment of resources, press relations, and both internal and external communication regarding the crisis and its resolution. The CMT leader will serve as crisis coordinator and will appoint the following officers as deemed necessary due to the nature of the crisis:

• Press Liaison Officer— appointed from among the CMT members,
• Negotiation Leader— appointed from among the CMT must undertake negotiations with hostage takers, terrorists, guerrillas, or criminals.
• Negotiator--will <M>not be a member of the CMT and should have experience or training. Note: The negotiator must not be a decision maker. He should be a specialist, trained in negotiating probably from outside the team. He should have to report back to the CMT in order to avoid the dangers of making quick decisions.

As a result of the above, we recommend the following course of action:

• All team members should study the above procedure and understand how the CMT will come to assistance in case of emergency.
• During a team meeting, the team leader should make sure that all team members agree to follow the direction of the CMT in case of a crisis.
• During the mock-up emergency drill mentioned above, the above procedures should be implemented so that all the team members will be able to see the nature of the CMT.

Hostage Taking

No one likes to consider the possibility that he/she might be kidnapped. However for that one-in-million chance, here are some guidelines. There are three parties to consider carefully during a hostage taking crisis: the hostage, his/her family, and sending churches and supporters as a whole. The objective would obviously be to gain the release of the hostage at the earliest possible time with the least disruption of his/her life, the life of his/ her family.

• At the same time, however, team members should agree that no ransom will ever be paid to a kidnapper. Once again, certain terrorists have tried to coerce victims into mistrust and even hatred toward their former employer or organization, merely by pointing out that the organization would not pay a ransom. Victims in previous case studies report a lesser degree of stress of the hostage if they were aware of a company policy which prevented such ransom payments. It has been shown again and again that such ransoms only lead to more terrorism, and sometimes that terrorism can be taken out on family members themselves.

• If a missionary is ever taken hostage, when and if the kidnapper should report to the victim that the organization refused to pay ransom and therefore does not care for the health and welfare of the victim, the missionary will at least be able to understand the real reasoning behind non-payment.

Communication During A Crisis

Information flow during a crisis must be precisely directed. Incoming information must be monitored and controlled to prevent the release of confidential information and to limit the spread of rumors.

As a result of the above, we recommend the following course of action:

• All information and suggestions relating to the crisis should be directed to the CMT at the earliest possible time. Any member receiving information or suggestions for the CMT, should forward them immediately to the CMT. Missionaries should designate a person in the States to be a liason between the field and supporters.
• During a crisis, all information released to the news media will be done through the CMT. . Only the Press Liaison Officer will serve as spokesperson for the CMT.

Evacuation

The authority and responsibility for evacuation of a particular area should be fixed and understood by all members.

As a result of the above, we recommend the following course of action:

• During the crisis the decision to evacuate a particular area shall be made by the appropriate team leader in consultation with supporters and sending churches, if available. If the emergency is sudden and normal communication is not possible, the team leader or individual member may make the decision to evacuate.

Counseling

Individuals who undergo traumatic events, their families, and others associated with the event may suffer emotional reactions that may become destructive if not addressed. Those involved in traumatic events should receive counseling and evaluation along with, if necessary, assistance from mental health professionals. This should take place during and after the traumatic events. This evaluation and assistance should be conducted confidentially with the objective being the treatment of existing trauma and the prevention of additional trauma associated with the crisis.

As a result of the above, we recommend the following course of action:

• Personnel who are directly involved in a crisis should receive immediate counseling attention, along with a follow– up evaluation from a qualified counselor. This attention shall occur during and immediately following a crisis. Another evaluation follow up no more than six months later. These evaluations shall occur immediately following a crisis and again no more than six months later. The communications between the counselor and the member are strictly confidential. Cost of any treatment recommended by these evaluations will be the responsibility of the individuals and their supporting churches.
• Although the number of individuals who should receive evaluation as described in this policy will vary from incident to incident, as a minimum the victim, any spouse and children who live with him or her, the negotiator (if any) and the Crisis Coordinator shall receive this evaluation.

POST–CRISIS EVALUATION

Every opportunity must be taken to improve the response of missionaries and supporters to crisis situations. Each crisis should be reviewed so that the strengths of the management response can be identified, built upon and repeated, and that areas of weakness can be identified and remedied through allocation of resources, training, policy changes, or some combination thereof. The overall purpose is to be better prepared each time there is a crisis so the crisis can be resolved as rapidly as possible with minimum impact on those involved and the organization.

• Team members should agree in advance to a crisis that within sixty days of a resolution of a crisis, an evaluation of the incident must be conducted. It should be evaluated by team members and by stateside supporters and others who may be able to give helpful input.

Field Specific Evacuation and Emergency Preparation

In emergencies, preparation isn't just convenient, it is absolutely essential. Team members need to know exactly how other personnel are going to react in any given situation. This will only occur if advance thought and specificity have been the rule of the day.

As a result of the above, we recommend the following course of action:

• Team members should meet to prepare a detailed Emergency Response Procedure for their particular field. Such procedure can be drafted out in advance, then revised as needed during meetings.
• Each team's Emergency Response Procedures include exact evacuation plans, complete with hotels, emergency phone numbers, and procedures for quarterly evacuation drills.
• The Emergency Response Procedures should be copied and distributed to each team member and kept in a location where all family members can get to it.
• Each Emergency Response Procedures should be reviewed annually and updated as necessary.

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