Q: When a country becomes politically unstable should Westerners leave?

answer this question

A: Trust God and be aware of what is happening

Answer from Carol in PA, who has served with TWR in Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles and Sri Lanka, South Africa for 21 years.
We as a family with 4 young children believed that God called us to Sri Lanka where there was civil war. Because of that, we had a firm belief He would keep us safe. If not, then His plan for whatever did happen to us would be for our good. That said, we always used as a barometer what the State Dept. was recommending - if they would pull their people out, we would have also left. We also paid attention to curfew regulations and stayed away from distinct problem areas.

It is different if you are single or if you have a family. If you have children, then you need to consider leaving more strongly, especially since family at home (grandparents, etc.) will be very concerned for those children as well as yourselves as parents.

In the event of a quick evacuation, we always kept a list in our file cabinet of items we must take out of the country with us, well thought thru beforehand, so that it would be easy to pack suitcases and go at short notice.

A: Pray for peace.

Answer from Rocco in Illinois, who has served with Integrity-Ministries in USA for 30 years.
Yes I would say so, because we have been given wisdom. Sometimes the Lord would keep one in a unstable situation like political upheaval because he has a work for you there. I would say Lord I will leave to go back but if you choose for me to stay a little while longer in this situation then please open the doors and give me peace in it.

A: Are you a burden to the locals?

Answer from Char in Israel, who has served with Foursquare, ORU, then self employed in Guatemala, Canada, S Korea, China, 15 countries in Africa for since 1968, perhaps 25 of those years for sure years.

Disclaimer: The following answer has not been reviewed or edited.

Years ago, when studying missions history, I came to realize that staying "on the field" can put the local people at risk. Particularly, if they hide a missionary, they could be charged or even killed for giving such protection without the gov’t knowing and/or approving. It can also eventually be very dangerous for the foreigner.

I like the answers "Carol" has given. She’s been there and tho’t things through carefully. We sometimes fail to do that when we are so passionate in our "ministry".

We were invited to go to Nigeria this March and April, but as violence over the elections has escalated, we decided, for the sake of our conference attendees as well as for our hosts, and not to mention ourselves, it would be wise to postpone the meetings to a later date, when the situation was less volatile. This decision has bro’t great peace to all involved.

God gives wisdom. He also gives protection. Missions is His work . . . we need to be in touch with Him, of course, to know what would please Him the most, whether it is staying, in the midst of the storm, or avoiding the storm for a number of reasons.

A: depends on what happening.

Answer from tabby in united states, who has served with missions to the world in belize for 2 years.

Disclaimer: The following answer has not been reviewed or edited.

If the country is going into some type of war, getting really violent, or if they are blaming the "foreingers" then YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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