The unrest in Kyrgyzstan which took place in the first week of April has raised some questions regarding this summer’s Muslim World Project, which includes 3 weeks in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. As a response, GoLiveServe would like to address a few frequently asked questions.
Q. What is the present situation in Kyrgyzstan?
Kyrgyzstan continues to move on after the quick overthrow of Bakiyev and we are anticipating that the situation will continue to be quiet. The news has been reporting that things in KG seem to be quieting down and our contacts in KG have been corroborating this. People seem to be going back to their lives, all hoping that the government will begin to be more trustworthy.
Q. What can I do right now?
A) One thing you can do right now is become better informed. There have been many excellent news articles on this event. One in particular which we feel is helpful is a TIME article offering a brief history of KG which outlines some of the reasons behind the recent events. You can also learn more about the country of Kyrgyzstan here.
We want to highlight that one thing our projects do not do is shy away from discussing some of the realities of life around the world. We are often shielded from these types of events in North America, but this is the reality of life in many parts of the world. For us to grow as global Christians we need to become more fluent in understanding these types of events. We need to be well informed so we know how to better engage and better pray.
B) The second thing is to Pray! Here are some ideas of what to pray for:
- Pray for local believers there. Ask the Lord that this would be somehow a moment for believers to testify to their neighbors. Pray for Christians to boldly offer prayer to others and proclaim Christ and the hope in him.
- Pray for long-term workers in KG and for their approach to this.
- Pray for our summer project this year. There is unrest from time to time and we don’t need to overreact, but we do want to be prudent. Pray for our discernment as this situation plays out.
- Pray for Kyrgyzstan itself. They are under pressure from all sides–energy problems because of their neighboring states, rising Islamicism, and poverty to name just a few.
Q. What precautions is GLS taking on the Muslim World Project?
GoLiveServe has many years of experience in navigating these types of situations. For example, just as when we faced the SARS epidemic in 2003, we will again be taking all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of all of our summer project participants. We are in contact with the long-term workers in Kyrgyzstan (both KG locals and foreign long-termers) and are having them help make the decisions about whether KG will be ready to greet us in July. We will be heeding all State Departments travel warnings (the present travel advisory for Kyrgyzstan because of this unrest will expire May 9).
In addition, we have an OCMT (Overseas Crisis Management Team) in place to advise us before and during the trip in the unlikely event that the present course changes. Our precautions, therefore, will certainly continue while we are abroad. Participants and their parents are encouraged to contact us if they have any questions.
Q. Will the Muslim World Project still be on for this summer?
Our summer project will not be canceled and is planning on moving ahead. As each day passes we are more and more confident that the KG portion of our trip will be able to safely take place. However, should the present course of peace change, we will elect to “redirect” to another location other than Kyrgyzstan for the 3-week portion of our project. Contingency plans are being made which will ensure both the safety of our participants and the Muslim World Project’s intended purpose of exposing participants to a variety of Muslim contexts and peoples. We will be monitoring the situation and making our decisions regarding this in the next few weeks.
Q. Should I wait to apply?
As mentioned above, we are planning an abundant summer experience for you–one that will be safe yet challenge your soul, offer you opportunities to meet and befriend average Muslim people, learn about outreach, grow as a part of a team, and have an overall incredible summer. Although this summer might require a bit more flexibility on your part, the objectives for the project are the same, so if you are interested in growing in your knowledge of and ability to outreach to Muslims, you should not wait to apply. The application process is still open.
Feel free to leave any comments or email us to discuss further.
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