I am becoming more and more aware of the tidal wave of podcasts, blog posts, webinars, and live events cascading through the internet these days on the subject of coping with our current crisis. I am also becoming more and more aware of the effect it is having on me as I try to keep up with it all. You? For that reason, I am going to scale Casual Friday way back for a while. I will try to only post resources that are unique in some way or perhaps more difficult to uncover for you, my readers. But for this week, here is some of the best stuff I’ve gleaned.

Self Care

(Good spiritual hygiene for global workers)

Here’s a great idea: a 14-day retreat guide for people in quarantine. Many who have just returned from the field are required to sequester themselves for two weeks. What better way to spend the time than in a guided retreat! Also check out the guide that is offered for families with children. But wait – there’s more! Click on the COVID-19 tab for an extensive list of resources related to coping with the current situation.

Most of the in-person resources we may utilize in caring for returning missionaries are unavailable at this time. A lot of the responsibility for maintaining health is falling on those missionaries themselves.

Re-entry alone is challenging. Re-entry during a pandemic is devastating.

Sarita Hartz knows how hard repatriating can be. That’s why she put together this incredible batch of worksheets and recommendations for self-care. Make sure every recently-returned  missionary you know gets a copy of this.

Sender Care

(Resources to help sending churches care for their sent ones)

Disappointed. That’s how many, many missionaries are feeling right now. Anisha Hopkinson describes it well in this post.

No amount of attempting to reframe my mind to be grateful for what I have really helps.

Paradox can be really difficult to process. Anisha will help you understand the paradoxes that missionaries are facing. She also offers some helpful perspectives that you’ll want to pass along.

Here is a handy list of questions put together by SEND International that you can ask your sent ones.

As we all begin to think about moving past our current limitations, one of the conversations we should be having is how missionary care will be impacted by the new economic scenario. Strategies and budgets will need to pivot, and that’s what this upcoming webinar is all about.

The Missions Interlink Bulletin always has more than one good article. Look particularly at the one by Dr. Christina Baird about how to support others in a pandemic.

What can missionaries teach us about how to cope with the COVID-19 experience? The folks at Shepherd’s Staff have just posted part 4 in their series of podcasts on the subject.

Book Recommendations

(Useful titles to have on your m’care bookshelf)

I have not read this one yet (just received a copy this week), but a course in which I am enrolled recommended it. PACT to Go! Is “A cross-cultural worker’s guide to creating a Personal Accountability and Care Team looks really promising, sure to be a great contribution to your considerations for forming effective m’care teams.

For Deeper Thought

(Longer reads or chewier subjects for you to muse on)

Know a missionary working in an honor/shame culture? Such cultures are probably going to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic quite differently than the missionary’s passport culture. How might that affect their emotions, their level of anxiety? The folks at HonorShame review a NYT article that will give you much to think (and pray) about.

As always, thanks for stopping by. Remember—the best thing you can do to help a missionary stay healthy is to stay healthy yourself. Be well. Care well.