Travel, Testing, and our plans for the year on campus

Below is a letter we sent to our potential students and their parents on August 11th 2020.

WORD OF LIFE HUNGARY BIBLE INSTITUTE 2020-21
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

​We are honored that you would consider attending the Word of Life Hungary Bible Institute in 2020-21. God began this school more than twenty-five years ago, and He has never failed to keep and sustain us. And He has sent us many committed students who love the Lord, desire to grow in Him and share Him with their generation.
While we have faced many challenges, none has been quite like what we are facing together in these days. In the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we would like to share basic information with you concerning our strategy and plans relative to the coming school year and COVID-19. We would like to give you a picture of how this will affect our Bible Institute program, and what students and parents can expect this year in other areas.
We hope that this information will give you clear direction in attending the Word of Life Hungary Bible Institute, and we join with you in prayer for God’s guidance and protection in the days ahead.
 
Yours Cordially in Christ,
 
Alex Konya
Director, Word of Life Europe
President and acting Director, Word of Life Hungary

​WORD OF LIFE HUNGARY BIBLE INSTITUTE AND COVID-19

That is the first question usually asked of us. After all, even if the strictest protective measures are enacted, if the area or country where we are located is highly infected, it may be difficult to prevent infection from spreading to our campus. Hungary has been one of the safest countries in Europe regarding the spread of COVID-19, and has handled this crisis very effectively. Hospital space, ventilators and emergency equipment are in abundant supply. Entrance into the country is tightly controlled in order to avoid infection from the outside. And the quality of life here has been good. People freely go shopping, send their kids to summer camp, enjoy a great meal at a Hungarian restaurant, or take the family to a park or on a vacation to Lake Balaton. While there are rules regarding such things as masks, physical distancing and hand washing, the Hungarian people have taken this in stride and are enjoying the summer weather.
Our property is located in a rural village in the countryside, an hour away from Budapest (where most COVID-19 cases in Hungary have occurred). There are currently no cases of COVID-19 in this area. Our beautiful 78-acre park and property are completely fenced in, meaning we can fully control access.
 
 
What is Word of Life Hungary’s Experience with COVID-19?
​Our COVID-19 challenge began the weekend of March 14-15, 2020. There were 57 students at our school. We realized with dismay that the world was rapidly shutting down, and we needed to get our students home. By God’s amazing protective hand, we were able to send more than 50 students home to a dozen countries within 72 hours without incident or illness. Afterwards we needed to shut down the property and “shelter in place” the largest staff in Europe, for more than a month. We are now completing our summer camp season. In all, more than 900 campers, staff, volunteers, and guests will go through our property. In all these events, God’s protection has been evident. By God’s grace, there has not yet been a single COVID-19 case at Word of Life Hungary since the pandemic began.
On our part, we have learned much about how to live with this situation and make our facilities as safe as possible. Extensive changes have been made to our food service equipment and procedures. Cleaning and disinfecting are now a regular part of housekeeping and operations. We have refitted indoor facilities to provide adequate physical distancing and ventilation. An extensive protocol dealing with COVID-19 issues and prevention was developed, following the recommendations by the Hungarian National Health Department., that was approved by the National Health Department. We also went through extensive State health and food service inspections. As a result, WOL Hungary received the highest marks for these areas, and we in fact exceed requirements.
We all know that none of this guarantees that everyone staying with us will be safe from COVID-19. From a human standpoint, however, we have experience and an excellent track record in dealing with COVID-19 prevention.
 
How will students be protected from COVID-19?Word of Life Hungary is committed doing everything we can to assure that students arrive healthy to our Bible Institute and remain that way during their time with us. The following are some of the steps that will be taken to achieve these goals:
 
Required COVID-19 negative tests

• Every incoming student will be required by Word of Life Hungary to have at least one negative COVID-19 test result (of the PCR test variety) shortly before arrival on our campus. They will also be asked to sign an affidavit stating they have not displayed coronavirus symptoms for the past 14 days or been in direct contact with anyone who has tested positive during that time.
• Depending upon the classification of their country of origin, some students may have to take a second PCR-type test before departure to Hungary. Students arriving by transatlantic flights will also need to take another test shortly after arrival in Hungary. These students will be set up each in their own welcome room, isolated in quarantine for at least a few days until this test done in Hungary comes back negative. Following that, the student may join the general population of other students. Because of thorough testing procedures, most students will not be required to be under 14-day quarantine in Hungary. However, students from certain countries will need to quarantine for 14 days.
• Visit https://wolbi.hu/travel-and-testing for detailed information about your country’s classification in Hungary and entrance/testing requirements.

 
Other steps

• Every international student arriving by air will be picked up in a disinfected WOL Hungary vehicle. Vehicles will have space for physical distancing. Upon airport pickup, students will be asked to immediately wear a mask and apply disinfectant to their hands.
• All students will receive a health packet upon arrival. The packet will include masks, hand sanitizer and other personal hygiene articles. They will also attend a special session during orientation that explains to them the rules and procedures related to COVID-19.
• Faculty, staff and interns in regular contact with students will have to regularly sign an affidavit stating they have not displayed coronavirus symptoms for the past 14 days or been in direct contact with anyone who has tested positive during that time. They may also have to undergo regular temperature checks or COVID-19 testing.
• Beds in student dorms will meet or exceed the government mandated distance of 1.5 meters, as well as desks in classrooms and tables in the dining room. Access to the library and student lounge will be limited as to the number allowed at one time.
• Students will sit in Bubar Auditorium grouped by dorm to help maintain physical distancing.
• All rooms and facilities will be regularly cleaned and disinfected as prescribed in the COVID-19 cleaning and disinfecting protocol that we have developed according to government recommendations and documented.
• Students will be required to disinfect hands before meals, properly wash hands when using the rest room and other areas and will have their temperatures checked regularly.
• Food will no longer be self-served, but by putting food directly onto plates, served from behind a glass shield. All dining room servers will wear masks and gloves.
• Guests and others (apart from official or delivery personnel) will not be permitted on campus without a signed health affidavit.
• Students can only leave the village of Toalmas with permission in advance, in order to avoid unwittingly getting into higher health risk areas or situations.
• Local church, school ministries or weekend ministries may be restricted or suspended as the current health situation warrants.

 
What about wearing masks?Hungary has taken a measured and balanced approach to wearing masks, and it has been very effective. Wearing masks is required for example on all public transportation, airports, in stores and malls, medical facilities, government and other offices serving the public. It is not currently required outdoors, in camps, or at beaches and spas. Whether masks will be required during classes this Fall is still unclear. It is Word of Life Hungary’s policy to obey all government health requirements; therefore, refusal to wear a mask or follow other government or Word of Life mandated rules related to COVID-19 will not be tolerated. Students who are not willing to strictly follow these rules will be sent home.
 
What if a student or staff member is suspected of having COVID-19?In such cases, the general procedures are outlined by the Health Department in Hungary.

• The student displaying suspicious symptoms will immediately be quarantined in a designated room.
• The local physician (there is one in every Hungarian town and village, including ours) will be informed concerning the situation. The physician will determine whether a COVID-19 test should be done, and arrangements will be made if necessary. In case of a positive test, the student will remain in quarantine under observation. The health authorities will determine if hospitalization is necessary and oversee making needed arrangements.
• Parents will be immediately notified in case of a student suspected with COVID-19.
• If a student is placed in quarantine, their dorm room will be immediately disinfected and bedding changed.
• Other students in the dorm will be isolated from other dorms. They will be kept separate from other students, eat at separate times and study remotely until cleared to return to normal living. If requested by health authorities, they may be asked to take a COVID-19 test.
• In the case of staff members, no staff member who is ill will be allowed on campus. If coronavirus symptoms are suspected, they will quarantine at home and follow the procedures described above.
• In the case of someone having a positive COVID-19 test, the above protocol will have been already followed. We are required to contact the Health Department of Hungary for instructions on next steps, which may include contact tracing, testing others, further quarantines or other recommended procedures.

 
What if the Word of Life Hungary campus must be shut down?Should a decision have to be made to close the school and send students home, the following procedures will be followed:

• Students and their parents will be immediately informed. Students will be asked to leave as soon as safe arrangements can be made.
• Experienced staff will be available to assist in purchasing plane, train, or bus tickets home.
• Word of Life Hungary will get students to the airport, train, or bus stations.
• If a student is unable to return home, Word of Life Hungary will provide room and board for the student as long as needed until they can safely return. Should an international student’s visa be in danger of expiration before they can return home, Word of life Hungary will assist them in extending their student visa in order to safely remain here.
• Should there be a campus shut-down, classes will continue to be offered remotely online, allowing students to successfully complete the school year. 

THE WORD OF LIFE HUNGARY BIBLE INSTITUTE EXPERIENCE FOR 2020-21

 
What can I expect?Looking at the above information, you might ask “What will it really be like once I arrive on campus?” The general answer is, much like Bible Institute has always been here. Students will receive the same quality education, with the same philosophy and the same diploma, with the same US accreditation for the first-year program. Our program remains the same, based upon solid, practical Bible teaching from our gifted faculty and some of the best guest teachers in the world (“know”). This is coupled with encouragement for personal growth in Christ, with each student being actively discipled by a staff member (“grow”). Students will also be given opportunities to share their faith, encourage the body of Christ and disciple others (“show”).
 
Learning God’s Word (“know”)The in-house courses at Word of Life Hungary Bible Institute will be taught the same as in past years. Guest lecturers from Hungary or mainly European countries will teach either personally on site, by live remote, or by pre-recorded classes, depending upon the circumstances. Guest teachers from North or South America will teach through live remote or pre-recorded sessions at least through December 31, 2020. In the case of pre-recorded or live-remote courses, they will be viewed in the classroom. Our faculty will assist in explaining concepts, answering questions and overseeing the coursework. Some course times might be rescheduled to accommodate the schedule of guest lecturers.
 
Applying God’s Word (“grow”)Students can expect an enhanced experience in their personal growth this school year. Our Student Life department will be fully staffed and working with students, and our campus chaplain will continue to be available to them. Due to an expected reduction in travel by staff in other departments, students may also have expanded access to staff who are particularly gifted in evangelism, local church ministries, and other areas.
 
Sharing God’s Word (“show”)Currently Hungary’s COVID-19 new infection rate is quite low by world standards. Churches are allowed to be open, and public schools and universities are currently permitted to be open in September. But churches and ministries here are taking a cautious approach as to what activities they plan. Since the great majority of COVID-19 cases are in Budapest and surrounding suburbs, there will be no open-air evangelism ministries in Budapest. Other ministries will be permitted only as deemed safe. Word of Life Hungary plans to take a conservative, cautious approach to other ministries in Hungary, and will not risk the health of students by permitting them to minister in any potentially unhealthy situation.
The past several months in Europe have shown us that there is a vast, usually untapped opportunity to reach the current generation through various social media venues. Across Europe, our Word of Life teams have developed virtual Bible Clubs, Bible memory programs, and even camps and retreats, resulting in thousands hearing the Gospel and many coming to Christ. This school year, Word of Life Hungary plans to make the most of these new opportunities. We will help each student develop a personalized ministry based upon their gifts and burdens. We will also help them to be involved in a virtual ministry to young people in their own language, in cooperation with their local churches, Word of Life or other like-minded ministries especially in their own countries. We are excited about these potential opportunities, and we will help our students to apply what they have learned in meaningful ministries to their generation.
 
Student LifeStudents coming to Word of Life Hungary Bible Institute can expect an exciting experience. They study and live in a famous location in Hungary, with a renowned park and property, dining and meeting in the 19th Century Castle, enjoying the two lakes, top-quality basketball and tennis courts, and volleyball courts. The student body is international, giving students a unique cross-cultural experience. Since classes are conducted in both English and Hungarian, students who do not speak English as their primary language may find their English ability to be vastly improved after studying with us. Prayer groups, dorm life and recreation, lounge time and fellowships in staff homes are planned to continue.
Because of the current COVID-19 situation, students will be limited in their permission to travel. Due to a rapidly changing situation in Europe, with many countries placing additional border restrictions on short notice, recreational travel to other countries outside Hungary will not be permitted until the situation changes. There are many fun and safe places to visit in Hungary, and the Bible Institute may arrange school trips for groups of students to carefully chosen places for times of fellowship and sightseeing.
 
ARRIVAL, INSURANCE, HOLIDAYS AND ACADEMIC CALENDAR 

Arrival
Due to the ongoing uncertainties, we have moved the beginning of the school year back by about a month. This means registration day will be September 30th, followed by orientations and our opening weekend conference in the days and weekend following registration. International students requiring a test in Hungary after their arrival should plan on arriving to Hungary between September 6th and September 23rd. Other students should arrive on September 28th-29th. For internationals arriving from countries classified “caution” (e.g. USA, Canada) or “restricted” (e.g. Brazil,) in addition to your passport and COVID-19 test results, you will need an invitation letter from Word of Life Hungary explaining that you are coming here as students. Other International students will also need this letter if flying into Hungary on any flight from any country (including “safe” countries.)
 
If traveling from a country classified as “restricted” (e.g. Brazil) or “caution” (e.g. USA, Canada,) we must individually communicate and coordinate with each student and their family about travel dates before our students purchase their tickets, as we must stagger the arrivals while considering the capacity of our ‘welcome rooms’ that these students will be quarantined in while awaiting their test results.
We highly recommend those who would be purchasing airline tickets to purchase directly from an airline as opposed to a 3rd -party booking site or travel agency, and to purchase tickets with the option to reschedule or cancel.
 
Insurance
We require students to have health insurance that would cover the event of a hospital stay or other serious illness, including COVID-19 Having health insurance is always required and is necessary to apply for a residence card at the immigration office, however the typically chosen travel insurance policies may not cover hospital stays. We will be asking for proof of insurance before arrival. In addition, the Hungarian hospital system does not work submit bills to insurance companies and wait for reimbursement. They require payment no later than release from the hospital. Be sure your insurance is set up to handle this. If not, we have some recommendations for supplemental insurance. WOL Word of Life Hungary Foundation cannot take any responsibility for any medical expenses of students including COVID-19 testing.
 
 
Holidays
Since the school year is starting nearly a month later than normal, the Christmas break will only last for two weeks, from December 19th – January 3rd. Students traveling into countries classified “caution” are strongly advised to remain on campus for the Christmas break. Students who leave Hungary for a “caution” country will need to redo all the COVID-19 tests before they can return. Students will not be permitted to travel into a country classified “restricted” and return to finish their studies.
Knowing that there will be students far from home, Word of Life Hungary Bible Institute will have some special events and “fun times” for students remaining here. The Castle is a very special place when it is decorated for Christmas!
 
Academic Calendar 

Event	Date
RA training	September 21-25
Registration Day	September 30
Orientation	September 30-Oct 2
Opening Conference	October 2-4
Fall Semester Begins	October 6
Winter Break	December 19 - January 2
Fall Semester Ends	January 29
Missions Conference	January 29-31
Missions Week	February 1-5
Spring Semester Begins	February 8
Spring Break	March 27 - April 6
Spring Semester Ends	May 28
Graduation Ceremony	May 29
Student Housing Closed	May 31

Contact Information
For the latest updates, visit https://wolbi.hu/news
For travel and testing requirements: https://wolbi.hu/travel-and-testing

• For information regarding applications and acceptance: [email protected]
• For information regarding COVID-19 steps and testing requirements: [email protected]
• For information regarding finances and scholarships: [email protected]
• For information regarding academics: [email protected]
• For other inquiries: [email protected]
  

Whatever rules and measures we put in place may be superseded by government regulation in the interest of public health in response to any further developments in the COVID-19 situation. We want to keep open lines of communication with our students and parents. Please contact us with any questions you may have.

 ​
Chris James
COO, Word of Life Hungary Bible Institute
[email protected], +36-20-220-0812