We are very fortunate to be two
of three hundred long-term compensated (salaried) mission personnel.
Being employed by the Worldwide Ministries Division of the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.)’s General Assembly Council means we have
steady income and we are not personally responsible for raising
funds for our use. We are called to take part in the mission of
the entire church, as every member is expected to do. We are,
however, asked to devote full-time effort to the ministry in places
geographically afar, culturally distinct, and where the societies
are in conflict. Although the official work hours are similar
to those in the States, most of us are in effect on call 24 hours
a day. Why do it then?
During Simon's student days and the 22 years he spent teaching
and consulting, the driving concept was “maximizing.”
Maximum income, maximum pleasure, maximum recognition, maximum
everything. Then we entered mission service. All PC(USA) missionaries
are paid the same salary, adjusted for family size, children's
education, and a cost of living adjustment for different locations.
If one serves more than ten years, a 10 percent service increment
is give, 20 percent for 20 years of service. No attempt is made
to reflect earnings potentials in the secular world, nor is any
consideration of the responsibility levels given. The call for
mission service includes a call for the “economy of sufficiency”
in place of “maximizing economy.” The salary in effect
is not a compensation for the value of services, rather a provision
from God for full-time service. Is the salary sufficient for us?
We cannot speak for everyone, but for us, it is more than sufficient.
Our monthly gross salary is $1,461 for each of us. This amount
is reduced by a small sum since Nepal is a low cost of living
area, and taxes such as Social Security and Medicare are deducted
also. In addition, we receive housing allowance, approximately
$140 for both of us, and health insurance coverage. This salary
in Nepal would put us in the top 5 percent of families for sure.
It is sufficient for comfortable living in Nepal, but not too
much to completely insulate us from the inconveniences and discomforts
of daily life in Nepal. For example, we do not have to watch the
price when we buy groceries in the local market, but are not able
to afford all the imported frozen food items. We are learning
that the fresh good quality vegetables in season are the least
expensive ones in the market. Price does not correlate to quality,
as long as we decide to live among the local folks and consume
what is grown locally. One can pay very high prices for frozen
salmon or fancy European cheese costing upwards of twenty dollars
per pound. Our salary is not enough to keep a personal vehicle
complete with air-conditioning, or to pay for electricity to run
air-conditioning at home or central heating during the winter.
Those are luxuries available only to the diplomats, UN personnel
or some freelancing missionaries. For PC(USA) missionaries, such
a life style would negate the very purpose of living and working
among the people in Nepal. Simon's rule is to walk for less than
four miles, and take taxi for longer distances, and simply put
up with dusts and loud horns.
We do not mean to say that we live exactly like the Nepali folks.
We have to take extra care for hygiene and other health issues.
Getting a cardiovascular bypass surgery like Simon did, would
be an unimagined luxury, but we do not apologize for getting the
care. Nor do we consider saving from our monthly salary for an
annual check-up in Louisville an unsavory excess. We simply do
not want build a wall around our lives to sever contact with the
people we came to work with. The support from the church is sufficient
for all our financial needs. We must remember to thank all the
congregations and friends who send gifts to PC(USA) in support
of our ministry. While the “designated” support amount
does not affect our salary levels, the church will not be able
to maintain the mission force without these gifts.
We occasionally receive gifts directly from personal friends
who want to support our ministry. Unless it is specifically designated
as a personal gift for us to splurge on something we cannot normally
afford, we consider it as an expression of their desire to partner
with us in Christian service. We keep a record of these gifts
and try to report back as to how their specific gifts have been
used. We provided some needed school supplies, gave scholarship
money for a Bible school, purchased some equipment for mission
organizations among other uses. We do not consider it a burden
but a privilege to become conduits of sharing. We thank you all,
and thank God for His children, givers and receivers alike.
Some of you have mentioned the “great sacrifices”
we have made to serve the Lord. We do what we do for our self-interest,
though we hope it is not selfish interests. There is no need to
feel sorry about us or feel guilty for not doing what we do. There
are many ways to serve in God's garden, none more important than
another, but all should be accountable.
The Worldwide Ministries Division of PCUSA spends approximately
$12 million per year, 26 percent of its total budget, to support
approximately 300 full-time, long-term missionaries. The remaining
$35 million represent support given to other partners, money spent
on programs and training global church leaders. Next month, we’ll
discuss a bit about the programs and how they are supported.
Remember, God's grace is sufficient for us all.
Haejung & Simon
The 2003 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 166
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